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Jessica Wicha

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Jessica Wicha regularly advises US and multinational companies on managing the risks and liabilities arising under federal and state environmental, health and safety ("EHS") laws, with a particular emphasis on solid and hazardous waste and water resource issues. A significant portion of her practice also focuses on the US and international EHS laws regulating the manufacture, marketing, sale and disposal of products, including TSCA, FIFRA, California’s Proposition 65, and state chemical content and electronic waste laws. Ms. Wicha's practice covers the spectrum of environmental legal matters, including regulatory compliance counseling, enforcement defense, and environmental aspects of complex business transactions. She strives to provide practical solutions to her client's environmental legal challenges, including day-to-day compliance issues, remediation matters, emergency spills and releases, and regulatory enforcement. Ms. Wicha also has extensive experience advising on environmental transactional matters across a wide range of industry sectors and global jurisdictions. This work includes scoping and coordinating environmental due diligence, managing environmental consultants, advising clients on environmental liability and risk allocation issues and tools, drafting and negotiating environmental contractual language, and coordinating permit transfers. Ms. Wicha is a past co-chair of the Baker McKenzie Chicago Associates Committee and currently serves on the Baker McKenzie Chicago BGreen Committee and is a member of the Firm's BakerWomen group.
In Environment

United States: President Biden’s Environmental Agenda Comes into Focus

by , , and 16 Mins Read

President Biden was officially sworn in on January 20th and has taken swift action to reverse or pause many of the policies of the Trump Administration and set a new course.  Since our update in November, President Biden also finalized his choices for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and leaders of other key agencies, including the Department of Interior (DOI) and the Department of Energy (DOE), who, if confirmed, will set the tone for future actions that broadly address environmental and climate issues.

In Corporate Governance

The Rise of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Litigation

by , , , and 1 Min Read

As companies increase their environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting and statements in response to market and shareholder demands, plaintiffs have pursued with growing success legal challenges to company claims and disclosures related to ESG performance. Similarly, inventive theories are being put forward to directly attack companies for alleged ESG-related performance and…

In Covid-19

United States: Trump Administration Issues Executive Order Seeking to Expedite Environmental Reviews for Infrastructure Projects

by , , and 6 Mins Read

On June 4, 2020, President Trump signed a new Executive Order (“EO”) aimed at accelerating the initiation and completion of infrastructure projects to spur on the United States’ economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.1 At the heart of this latest EO is a mandate to expedite required environmental reviews for…

In Covid-19

United States: COVID-19 – U.S. Environmental Update: EPA Issues New “Temporary” Enforcement Policy

by , , , and 6 Mins Read

Earlier this week, we provided guidance on the development of an “Environmental Action Plan” to address potential environmental regulatory and compliance challenges arising from the COVID-19 crisis. Our recommendations included – in the context of limited or unavailable EHS staff or resources and in response to plant shutdown orders –…

In Covid-19

US: Managing Environmental Compliance Amidst COVID-19 Operational Disruptions

by , , , and 8 Mins Read

The ever-evolving COVID-19 crisis continues to pose significant challenges for industrial enterprises across the United States. Until very recently, the engines of industry continued to hum while the broader world wrestled with this unprecedented public health crisis. However, with growing constituencies across the public and private sector calling for more…

In Environment / Climate

US: New Definition of Solid Waste Rule Redefines Environmental Protection Agency Authority Over Recycling

by , , , and 23 Mins Read

On December 10, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued its long-awaited revisions to the definition of solid waste rule (“Final DSW Rule”) under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”). The Final DSW Rule scales back certain important RCRA recycling exemptions that were first promulgated as part of…