Janine Landow-Esser, a retired partner with Quarles & Brady, concentrated her practice in environmental and OSHA law. Ms. Landow-Esser advised buyers, sellers, and lenders in environmental aspects of various transactions and represented manufacturers and other regulated entities on environmental and OSHA compliance issues. She also handled issues relating to brownfields, environmental audits, and insurance coverage matters.

Ms. Landow-Esser has extensive experience before state and federal agencies and administrative bodies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA"), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and various state regulatory bodies throughout the United States. Prior to entering the private practice of law, Ms. Landow-Esser served with the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") in Washington D.C., where she developed her knowledge in environmental legislation and contracts and successfully moved matters through regulatory agencies. She was responsible for supervising DOE compliance with environmental laws and regulations and responding to environmental policy initiatives. Ms. Landow-Esser also served as a U.S. representative to the International Energy Agency.

From 1991 to 1992, Ms. Landow-Esser was Chair of the Environmental Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. She frequently speaks and writes on environmental, OSHA, and insurance topics and has made numerous presentations to industry associations on topics such as insurance claims and coverage, litigation management, and state voluntary cleanup programs. Ms. Landow-Esser also has authored numerous articles on environmental, insurance, and OSHA regulatory issues.

Representative Environmental Experience

• Use of innovative trusts, annuities, and insurance to facilitate transfer of corporate assets without environmental liabilities. (Florida)

• Defense of Clean Air Act Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Major Source Permit enforcement actions. (Illinois)

• Obtaining Adjusted Clean Air Act Standard. (Illinois)

• Negotiation of manuscript pollution legal liability, cost cap, mold, and lender environmental insurance policies. (Illinois, California, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, etc.)

• Negotiation of the sale of air emission credits. (Illinois)

• Successful management of properties through various state voluntary and mandatory cleanup programs. (Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, New York, Texas, Arizona, New Jersey, Connecticut, etc.)

• Defense of federal EPA corrective action enforcement under Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. (Illinois and Indiana)

• Negotiation of issuance and withdrawal of Clean Water Act permits for fill of wetlands. (Illinois)

• Representation of numerous clients under state and federal Superfund statutes for investigation, remediation, and consent orders involving soil and groundwater contamination. (Illinois, Kansas, Florida, Indiana, Wisconsin, etc.)


• Representation of clients in connection with TSCA and FIFRA reporting, registration, and enforcement matters.

Representative OSHA Experience

• Investigation of employee death and resolution of OSHA citation involving electrical and lockout/tagout regulations. (Florida)

• Investigation of employee death and resolution of OSHA citation involving explosion and fire. (Iowa)

• Settlement of OSHA investigation concerning possible employee exposure to chemical vapors. (Ohio)

• Investigation and resolution of OSHA repeat citation involving limb amputation in conveyor mechanism. (Illinois)

• Settlement of numerous OSHA citations involving asbestos training, removal, and operation and maintenance. (Illinois and Ohio)


• Investigation of ergonomic issues and response to OSHA on behalf of numerous hospitals, nursing homes, and health care facilities. (National)