People: Philip L. Comella, Partner

Photo of Philip L. Comella, Partner

Philip L. Comella

Partner

Chicago
Direct: (312) 460-5501
Fax: (312) 460-7501
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Mr. Comella is head of the Environmental, Safety and Toxic Torts Group in the Chicago office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Chambers-ranked as a leading lawyer in Environmental law, and a member of the Leading Lawyer network.  Mr. Comella’s practice spans both regulatory counseling and environmental-based litigation.  With nearly three decades of experience in environmental law, and a focus on the solid and hazardous waste industry, he regularly counsels operators of landfills, treatment systems, recycling operations and waste generators on compliance and permitting matters arising under the environmental laws.  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 and solid waste issues arising across the country.

Solid and Hazardous Waste Industry

Mr. Comella has wide-ranging and deep experience in solid and hazardous waste matters arising under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), including citizens suits, enforcement actions, permitting, and compliance. He has represented generators, transporters, and fixed facilities on a myriad of issues arising under this statute and state counterparts.  Mr. Comella has also worked on numerous PCB matters over the last 25 years, including those involving disposal requirements, dilution, coordinated waste approvals, and clean-up standards.  With regard to the Comprehensive Environmental Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund), he has worked on multiple facets of this statute, including rulemaking comments, negotiating amendments to Records of Decision, representing generators, transporters, and site owners in responding to information requests and clean-up orders, and heading up PRP groups.   With a long history in both Superfund and Brownfields, he is also experienced in applying clean-up standards across regulatory fields and negotiating contract conditions and insurance provisions to reduce environmental liability.

Enforcement Actions and Litigation

Mr. Comella has defended clients in a broad array of enforcement actions and compliance matters brought under virtually every environmental law.  These matters have ranged from Clean Air Act requirements for paper mills, to storm water run-off rules at construction sites, to improper waste disposal, waste characterization, permitting violations, groundwater monitoring, storage violations, transportation, and shipping documentation under RCRA, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, and state counterparts.  He has negotiated settlement agreements on these matters with environmental regulatory agencies in virtually every EPA region and in roughly twenty different states.  Mr. Comella also has a long history of defending companies from toxic tort lawsuits relating to the release of hazardous chemicals, including groundwater contaminants, odors, and air pollutants, including sulfuric acid, sulfur trioxide, and phosphoric acid.  He has broad experience handling matters bridging environmental and bankruptcy law.

Landfill Gas and Renewable Energy

He has represented landfill owners, developers, and end-users on all aspects of landfill gas projects, including contract drafting, negotiation, regulatory compliance, enforcement action defense, and litigation to enforce contract rights.  He has advised numerous companies in the renewable field on the availability of environmental attributes (e.g., carbon credits, renewable energy credits), and has experience with the permitting of hydropower plants  under the Clean Water Act.

Environmental-Based Construction and Engineering Claims

Mr. Comella’s practice also encompasses construction claims with an environmental component.  For example, he has defended clients on construction claims involving mold contamination and asbestos removal.  He has worked extensively in the area of classifying construction and demolition debris in numerous projects, including stadium demolition and electrical installations.  He also has extensive experience defending environmental and engineering professionals against negligence and contract claims.

Mr. Comella is head of the Environmental, Safety and Toxic Torts Group in the Chicago office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Chambers-ranked as a leading lawyer in Environmental law, and a member of the Leading Lawyer network.  Mr. Comella’s practice spans both regulatory counseling and environmental-based litigation.  With nearly three decades of experience in environmental law, and a focus on the solid and hazardous waste industry, he regularly counsels operators of landfills, treatment systems, recycling operations and waste generators on compliance and permitting matters arising under the environmental laws.  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 and solid waste issues arising across the country.

Solid and Hazardous Waste Industry

Mr. Comella has wide-ranging and deep experience in solid and hazardous waste matters arising under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), including citizens suits, enforcement actions, permitting, and compliance. He has represented generators, transporters, and fixed facilities on a myriad of issues arising under this statute and state counterparts.  Mr. Comella has also worked on numerous PCB matters over the last 25 years, including those involving disposal requirements, dilution, coordinated waste approvals, and clean-up standards.  With regard to the Comprehensive Environmental Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund), he has worked on multiple facets of this statute, including rulemaking comments, negotiating amendments to Records of Decision, representing generators, transporters, and site owners in responding to information requests and clean-up orders, and heading up PRP groups.   With a long history in both Superfund and Brownfields, he is also experienced in applying clean-up standards across regulatory fields and negotiating contract conditions and insurance provisions to reduce environmental liability.

Enforcement Actions and Litigation

Mr. Comella has defended clients in a broad array of enforcement actions and compliance matters brought under virtually every environmental law.  These matters have ranged from Clean Air Act requirements for paper mills, to storm water run-off rules at construction sites, to improper waste disposal, waste characterization, permitting violations, groundwater monitoring, storage violations, transportation, and shipping documentation under RCRA, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, and state counterparts.  He has negotiated settlement agreements on these matters with environmental regulatory agencies in virtually every EPA region and in roughly twenty different states.  Mr. Comella also has a long history of defending companies from toxic tort lawsuits relating to the release of hazardous chemicals, including groundwater contaminants, odors, and air pollutants, including sulfuric acid, sulfur trioxide, and phosphoric acid.  He has broad experience handling matters bridging environmental and bankruptcy law.

Landfill Gas and Renewable Energy

He has represented landfill owners, developers, and end-users on all aspects of landfill gas projects, including contract drafting, negotiation, regulatory compliance, enforcement action defense, and litigation to enforce contract rights.  He has advised numerous companies in the renewable field on the availability of environmental attributes (e.g., carbon credits, renewable energy credits), and has experience with the permitting of hydropower plants  under the Clean Water Act.

Environmental-Based Construction and Engineering Claims

Mr. Comella’s practice also encompasses construction claims with an environmental component.  For example, he has defended clients on construction claims involving mold contamination and asbestos removal.  He has worked extensively in the area of classifying construction and demolition debris in numerous projects, including stadium demolition and electrical installations.  He also has extensive experience defending environmental and engineering professionals against negligence and contract claims.

Education

  • J.D., George Washington University Law School (1983)

    with honors
    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)
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
     

Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • Illinois Bar Association
  • Solid Waste Association of North America, Landfill Gas Division
  • National Solid Wastes Management Association’s Landfill Institute

Representative Engagements

Landfills and Landfill Gas

  • Represented landfill owner in action to terminate contract with bankrupt landfill gas developer which had history of non-performance.  Obtained verdict at trial based upon developer’s failure to pay royalties and comply with environmental laws.  Federal district court and Seventh Circuit affirmed.
  • Represented landfill owner in lawsuit brought by State of Illinois for alleged violations of New Source Performance Standards for landfill gas emissions.  Settled for $2,000 and agreement to modify gas collection system.
  • Represented landfill owner in bankruptcy proceeding to approve settlement with Bankruptcy trustee over objection of major post-petition creditor.  Bankruptcy court approved settlement after trial.  Federal district court and Seventh Circuit affirmed.
  • Represented landfill owner in proceeding to approve termination of gas collection contract and sale of assets over objection of major post-petition creditor.  No appeal taken.
  • Represented landfill owner (Illinois municipality and county) in State court proceeding to terminate longstanding receivership order under which receiver for bankrupt landfill gas developer exerted authority to operate landfill gas collection system over objection of landfill owner.  Obtained order granting summary judgment terminating receivership and turning operation over to municipal and county.
  • Represented different landfill owner in action by State court receiver for bankrupt landfill gas collection developer to take over control of gas system.  Obtained summary judgment dissolving receivership on basis that collateral underlying receivership had been sold to third party.
  • Represented landfill owner against separate actions by host community and State of Illinois claiming that offsite migration of landfill gas generated odors constituting a nuisance and violation of the New Source Performance Standard under Clean Air Act.
  • Represented corn starch manufacturer in negotiating three-party contract with county landfill and natural gas company to substitute landfill gas for a portion of natural gas resulting in significant cost savings.
  • Represented major southeastern university in contract negotiations to install and operate gas collection system at local county landfill for purposes of converting gas to energy usage and to promote carbon neutrality.
  • Represented landfill owner in contract negotiations with landfill gas and renewable energy developer.
  • Defended television manufacturer against lawsuit by private landfill company which unknowingly allowed broken TV tubes from a truck accident and claimed that client failed to notify landfill that broken tubes constituted hazardous waste. Following one mistrial and three mediations, matter settled on favorable terms.
  • Represented landfill owner in administrative claim proceeding in bankruptcy of landfill gas developer.  Successful both in obtaining allowed claim for costs of reconstructing gas system and in objecting to competing claim of nearby hotel owner, which was upheld by the Seventh Circuit.
  • Represented landfill owner in negotiations to amend record of decision at adjoining Superfund site to allow for improved remedy and landfill expansion at same time.

Toxic Tort

  • Represented used oil broker against claim that it delivered PCB-contaminated oil to used oil refinery resulting in multi-million dollar cleanup. Ongoing.
  • Represented advertising agency in claims against former property owner and environmental consultant for undisclosed environmental contamination.  Settled on favorable terms.
  • Represented chemical manufacturer in two mass tort actions – each including more than 2000 plaintiffs – involving release of sulfur trioxide.  Obtained summary judgment in one action and settled other case on favorable terms.
  • Represented chemical manufacturer in class action arising from release of sulfur dioxide that drove residents out of their homes, damaged vehicles, and exacerbated medical conditions.  Settled at class action notice stage.
  • Represented chemical distributor against claim that plaintiff sustained nervous system disorder from exposure to benzene-containing products.  Obtained summary judgment based on statute of limitations and product identification.
  • Represented landfill owner against claim by neighboring hotel that odors decimated business and permanently reduced value of business.
  • Represented landfill owner in mass tort action by neighboring residents who claimed that landfill odors caused personal injury, property damage, and diminished value of property.

Construction

  • Represented general trades contractor against claim that mold-contaminated wood and faulty construction practices led to pervasive mold infestation at nursing home. Obtained favorable ruling before three-member arbitration panel.
  • Represented General Contractor for "peaker" power plant against extra cost claim of electrical subcontractor.  Subcontractor claimed that contract was a time-and-materials arrangement and that poor engineering drawings resulted in $7.5 million in added costs over estimated budget. Obtained partial summary judgment that contract, taken as a whole, was for a fixed fee, not time and materials. Case ultimately settled in mediation for a fraction of the original extra cost claim.
  • Represented structural steel designer against claim that negligent design caused temporary beams supporting upper road deck to shift, crushing worker.  Settled favorably after filing motion for summary judgment.
  • Represented architect against claim that negligent design led to significant cost overruns in construction of commuter train station.  Settled favorably following mediation.

Environmental Consultants and Fixed Facilities

  • Represented environmental consultant against claim that its failure to identify total quantity of asbestos-contaminated siding caused purchaser to substantially overpay for building.  Obtained summary judgment based on limitations of liability clause.
  • Representation of environmental consultant for failure to discover presence of underground storage tank during Phase I Assessment. Accelerated acquisition schedule caused consultant to issue Phase I report prior to receipt of local FOIA response, which would have revealed old underground tanks.  Later assessment found tanks, property sale fell through, and lawsuit ensued. Case settled favorably in mediation.
  • Representation of environmental consultant for alleged negligence in advising on methods for removing fireproofing materials that created conditions for mold outbreak in university library. Case settled favorably in mediation.
  • Representation of environmental consultant for alleging worsening contamination during investigation of chemical release arising from train derailment. Case voluntarily dismissed following discovery.
  • Representation of dry cleaner for allegedly causing release of PCE that contaminated groundwater underlying shopping center and extending off-site into neighboring community, causing planned property sale to fall through.  Litigation stayed pending cleanup of site under state voluntary remediation law. Persuaded neighboring community to pass ordinance barring use of groundwater for drinking, greatly reducing expected remediation costs.
  • Representation of soap manufacturer against RCRA citizens suit for allegedly polluting Chicago River. Case voluntarily dismissed with prejudice following Rule 30(b)(6) deposition.

Presentations

  • "Avoiding Disputes Down the Road: The Top Ten Problems with Landfill Gas Contracts," SWANA's 34th Annual Landfill Gas Symposium, Dallas, TX (March 21-24, 2011)
  • “The Definition of Solid Waste Made Easy,” Chemical Industry Council of Illinois’s annual RCRA Update Seminar (November 16, 2010)
  • "Ten Issues in Negotiating Landfill Gas Contracts," Solid Waste Management Association of North America's Landfill Symposium, Reno, NV (April 12-13, 2010)
  •  “Fundamentals of RCRA,” Solid Waste Management Association Webinar (April 2008)
  • “SB 241: Illinois’s Controversial New Right-to-Know Law,” Seyfarth Shaw Webcast (September 2005)
  • “Environmental Issues in Mergers and Acquisitions,” Practicing Law Institute, Chicago, IL (Presented annually: 1998-2007, 2009-2011)
  • “The Resource Conservation & Recovery Act,” Executive Enterprises, Chicago, IL (October 1993), (July 1994), (May 1995), (May 1996)
  • “The Identification of Liabilities in the Merger and Acquisition Process,” The Wharton Risk Management & Decision Processes Center & Environmental Risk  Management, Exton, PA (April 2-3, 1998)
  •  “Hazardous Waste Issues in Real Estate Transactions,” The John Marshall Law School, Visiting Lecturer (1997-2001)

Publications

  • “Nine Tips for Taking an Effective Deposition in an Environmental Case,”ABA - Environmental Litigation and Toxic Torts Committee Newsletter, Vol. 13, No. 2 (July 2012)
  • "Avoiding Disputes Down the Road: The Top Ten Problems with Landfill Gas Contracts," published in the Proceedings of The Solid Waste Management Association's 34th Annual Landfill Gas Symposium (2011)
  •  “Top Ten Issues in Negotiating Landfill Gas Contracts,” in Solid Waste Management Association of North America, 15th Annual Landfill Symposium and Planning & Management Conference (April 2010)
  •  “Environmental Auditing in a Recession,” Lake Michigan State Section Newsletter, Air & Waste Management Association (Summer 2009)
  • Contributing Author, Environmental & Safety Law Update Blog, available at: www.environmentalsafetylawupdate.com
  •  “Environmental Issues and Liability Considerations,” in Acquiring or Selling the Privately Held Company, Practicing Law Institute (1998-2011)
  •  “Global Warming and the Coming Regulation of CO2 Emissions,” in Inside the Minds: Winning Legal Strategies for Energy Laws (2006)
  • Co-Author, “Will New Illinois Right-to-Know Law Protect Communities or Stifle Voluntary Cleanups and Breed Litigation?” Seyfarth Shaw Management Alert (August 2005)
  •  “New Legislation Extends Energy Tax Credits to Landfill Gas,” Seyfarth Shaw LLP One Minute Memo (November 10, 2004)
  •  “New Brownfields Law Clarifies Liability of Purchasers of Contaminated Property,” Lake Michigan State Section Newsletter, Air & Waste Management Association (Spring 2002)
  • “New RCRA Variances Stretch Remediation Options,” Brownfield News (December 1999)
  • “Sellers Beware: ‘As is’ clauses are not always what they appear,” Brownfield News (April 1998)
  •  “Stop Making Sense—Do ‘no further action’ letters provide peace of mind?,” Brownfield News (November 1997)
  •  “Who Pays When?,” Brownfield News (June 1997)
  • “Let’s Not Kill All the Lawyers,” Brownfield News (April 1997)
  •  “Legal Legacy—To Move Forward on Brownfields, Governments Need to Freshen Stale Environmental Laws,” Brownfield News (Feb./March 1997)
  • “HWIR: A New Era in Hazardous Waste Management?” Environmental Law Reporter News & Analysis, Vol. 26, Issue 10304 (June 1996)
  •  “EPA Cancels Invitations to Its Own Program: The Agency’s New Hazardous Waste Combustion Strategy,” Environmental Law Reporter News & Analysis, Vol. 24, Issue 10380 (July 1994)
  •  “Understanding a Sham:  When is Recycling, Treatment?,”Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review, Vol. 20, Issue 415 (1993)

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.