Jennifer Nijman is a founding partner of the environmental firm NijmanFranzetti LLP with wide ranging experience in litigation defense and enforcement issues as well as issues involving waste and contaminated property. She was formerly a partner and chair of the environmental practice group at the Chicago office of a national law firm. Ms. Nijman represents clients in environmental litigation and enforcement defense, including toxic tort claims, private party disputes, and actions brought under the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and all phases of CERCLA and the Superfund process. She has experience with permit and siting proceedings as well as petitions for adjusted standards and variances before the Pollution Control Board. Ms. Nijman has successfully represented clients in regulatory disputes and negotiations with both state and federal agencies, and has implemented supplemental environmental projectspollution prevention plans to reduce or eliminate fines and penalties. She counsels clients in compliance issues and in the development of environmental management systems. A significant portion of Ms. Nijmans practice includes representing clients in the environmental aspects of corporate and real estate transactions. She works closely with consultants and clients to develop strategies for the acquisition and sale of contaminated property. She evaluates due diligence, prepares and negotiates environmental provisions of purchase and sale agreements, and works with environmental insurance products where appropriate. Her clients have included lenders, private equity companies, developers and corporations. Ms. Nijman has arbitrated and mediated cases through the American Arbitration Association and the Center for Conflict Resolution. In 2020,the Chicago Bar Association presented Jennifer with their highest honor, the Justice John Paul Stevens Award. She is an elected Fellow in the American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL). She was President of the Chicago Bar Association in 20022003 and currently serves on the Illinois Supreme Court Commission for Access to Justice. She is a past president and Board member of the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois. Ms. Nijman received her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1987, and her B.A. from the University of Illinois in Champaign in 1984. She is a member of the Federal Trial Bar for the Northern District of Illinois and is admitted to the Illinois and Wisconsin Bar, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court.
Work Phone:
312-251-5271
Email:
jn@nijmanfranzetti.com
Website:
https://www.nijmanfranzetti.com/
EPA Region:
Region 5 – (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI)
Year of induction:
2020
Degrees:
BA University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana 1984
JD University of Chicago Law School 1987
Admissions:
Illinois
Court Admissions:
Illinois
Wisconsin
Federal Trial Bar, ND Illinois
US Supreme Court
Professional Societies and Organizations:
Illinois Supreme Court Access To Justice Commission, Chair of Remote Access and Strategic Planning
Chicago Bar Association, Past President
Chicago Bar Foundation, Past Board Member
Lawyer's Trust Fund, Past President and Board Member
Center for Conflict Resolution, Past President and Board Member
Public Interest Law Initiative, Past Board Member
Other Environmental Career Experience:
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Illustrative Projects:
Represent energy company in disputes over coal ash impoundments
Represent waste company in all aspects of waste handling - hazardous and non-hazardous
CERCLA contribution litigation
CERCLA representation of PRPs
Citations of Major Published Cases:
Dyer v. Waste Mgmt. of Wisconsin, 803 N.W.2d 867 (Wis. Ct. App. 2011)
Dyer v Waste Mgmt of Wisconsin, Waukesha County, Case No. 01-CV-1866 (2009 jury decision in favor of WMWI overturned by Judge, and the Judge's decision to overturn the jury was then overturned on appeal- jury decision stands with finding in favor of WMWI)
Hobart v Dayton Power & Light, Waste Management of Ohio et al., US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Case No. 313-CV-0015
Before the Illinois Pollution Control Board- Sierra Club et al v Midwest Generation LLC, PCB 13-15