Gallop, Johnson and Neuman Establishes Enviromental Sustainability Practice

Gallop Johnson and Neuman http://www.gjn.com has established a "Green Business Practice," comprised of six experienced attorneys addressing a full spectrum of environmental sustainability issues and related business, governmental, regulatory and judicial matters for clients .

"The Green Business Practice formally organizes our firm's deep-rooted legal experience in environmental issues, energy, bio-technology, economic development, real estate, construction, reclamation, recycling, hazardous materials, insurance, product liability, toxic tort and related business, governmental and regulatory matters, including litigation and intellectual property.

"For many years, Gallop, Johnson & Neuman has addressed such issues in different cross-practice areas at the firm; now, our Green Business Practice is wholly dedicated to such matters for our clients in St. Louis and nationally," Thomas J. Campbell, managing partner,  said.

Last December, Gallop Johnson & Neuman was the first law firm in St. Louis to become a certified partner in the American Bar Association-Environmental Protection Agency Law Office Climate Challenge, a program to encourage law firms to become better environmental and energy stewards. Also last year, the firm established a Green Committee to formally address environmental sustainability issues internally. An outgrowth of these efforts was to formalize the Green Business Practice.  Attorneys now working in the new Green Business Practice at Gallop, Johnson & Neuman include:
 
John W. Traeger, a partner with extensive experience dealing with federal, state and local environmental regulatory authorities, leads the Green Business Practice. Traeger is general counsel at the firm and also leads the Environmental Law Practice. He serves on the firm's Ethics Committee, and is earning Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Professional Accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council. Traeger is on the board of directors of Sustainable St. Louis, a Missouri non-profit organization that serves as an information resource and facilitator in areas of regional sustainability. Before joining the firm in 2000, Traeger served as environmental corporate counsel internally at Ralston Purina Co., Continental Baking Co. and Sigma Chemical Co. in St. Louis.
 
Alan S. Breckenridge, a partner in the law firm's litigation department, is chair of the firm's green committee, which is implementing sustainable measures and operational practices firm-wide. These measures to date include reducing paper and energy usage; recycling paper and other products; purchasing recycled products; and revamping firm policies to become better environmental stewards. Breckenridge is broadly experienced in litigation matters, including environmental, health, torts, products liability, and others.
 
Thomas P. Hohenstein, a partner in the litigation department, focuses his practice on construction law, real estate law and related insurance matters. Mr. Hohenstein has extensive experience handling construction litigation in state and federal courts and in arbitrations.  He assists clients in drafting and negotiating construction contracts, representing developers, general contractors, construction managers, subcontractors, material suppliers, architects, engineers, landlords, and surety companies.

John W. Kepler III is chairman of the intellectual property practice group and a partner at the firm. He serves clients including biological, electrical, industrial machinery, software and consumer product companies, among others. He is author of expert practice case articles for legal and business publications, and he lectures on dynamic issues at legal seminars and professional meetings. In addition, he is an adjunct professor at the Washington University School of Law.
 
Suzanne L. Zatlin is a partner in the firm's real estate and construction law department. Zatlin represents individuals, businesses and developers in green-related real estate acquisitions, sales, exchanges, financing, development and leasing of residential and commercial property, including for subdivisions and condominiums, and in the negotiation of utility easements.

Robert B. Preston is an associate in the firm's real estate and construction law department.  His practice includes representing clients in real estate acquisitions, sales and exchanges, tax appeals, zoning and land use disputes, and in other real estate matters.  Preston also handles various real estate financing matters, including public financing.

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