Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section, The Chicago Bar Association Environmental Law Committee, and The Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Environmental Committee
Chicago
Thursday, May 21, 2026 – Friday, May 22, 2026
IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W Adams Street, Chicago
Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Complimentary networking reception to follow)
Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. (Complimentary Continental Breakfast served before)
10.50 hours MCLE credit, including 1.50 hours approved Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following categories: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit
Don’t miss ISBA’s 24th Annual Environmental and Natural Resources Law Conference! Join us for this annual conference that features updates on agency activities and priorities in Illinois and the Region presented by top representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. Attendees will also learn about the latest hot topic issues in environmental law from leading practitioners, including:
- The energy, environmental and community considerations associated with the rapid expansion of data centers in Illinois;
- Using AI in the environmental law practice;
- The nuts and bolts of challenging federal action;
- Conservation easements and land preservation;
- What you need to know about microplastics and other emerging contaminants;
- How the Illinois Rewilding Law (HB2726) will help restore land, reintroduce native species, and protect wetlands; and
- The federal/state cases and regulations, rulemakings, and legislation that you need to know.
The conference closes with an interactive ethics session that offers hypothetical scenarios and possible solutions to each ethical dilemma.
Program Coordinators:
Jane E. McBride, Attorney at Law, Springfield
Michael P. Murphy, Attorney at Law, Springfield
Law Student and Young Professional Mentorship Opportunity
Students and first time attending young attorneys who are new to the ISBA Environmental Law Section are invited to join the Conference Mentorship Program at no additional costs. This program pairs students/new attendees with senior members of the Environmental Law Section to facilitate conference orientation, introductions with other attendees, and make the most of your conference experience. If interested, please contact Cara.Sawyer@ilag.gov. We will do our best to partner mentees and their mentors according to their background and interest.
Thank you to our Conference Sponsors!
Gold Sponsors
Anonymous Contributor
Geosyntec
Silver Sponsors
AKT Peerless
Civil and Environmental Consultants, Inc.
DiCello Levitt
Simmons Hanly Conroy
Bronze Sponsors
Brown, Hay & Stephens, LLP
Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C.
Elevate
Sorling Northrup Attorneys
Hanis Consulting
Thursday, May 21, 2026
9:00 – 9:15 a.m. Welcome
Jane E. McBride, Attorney at Law, Springfield
9:15 – 10:30 a.m. Annual Update on Agency Activities and Priorities: Illinois and Region V
Moderator: James L. Morgan, Attorney at Law, Springfield
Andrew Armstrong, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Springfield
Robert Kaplan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region V, Chicago
Stephen Sylvester, Chief, Environmental Bureau for the Illinois Attorney General's Office, Chicago
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Breakout Sessions
A.) Land Preservation via Conservation Easements: All Things Considered
A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and an organization that restricts development to protect the land’s natural, agricultural, or cultural value. While the owner retains the title and can continue sustainable use, the easement typically remains binding for all future owners. This session explores the benefits, pitfalls, and current trends of easements, including the holder's role in monitoring and enforcement.
Moderator: Cara Sawyer, Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Chicago
Emy Brawley, The Conservation Fund, Chicago
Jocelyn Walters-Hird, Walters-Hird Conservation Law, Santa Barbara
David J. Wolf, Law Office of David J. Wolf, P.C., Woodstock
B.) The Data Defies the Rollback: Emissions Impact by Neighborhood
Amidst federal rollbacks of greenhouse gas emission standards, this session introduces a first-of-its-kind, high-resolution model for the Chicago and Lake Michigan region. By combining emissions data with chemical transport models, it tracks nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and particulate matter as small as one kilometer. Findings identify heavy-duty vehicles as the primary polluters in impacted areas. This segment examines the legal implications of these rollbacks, as well as how this data can drive new policy initiatives.
Moderator/Speaker: Elizabeth Carpenter, DiCello Levitt, Chicago
Prof. Daniel E. Horton, Northwestern University, Chicago
Prof. Robert A. Weinstock, Environmental Advocacy Center Bluhm Legal Clinic, Northwestern
University, Chicago
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Lunch (provided)
12:15 – 1:15 p.m. Becoming Law: Rewilding
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Dr. John Vucetich – a renowned conservation ethicist and co-director of the world’s longest-running predator-prey study – as he discusses predator dynamics and the ethical integration of human and natural perspectives required to build resilient landscapes.
Moderator/Speaker: Jane McBride, Attorney at Law, Springfield
Prof. John A. Vucetich, Michigan Technological University, Michigan
1:15 – 2:30 p.m. Environmental Practice in the 21st Century: AI and Your Practice
Explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the environmental law practice with this timely presentation. Topics include: how the Illinois EPA is approaching the environmental impacts of AI; the internal AI tools the Illinois EPA has adopted; how consultants use AI to automate data analysis and risk assessment for faster, more accurate decision-making; and how environmental law attorneys are integrating AI into their daily practice to better serve their clients.
Moderator: Lisle A. Stalter, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, Chicago
Alex Garel-Frantzen, ArentFox Schiff LLP, Chicago
James Jennings, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Springfield
Edna Picciolini, AEI Consultants, Chicago
2:30 – 2:45 p.m. Break
2:45 – 3:45 p.m. Breakout Sessions
A.) Data Centers: Impacts of Rising Large-Load Interconnections
Rapid growth in data center development is reshaping electricity demand in Illinois, creating both significant challenges and new opportunities for the power sector. Gain the perspectives from ComEd, the Citizens Utility Board, the Environmental Law & Policy Center, and Google as representatives from each organization discuss how rising large-load interconnections are affecting grid planning, rates, reliability, and clean energy procurement, as well as how working together to align policy and infrastructure can support economic growth while also protecting consumers and advancing the state's clean energy goals.
Moderator/Speaker: Bradley Klein, Environmental Law & Policy Center, Chicago
Allen Gleckner, Google, Minneapolis
Sarah Moskowitz, Citizens Utility Board, Chicago
Kristin Munsch, ComEd, Chicago
B.) Regulation of and Challenges Presented by Microplastics and Other Emerging Contaminants
Microplastics – particles under 5mm found in everything from synthetic textiles to tire wear – pose unique challenges for assessing toxicity and environmental fate. Categorized as "emerging contaminants," microplastics impact sectors ranging from manufacturing and agriculture to water treatment. This session addresses federal and state regulations, the challenges of managing these pollutants, strategies to navigate this ever-changing field, and pragmatic solutions for the regulated community.
Moderator/Speaker: Michael P. Murphy, Attorney at Law, Springfield
Rachel Zajac-Fay, Senior Scientist, Geosyntec, Florida
3:45 – 4:00 p.m. Break
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions
A.) Data Centers: Environmental and Community Considerations
Hyperscale data centers are transforming the landscape, bringing unique environmental and community challenges. This session explores water usage, electricity demand, and air emissions through the eyes of project developers and community-focused advocates. A discussion on potential policy approaches and best practices to address these concerns is included.
Moderator/Speaker: James Gignac, Union of Concerned Scientists, Chicago
Lucy Contreras, Illinois State Program Director, GreenLatinos, Chicago
Scott Kuykendall, Water Resources Specialist, McHenry County Planning & Development, Woodstock
Alana Spencer, Alma Environmental Partners (Clayco), Chicago
B.) NGO Litigation and Advocacy Responses and Countermeasures to Environmental and Natural Resource Protection Rollbacks
Federal rollback of environmental regulations and natural resources protections has ignited a response from non-governmental organizations. This session discusses their planned strategies and provides updates on litigation that is already underway.
Moderator: James Morgan, Attorney at Law, Springfield
Debbie Chizewer, EarthJustice, Chicago
Jolie McLaughlin, Natural Resources Defense Council, Chicago
David Scott, Environmental Law & Policy Center, Chicago
5:00 p.m. Complimentary Networking Reception
Don’t miss this opportunity to mingle among our speakers and your colleagues!
Friday, May 22, 2026
9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Complimentary Continental Breakfast
9:30 – 11:00 a.m. The Year in Review: Case Law and Statutory Update
Join us for a comprehensive look at recent federal and state cases, as well as recent Illinois regulations, rulemakings, and legislation.
Moderator: Alex Garel-Frantzen, ArentFox Schiff LLP, Chicago
Vyasa Babu, ArentFox Schiff LLP, Chicago
Elizabeth Dubats, Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Chicago
Sam Falcon Trimbach, Winston & Strawn LLP, Chicago
Duncan M. Weinstein, ArentFox Schiff LLP, Chicago
11:00 – 11:15 a.m. Break
11:15 – 12:15 a.m. Breakout Sessions
A.) Anticipating and Meeting Post-Purchase Continuing Obligation Responsibilities
Pre-purchase due diligence is only the first step toward securing environmental law defenses. To maintain these protections, clients must also fulfill specific post-purchase requirements. This session examines the continuing obligations and critical steps needed to preserve environmental liability defenses after a transaction closes.
Moderator/Speaker: Eugene Schmittgens, Earthwise Law, LLC, St. Louis
William J. Anaya, UB Greensfelder, LLP, Chicago
Corinne Dougherty, Marsh Risk, Chicago
Timothy McGahey, AKT Peerless Environmental Services, Michigan
B.) Unpacking CRGA: Illinois’ Response to Federal Clean Energy Rollbacks
In November 2025, Illinois passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), its most significant energy law since 2021’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). Unlike previous legislation supported by federal clean energy incentives, the CRGA must navigate a landscape of phased-out tax credits and program funding cuts. Get the updates you need regarding CRGA, including whether or not this act can provide relief for ratepayers and sustain the state’s solar, storage, and efficiency industries.
Moderator/Speaker: Nick Oliver, Elevate, Chicago
James Gignac, Union of Concerned Scientists, Chicago
MeLena Hessel, Vote Solar, Chicago
12:15 – 1:45 p.m. Identifying and Resolving Ethical Issues Arising in Environmental Law*
This lively presentation examines all new hypothetical scenarios familiar to environmental practitioners. Among the ethical issue presented will be scenarios that focus on the unique issues faced by environmental lawyers in balancing client confidentiality, avoiding and managing potential conflicts while representing multiple clients, advising on clients’ legal obligations to report environmental issues and more. Using the polling software, the audience will respond to a set of multiple-choice questions, followed by discussion weighing the various analyses and possible solutions with the aid and advice of our esteemed ARDC speaker.
Moderator/Speaker: Karen Kavanagh Mack, Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, PC, Chicago
William J. Anaya, UB Greensfelder, LLP, Chicago
Scott Renfroe, Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, Chicago
Program Information
- Fees (lunch provided):
- ISBA Member - $200
- Non-Member - $200
- New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $50
- Law Student Members - $25
- NGO and Government Lawyers - $75
- Thanks to our financial contributors, special pricing of $75 is available for attorneys in Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and government attorneys. Please email the ISBA CLE Department at cleregistration@isba.org to receive your special discount code for registration. Just provide your employment/practice setting and ISBA will respond with the discount code.
- Special pricing is available for Legal Service Attorneys.
- Please Note: MCLE credit is available to registrants only on the day of this live event. All registrants will receive access to a recording of the event a few days after the program, but credit is NOT available for the recording.
- I understand that at ISBA events, the ISBA may take photographs, video, film, and audio of registrants, participants, attendees, and their guests. By registering for, or attending, such events I consent to the ISBA’s editing, copying, publishing, distributing, and using my image, likeness, voice, and name for any ISBA purpose. Such purposes may include, but not be limited to, ISBA marketing and communications, posting on ISBA websites and social media platforms, and sharing with other members, registrants, or attendees. I further understand that any photographs, video, film, and audio taken at ISBA events by the ISBA are owned and copyrighted by the ISBA, and that I waive: (1) any compensation for the ISBA’s use of my image, likeness, voice, and name; and (2) any opportunity or right to inspect or approve the photographs, videos, film, or audio prior to ISBA use.
