Veteran environmental litigator Susan E. Brice joins Nijman·Franzetti LLP in Chicago
In a major move that brings a fourth partner with a wide-ranging practice to the firm, Nijman·Franzetti LLP proudly announces the arrival of their highly respected peer, Susan E. Brice.
Since 1995, Brice has litigated state and federal disputes and has counseled clients on complicated scientific issues arising in environmental law, toxic torts and product liability. She works with scientists on matters in the fields of genomics, toxicology and epidemiology in such industries as chemical manufacturing, energy production, food, agriculture and real estate. Brice also litigates commercial matters and advises on and mitigates the environmental and exposure risks involved in major transactions, including international mergers and acquisitions, public/private partnership ventures and renewable energy deals.
Brice is a recognized authority on COVID-19 risk mitigation and has written several recent articles on the topic. She was quoted in an April 2020 Crain’s Chicago Business cover story titled “Lawyers will have their hands full during pandemic.” She has advised numerous clients on potential lawsuit immunity under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (the “PREP Act”), how to avoid price gouging claims, and how to mitigate the risk of product liability and premises liability lawsuits. Her work includes compliance counseling involving face masks, ventilators, testing kits, business reopenings, virus transmission and virus identification via genomics. Her practice also embraces the implications of genomics in legal defense, especially its ability to shed light on causation in toxic tort cases.
Jennifer Nijman, a co-founder of the firm, said: “Susan Franzetti, Lynn Grayson and I are thrilled to have Susan Brice practicing with us. She is among the most experienced and sophisticated environmental trial lawyers in the field. Her background in scientific issues and her experience in environmental law, toxic torts, industrial hazards and product liability will further assist our clients’ interests nationwide. And her grasp of COVID-19 mitigation and genomics could not have come at a more opportune time for the firm.”
Prior to joining Nijman·Franzetti LLP, Brice was a co-leader of the toxic tort group at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP and, prior to that, the co-leader of the environmental group at Mayer Brown LLP.
“The three women I’m joining as a partner are revered in the environmental law community,” said Brice. “This is an opportunity to go to a top-tier boutique shop with a stellar reputation, and I’m very excited and honored that this powerhouse trio of women want me to be their partner and to help continue their legacy.”
While the practice areas of Nijman·Franzetti LLP cover all aspects of environmental law, the firm is best known for environmental litigation and enforcement defense; permitting and compliance work; national environmental counsel support; site remediation and Superfund matters; and administrative proceedings.
All four women partners are highly regarded by their Illinois and national peers for their experience, and they maintain an exceptional reputation in environmental law and related litigation. Each appears at or near the top of Illinois and national lists of the most respected environmental lawyers published by Chambers & Partners, Best Lawyers, Leading Lawyers and Super Lawyers.
Recent peer surveys by Leading Lawyers named Nijman, Franzetti and Grayson among the Top 10 Environmental Lawyers in Illinois. Also, in July 2021, Nijman·Franzetti LLP will become the first law firm to feature two women presidents of the Chicago Bar Association once Lynn Grayson begins her term. Jennifer Nijman was CBA president in 2002-2003.
Nijman·Franzetti LLP is celebrating 12 years as a women-owned environmental law boutique. Being a successful and reputable environmental boutique law firm is very rare, even nationally. Being a women-owned environmental boutique attracts additional Fortune 100 A-list clients. Even more notable are the size and import of the matters they handle for these companies. After only a dozen years, Nijman·Franzetti’s competitors are the nation’s largest and most respected law firms.
Brice received a J.D., cum laude, from the Georgetown University Law Center, and she holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism, with distinction, from Northwestern University. She is admitted to the Illinois bar, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and both the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.
For additional information or to arrange an interview, please contact Jennifer Nijman at 312.251.5255 or jn@nijmanfranzetti.com. For additional information about Nijman·Franzetti LLP, please visit www.nijmanfranzetti.com.