Ms. Hanson has been concentrating in environmental law since 1978. She graduated from the University of Illinois with an undergraduate major in Biology and a minor in Chemistry and Physics. She also received her law degree from the University of Illinois’ School of Law.
She began her career as an attorney for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. She also worked for the law firm of Ross & Hardies where she was made partner. In 1994 she resigned from the firm and founded her own practice in the western suburbs.
She typically represents small and midsized manufacturers. Her services may involve initial fact finding and research on the validity of enforcement allegations; negotiations, and if necessary, litigation with government agencies; assistance in identifying applicable regulations; and legal support in achieving compliance. She is also occasionally called in to consult and assist other law firms with environmental litigation.
The majority of her cases involve permit related issues including compliance matters and permit appeals. She was involved in negotiating the Illinois Clean Air Act Permit Program legislation and she has filed comments on many state environmental regulations. She has handled cases in all media but over the past fifteen years has focused her practice on air permits and compliance.
Ms. Hanson has spoken extensively on environmental subjects. Recently she coauthored, with Mr. Podlewski, the chapter on Environmental Permitting in the Illinois State Bar Association’s December 2006 publication Environmental Law For Non-Environmental Lawyers. Ms. Hanson also wrote an article on the history of Illinois air pollution programs and rules, “Air Pollution Control in Northeastern Illinois: Redefining Reasonable Pollution” for the Chicago Bar Association's April, 2009 Bar Record.
