Overview
Michael J. Maher is a partner at Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP. Michael represents national and international corporations in various types of environmental matters throughout the United States. His practice involves all areas of Environmental Law, including multiparty Superfund litigation defense and other enforcement actions, underground storage tanks, counseling on regulatory compliance, OSHA defense, toxic tort defense litigation, and transportation of hazardous materials. Michael’s prior practice included prosecution of environmental cases for the Illinois Attorney General, drafting of environmental statutes and administrative regulations for the Chairman of the Illinois Pollution Control Board Hearing Officer at both statewide and site-specific rule-making hearings, and other extensive environmental regulatory work and environmental trial prosecutions.
- American Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- Environmental Law Committee
- Illinois Bar Association
- Environmental Law Section
- Best Lawyers in America®, (2020-2024, 2026)
- Environmental Law and Litigation – Environmental
- Illinois Super Lawyers®, (2007-2008, 2010-2019)
- The Environmental Register, a statutorily mandated semi-monthly periodical used to notify Illinois industries of upcoming changes in Illinois environmental regulations, and also to explain rulings and final actions of the Illinois Pollution Control Board in cases involving statewide environmental regulations, site-specific regulations, variances, permits, and enforcement actions, 1987-1988
- “Lessons in L.U.S.T.: The Complete Story of Liability for Leaking Underground Storage Tanks,” Northern Illinois University Law Review
- “Liability Issues in Private RCRA Suits Over Leaking Underground Storage Tanks,” Chemical Waste Litigation Reporter
- “Common Law Liability for Leaking Underground Storage Tanks,” Northern Illinois University Law Review
- “Lesson in L.U.S.T.—Cleaning Up Leaking Underground Storage Tanks,” Illinois Bar Journal
- “Tax Ruling Could Discourage Environmental Remedies,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
- “Leaking Underground Storage Tanks—Cleanup Responsibilities and the Illinois Reimbursement Fund,” Northern Lights
- “Conflict of Law Rules in Environmental Coverage Disputes,” The Environmental Claims Journal
- “A Guide through Illinois’s Environmental Regulatory Maze,” Illinois Bar Journal
- “The Responsible Property Transfer Act—Ready or Not,” DuPage County Bar Journal
- “The Illinois Pollution Control Board—What are Your Options When the IEPA Comes Knocking?” Illinois Municipal Review
Michael has spoken on Environmental Law to the DuPage County Bar Association, the National Lien & Bond Association, and the National Issues Forum. He is a frequent speaker on Human Toxicology, the Illinois Environmental Regulatory System, Superfund Litigation, and Handling of Environmental Claims, has testified before the Illinois Attorney General’s Task Force on Environmental Resources (1992), and has presented lectures to:
- Midwest Environmental Claims Association
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- Environmental Law Symposium at Northern Illinois University College of Law
- Western Loss Association
- National Forum for Environmental & Toxic Tort Issues, 2006, 2013, 2017
- American Bar Association, 2015
