Kenneth Steenland

Kenneth Steenland’s practice is primarily focused on environmental litigation, contaminated sites and environmental, health and safety compliance counseling. Prior to his shift in focus to environmental litigation, he developed significant experience in defending engineering professionals in state and federal court litigation.

He has experience in the application of federal, state, and local environmental laws in a variety of contexts, including with respect to facilities with complex historical operations and successor liability issues, and regulatory compliance. Ken also has significant experience with legal issues arising before state and federal environmental agencies.

Environmental Litigation

Ken supports the defense of environmental litigation matters ranging from federal CERCLA cost-recovery actions to common law causes of action relating to alleged contamination of real property. These cases involve complex issues ranging from successor liability, apportionment/allocation, the impact of bankruptcy proceedings on environmental claims, owner/operator liability, and applicable CERCLA and state common law statutes of limitations.

Ken is an integral member of the firm’s team in environmental cases, with significant responsibility for discovery including written discovery, document review, and database management. Examples include:

• Defense of CERCLA cost recovery claims involving several sites listed on the National Priorities list extending back over 100 years.
• Defense of action asserting state common law causes of action relating to the alleged contamination of real property in an industrial area.

Experience

Environmental Counseling

Ken counsels clients with respect to a variety of environmental and health and safety issues under federal, state and local laws. Examples include:

• Assist clients with federal and state self-auditing and associated self-reporting requirements under both state and federal law for manufacturing and commercial facilities across the United States.
• Assist client with compliance with California OSHA and climate disclosure requirements.
• Analyze applicability of and requirements under local ordinance for permitting of groundwater treatment system.