Larry Falbe is an environmental attorney whose national practice focuses on transactional support of real estate and corporate deals, environmental and health & safety compliance and litigation, environmental criminal enforcement defense, voluntary self-disclosure of environmental violations, Brownfields issues, climate change, environmental justice aspects of development, and Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) issues.
Larry has represented clients involved in enforcement actions by federal, state and local authorities and has negotiated numerous compliance programs, consent decrees and settlements. He also completed internships with the U.S. Department of Justice, Environmental Enforcement Division and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5. Larry has substantial litigation and regulatory experience involving CERCLA (Superfund), OSHA, FIFRA, EPCRA, RCRA (hazardous waste), toxic torts, Clean Water and Clean Air Acts, underground storage tanks, and so-called "emerging contaminants," including per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). With respect to PFAS, Larry has been a key litigation team member in several lawsuits (including deposing expert witnesses) and has advised on remediation issues at facilities where PFAS has been identified. He also counsels clients with respect to PFAS issues in environmental due diligence for the sale and purchase of real estate and businesses.
Larry's approach to environmental transactional issues is to focus on "how to get the deal done, not kill it" when confronted with environmental challenges. Larry has more than 25 years of experience reviewing and analyzing Phase I and Phase II assessments to satisfy due diligence requirements, obtaining No Further Remediation Letters, evaluating the cost/benefit of transactions, and advising clients on potential liability and remediation issues. He also focuses on other environmental development aspects such as endangered species and wetland issues. He is experienced in representing buyers, sellers, lenders and other stakeholders.
As an adjunct professor at Northwestern University School of Law, Larry personally created a cutting-edge course entitled, "Environmental Considerations in Commercial and Real Estate Transactions," as part of NU's "Structuring Transactions" course series. Larry has also published articles on a wide variety of environmental issues and is a frequent lecturer on due diligence and environmental liability concerns.
A strong supporter of diversity in the legal community, Larry has a long history of mentoring, training and supporting diverse associates. In his off-hours, Larry races his sailboat on Lake Michigan. He also serves on the board of directors of numerous private and public organizations, including the Air & Waste Management Association (Lake Michigan States Section), the METRA Citizen Advisory Board and the Montessori School of Lake Forest.
