Biography

Mr. Comella is head of the Environmental, Safety and Toxic Torts Group in the Chicago office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP and a member of the Leading Lawyer network in Environmental Law. Mr. Comella has broad experience defending state and federal enforcement actions brought under a host of different environmental laws, including Superfund, RCRA, TSCA, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act. He has defended companies from toxic tort lawsuits in a variety of contexts relating to the release of hazardous chemicals, and also has extensive experience defending environmental and engineering professionals against negligence and contract claims. In the growing area of renewable energy, he has wide-ranging experience with environmental, contractual, and tax issues involving the use of landfill gas as an alternate energy source. He has addressed numerous environmental issues arising from real property transfers, including the adequacy of environmental assessments, potential claims against sellers for undisclosed contamination, and the use of voluntary clean-up (or “Brownfield”) programs. He lectures frequently on current topics in environmental law, including due diligence in mergers and acquisitions and hazardous waste. Prior to joining Seyfarth Shaw, Mr. Comella spent seven years as in-house counsel for a major waste management company where he had responsibility for hazardous waste issues arising across the country.

Education

J.D., George Washington University, with honors (1983)

Articles Editor, George Washington University Journal of International Law and Economics

B.A., Beloit College, cum laude (1978)

Admissions

• Illinois

Courts

• United States Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh and District of Columbia Circuits
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar

The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no certificate, award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois.