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Legal Heroes: Robert Graham, Gabrielle Sigel and Allison Torrence
Robert Graham, Gabrielle Sigel and Allison Torrence began working on the Hyperion case in 2008. They represented the Sierra Club in its challenge to the Hyperion Energy Center's PSD air permit. On behalf of the Sierra Club, they prepared detailed technical comments on the proposed permit, participated in a contested case hearing before the South Dakota Board of Minerals and Environment, and appealed the issuance of the permit through the South Dakota state court system. When Hyperion applied for an extension and amendment to its PSD permit in 2010, they did everything again -- comments, contested case hearing and appeal. They appealed the PSD air permit to the South Dakota Supreme Court, where they just recently presented oral arguments on October 3, 2012.
Robert L. Graham is a nationally recognized authority on environmental, health, safety, natural resources, and energy matters. He literally helped to write the book on these issues, co-authoring the environmental law textbook that is widely used in many of the nation's law schools. Mr. Graham has repeatedly been recognized for his professional accomplishments. The League of Women Voters awarded him their Citizen of Action Award in 2008, and the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice awarded him its Commitment to Justice and Community Action Award in 2006. He has served as a board member for the Environmental Law Institute, for the Northwestern Center on Wrongful Convictions, and for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. He has more than a decade of experience teaching environmental law at both Northwestern University School of Law and Loyola University School of Law.
Gabrielle Sigel is Co-Chair of the Jenner & Block’s Climate and Clean Technology Law Practice, a founding member of the Firm’s Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources Law Practice, and a founding member of the Environmental Litigation Practice. She regularly represents clients in complex environmental statutory, common law, Superfund enforcement, and cost recovery actions. These environmental matters also involve multiple federal and state class and individual actions alleging cost recovery, enforcement matters, personal injury and property damage which have been successfully resolved. She is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and also has taught environmental law at Northwestern University School of Law as an adjunct professor. Ms. Sigel has published extensively, including being a principal author for the Environmental Law and Climate Change Center published by LexisNexis. She also is a frequent speaker on climate change, workplace health and safety, and hazardous material exposure and remediation issues. She has been recognized by Leading Lawyers Network in the areas of Environmental Law, Toxic Tort Defense and Insurance Coverage.
Allison A. Torrence has significant experience in environmental litigation, working on cases involving toxic torts, CERCLA, RCRA, and the Clean Air Act, among other matters. Ms. Torrence was recognized by the Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association with the David C. Hilliard Award for Outstanding Committee Service for her work on the Environmental Law Committee. Active in the Chicago Bar Association, she serves as Co-Chair of the Young Lawyers Section Environmental Law Committee.