Susan M. Franzetti

From her decades-long experience in compliance counseling and litigation matters spanning a broad range of federal and state environmental programs, Ms. Franzetti has developed the seasoned judgment and environmental contacts necessary to guide clients through complicated environmental problems in a sound and cost-effective manner.

Susan Franzetti focuses her practice on permitting, compliance and enforcement defense matters arising under CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, RCRA and the Clean Air Act. She is an experienced litigator who has successfully represented clients in both civil and criminal jury trials in federal and state courts, including a $41.7 million federal jury verdict.

Ms. Franzetti regularly counsels industrial dischargers and POTW clients on various Clean Water Act issues under NPDES, stormwater and pretreatment permitting programs. She has successfully pursued NPDES permit appeals and defended against third-party NPDES appeals, as well as handling citizen suits under the Clean Water Act. She also has been actively involved in various Clean Water Act-related rulemakings.

On solid waste matters, Ms. Franzetti has counseled clients on RCRA permitting and compliance issues, including the negotiation of consent agreements regarding RCRA corrective action matters and obtaining NFR letters under state remediation programs. She has represented companies in numerous federal and state CERCLA matters on a national basis, including acting as PRP Group counsel on several sites.

Her over three decades of broad, national experience in environmental law and litigation covers various industries, including metals and chemical manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceutical and utility matters arising under state and environmental laws.

Honors and Recognition

• Chambers & Partners
• Illinois Super Lawyer
• Illinois Leading Lawyer
• Best Lawyers (2020 Lawyer of the Year – Chicago in Environmental Law)
• Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL)