Environmental and Natural Resources Law

Environmental and Natural Resources Law is the core of our practice and our heritage at Olson, Bzdok & Howard. James Olson was the Chair of the first Michigan Environmental Law Conference and is the author of the book, Michigan Environmental Law. Our firm has been involved in some of the major environmental cases of the last three decades, on issues ranging from water and wetlands, to the public trust and the Great Lakes, to oil and gas development on state lands.

That tradition of legal expertise and environmental service continues today. In recent years, we have been among the attorneys of record in three environmental cases before the Michigan Supreme Court, all of which were decided in favor of our clients’ interests. We have also represented clients in high-profile environmental cases across the state, from the western end of the Upper Peninsula to the Metropolitan Detroit area.

The key to our success in Environmental and Natural Resources Law is our continued commitment to viewing environmental law and policy as tools for promoting our clients' interests while protecting the environment. Our attorneys and staff stay abreast of the latest developments in the law and apply that knowledge to the benefit of our clients, allowing us to anticipate unforseen problems and save both time and money.

We are actively involved in the State Bar’s Environmental Law Section, in assisting environmental organizations, and in lecturing and writing on legal issues related to the environment, including law review articles, a chapter in the Michigan Environmental Law Desk Book, and legal reference texts. We are well-versed in all areas of Environmental and Natural Resources Law, including contaminated property, lakes, rivers, and wetlands, endangered species, conservation easements and other land protection tools, brownfield redevelopment, air and water pollution, permitting, insurance, liability, and public lands.