Real Estate and Environment Law

Springfield, Illinois, Real Estate and Environmental Lawyer

The attorneys of Brown, Hay & Stephens, LLP, have extensive experience in both commercial and residential real estate law, including legal areas pertaining specifically to the environmental issues of land use, planning, and zoning. Since our early beginnings, we have been developing strong working relations with clients that include many of Illinois' most successful land developers, builders, and property management companies. Our firm works directly with our clients to negotiate transactional matters and resolve matters with government entities and private land owners. From initial pre-annexation issues through final collections matters, we are ready to help your project succeed.

Contact our offices to discuss ways we can help you resolve issues that are standing in the way of your successful commercial development or property ownership venture. We had our beginnings nearly 180 years ago providing real estate right-of-way legal services for railroad companies throughout Illinois. Today, our attorneys remain committed to providing the highest levels of expertise and integrity in the area of real estate and environmental law.

Commercial and residential real estate transaction and litigation law:

• Residential and commercial purchase and sale transactions
• Title insurance
• Land trusts
• Subdivision, condominium and planned unit developments
• Commercial leasing
• Commercial contracts
• Multi-party transaction
• Real estate financing
• Real property taxation issues
• Real estate limited partnerships
• 1031 exchanges

Environmental law:

Brown, Hay & Stephens, LLP, is committed to providing corporate, government, association, and individual clients a full spectrum of legal counsel in the area of environmental law. Brown, Hay & Stephens, LLP's environmental group is run by Claire Manning, with the support of other attorneys in the environmental, litigation, real estate, and corporate practice groups. Claire Manning is the former Chairman of the Illinois Pollution Control Board, serving from 1993 - 2002. The Illinois Pollution Control Board is a quasi-judicial independent state and administrative agency that adjudicates environmental cases and promulgates, pursuant to a public hearing process, the state's environmental regulations.

Brown, Hay & Stephens, LLP is prepared to provide client counseling and legal representation before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Pollution Control Board, Office of the Illinois Attorney General, and in state and federal court. Brown, Hay & Stephens, LLP has experience with matters concerning the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, the Illinois Livestock Management Facilities Act and associated regulations.

We provide complete environmental services and legal advice and representation in the following areas:

• Permitting for air, land, and water issues.
• Environmental compliance and enforcement issues.
• Assistance with landfill and pollution control facilities, and siting for the same.
• Livestock facilities and concentrated animal feeding operations.
• Environmental issues and due diligence in property and asset transactions - Phase I and Phase II.
• Administrative Law and Due Process Issues Associated with Environmental Process and Procedures.
• Transportation of waste.
• Stormwater regulations.
• Management of waste water, solid waste, hazardous waste and other types of regulated waste.
• Serve as Hearing Officer in Public Hearings; Mediator or Arbitrator in Environmental Disputes.
• Serve as Expert Witness in Legal Interpretations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act and associated regulations.

Contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our real estate or environmental law attorneys. We will help you understand the legal issues that affect your project.