GREGORY J. DEGULIS

BACKGROUND

Greg has 36 years of experience prosecuting and defending environmental and toxic exposure claims.

Greg has significant experience in environmental cost recovery matters, environmental insurance litigation, construction litigation and natural resource damage cases. Industries represented include manufacturers, real estate developers, national railroads, wastewater treatment, contractors and municipalities. Greg leads the firm’s insurance recovery practice.

In 2018, Greg was invited to become a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers.

In 2000, Greg co-founded the Environmental Law Network (elnonline.com) which consists of 25 US law firms and 7 international affiliates.

PRACTICE AREAS

Environmental

Litigation

BAR ADMISSIONS

Greg is licensed to practice in a number of jurisdictions, including the State of Ohio, the State of New York, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE & FOCUS

Greg is widely recognized as a practitioner and litigator for Superfund and Clean Water Act matters. Greg and his team have successfully handled several multi-million Superfund matters working on behalf of national railroad, defense contractors and other large PRPs. Greg also has significant experience in Clean Water Act wetland matters, negotiating the purchase and divestiture of contaminated parcels, and navigating the Ohio VAP cost recovery process.

  • Environmental Cost Recovery and Construction Litigation
  • Environmental Insurance Recovery Litigation
  • Acquisition/Divestiture of contaminated property
  • Arbitrator for American Arbitration Association in environmental cases

Current Matters

  • Defending brownfield company in citizen suit and ERAC litigation
  • Represents foundry in insurance coverage litigation
  • Represents contractor in dam removal litigation
  • Advising owner of farm supply business in multi-state litigation

Professional Involvement

  • Fellow, The American College of Environmental Lawyers
  • Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
  • Member, Trial Law Institute
  • Member, Diversity Law Institute
  • Chair of the Environmental Law Network, 2004-2023
  • President, Board of Directors, Bratenhal Community Foundation, 2022
  • Vice Chair for the ABA Superfund and Natural Resource Damages Litigation Committee, 2015-2018 (Regional Reporter)
  • Shaker Lakes Nature Center, Board of Trustees 2009-2018
  • Alumni Council, University School 2009-2013
  • Served as chair of the Cleveland Bar Association Environmental Law Committee

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

  • “2019 Infrastructure Funding: How to get it and spend it wisely,” Toledo, September 10, 2019
  • “2019 Infrastructure Funding: How to get it and spend it wisely,” Cincinnati, June 25, 2019
  • “2019 Infrastructure Funding: How to get it and spend it wisely,” Cleveland, May 7, 2019
  • “Ohio Pipeline Litigation: Is the 6th Circuit the New ERAC?” 34th Annual Ohio Environment, Energy, and Resources Law Seminar, March 29, 2019
  • “Integrating Brownfields Cost Recovery with Infrastructure,” 2019 Infrastructure Funding: How to Get it and Spend it Wisely, Marietta, Ohio, February 26, 2019.
  • “Mercy Mercy Me, We Need Money: Alternative Financing Sources and Incentives,” CMBA Real Estate Law Institute, November 8, 2018
  • “The Redevelopment of the Flats East Bank,” CMBA Environmental Law Institute, December 8, 2017
  • “Cost Recovery Options for Brownfields,” Ohio Land Bank Conference, October 26, 2016
  • “Financing Your Brownfield Cost Recovery Efforts – a Legal Perspective,” Ohio Brownfields Conference, April 6, 2016
  • “How to Own a Brownfield: Maintaining Defenses and Funding Cleanup,” I -70/75 Development Association Economic Development Summit 2015, May 28, 2015
  • “How to Own a Brownfield: Creative Ways to Fund Cleanup and Avoid Liability,” Ohio Brownfields Conference, April 9, 2014
  • “GLLA and NRD: The Great Lakes Legacy Act and Natural Resource Damages,” Great Lakes Symposium, June 4, 2013
  • “Making Them Pay: How to Finance Your Brownfield Revitalization,” Environmental Law, Land Use, Energy and Litigation Seminar, January 2, 2013 in Snowmass, Colorado
  • Panel Moderator, “Lassoing Liability: How to Succeed at Brownfields Redevelopment,” American Bar Association SEER Fall Meeting, October 11, 2012 in Austin, Texas
  • “Making Them Pay: How To Finance Your Brownfield Revitalization,” Ohio Brownfields Conference, May 24, 2012.

PUBLICATIONS

“Gasoline, Diesel, and Oil: Recent Case Developments and the Avenues for Cleaning Up Sites Contaminated by Petroleum,” co-author with Lauryn Kitchen, Law Clerk. In-House Counsel Committee, American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, June 2018.

“Case Summary: Garrett Day LLC, et al. v. International Paper Co., et al.” Superfund and Natural Resource Damages Litigation Committee, American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, August 2016.

“Case Summary: The Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company v. Beazer East, Inc.,” co-author with Erin Frantz. Hot News and EPA Region Updates, American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, September 2015.

Greg is co-author, with Sarah Gable, of “Burlington Northern: CERCLA and Its Ever-Changing, Unpredictable Landscape” which was published in the Spring 2014 volume of the Natural Resources & Environment, a publication of the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources. (Volume 28, Number 4, Spring 2014).

ACHIEVEMENTS & HONORS

  • Nationally recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for Environmental Litigation (since 2011) and Environmental Law (since 2008)
  • Named by Chambers USA as a leading practitioner in Environmental Law in Ohio since 2011
  • 2020 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Environmental Law in Cleveland
  • Selected to the 2022 Ohio Super Lawyers list. Only five percent of lawyers in Ohio were selected.
  • Martindale Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 Rating
  • 2014 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation – Environmental in the Cleveland area.

EDUCATION

Greg received his BA in English from the University of Michigan and his JD from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law.