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Erin L. Brooks

Erin Brooks
  1. People /

Erin L. Brooks

Erin L. Brooks

Partner


Chicago/St. Louis
Erin Brooks
  1. People /

Erin L. Brooks

Erin L. Brooks

Partner


Chicago/St. Louis

Erin L. Brooks

Partner

Chicago/St. Louis

Office Managing Partner - Chicago

T: +1 312 602 5093

T: +1 314 259 2393

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  • Biography

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Biography

Erin Brooks is an environmental attorney whose nationwide practice focuses on real estate redevelopment and renewable energy.  Erin diligently works to understand her clients’ businesses so that she can effectively support the proactive management of matters across all environmental areas.  Clients appreciate Erin’s strategic, business-forward, and creative approach to their most complicated issues.

Clients routinely engage Erin to lead responses to regulatory and enforcement actions, site investigation and remediation, transactional matters including mergers and acquisitions, compliance counseling encompassing all environmental media, and all phases of litigation.  Erin partners with corporate clients across a wide range of industries, such as food, beverage and agriculture, manufacturing, metal fabricating, and car rental and fleet management on such nationwide environmental matters.

As part of Erin’s sophisticated brownfield redevelopment practice, Erin routinely represents real estate developers, investors, and sellers in all phases of transactions from due diligence, insurance procurement, and transactional negotiation, including post-closing management of investigation, remediation, and development.  Erin appreciates that the early identification of key stakeholders is critical to the success of these projects.  She leverages connections to build the right multi-disciplinary team and develop tailored strategic outreach.

Erin is also experienced in resolving claims asserted by governmental agencies and third parties, including high profile toxic tort litigation in state and federal courts.  Erin also has substantial experience counseling and defending occupational safety and health (OSHA) matters, and she is a published author on issues affecting OSHA-regulated employers.  

Erin’s appreciation of business drivers is well supported by her experience working “hand in hand” with clients on corporate governance issues, such as serving as independent counsel for board committees to conduct large-scale investigations and advising energy industry clients on corporate social responsibility policies.  In these capacities, she has played a critical role in evaluating potential compliance issues for the purpose of identifying and implementing proactive solutions, and appropriate remediation as needed.

Erin is actively engaged within her community and serves on the Board of Directors for Operation Food Search, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending hunger in the bi-state area through its innovative nutrition education and advocacy programs.  Operation Food Search is well aligned with Erin’s interest in promoting sustainability and leverages her professional experience working closely with the food and agriculture industries to promote community well-being.

Areas of Focus

Logistics & Industrial Logistics & Industrial

  • Logistics & Industrial

Civic Involvement & Honors

  • Chambers USA, Environment (2023)
  • Operation Food Search, Board of Directors
  • Chambers USA, Environment, "Up and Coming" (2021-2022)

Professional Affiliations

  • Missouri Bar Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association 
  • Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis

Admissions

  • Illinois, 2013
  • Missouri, 2010
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

    United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri

Education

Saint Louis University, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Woolsack, 2010

Truman State University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2007

Related Capabilities

Real Estate Real Estate

Health & Safety Health & Safety

Finance Finance

Investigations Investigations

Litigation & Dispute Resolution Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Regulation, Compliance & Advisory Regulation, Compliance & Advisory

Renewables & Storage Renewables & Storage

PFAS PFAS

Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure

Environment Environment

Logistics & Industrial Logistics & Industrial

ESG & Energy Transition ESG & Energy Transition

Healthcare & Life Sciences Healthcare & Life Sciences

Restaurants, Pubs & Clubs Restaurants, Pubs & Clubs

Sustainable Real Estate Sustainable Real Estate

Financial Institutions Financial Institutions

Food & Agribusiness Food & Agribusiness

Business & Commercial Disputes Business & Commercial Disputes

Real Estate Real Estate

Health & Safety Health & Safety

Finance Finance

Investigations Investigations

Litigation & Dispute Resolution Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Regulation, Compliance & Advisory Regulation, Compliance & Advisory

Renewables & Storage Renewables & Storage

PFAS PFAS

Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure

Environment Environment

Logistics & Industrial Logistics & Industrial

ESG & Energy Transition ESG & Energy Transition

Healthcare & Life Sciences Healthcare & Life Sciences

Restaurants, Pubs & Clubs Restaurants, Pubs & Clubs

Sustainable Real Estate Sustainable Real Estate

Financial Institutions Financial Institutions

Food & Agribusiness Food & Agribusiness

Business & Commercial Disputes Business & Commercial Disputes

Real Estate Real Estate

Health & Safety Health & Safety

Finance Finance

Investigations Investigations

Litigation & Dispute Resolution Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Regulation, Compliance & Advisory Regulation, Compliance & Advisory

Renewables & Storage Renewables & Storage

PFAS PFAS

Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure

  • Environment

  • Logistics & Industrial

  • ESG & Energy Transition

  • Healthcare & Life Sciences

  • Restaurants, Pubs & Clubs

  • Sustainable Real Estate

  • Financial Institutions

  • Food & Agribusiness

  • Business & Commercial Disputes

  • Real Estate

  • Health & Safety

  • Finance

  • Investigations

  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution

  • Regulation, Compliance & Advisory

  • Renewables & Storage

  • PFAS

  • Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure

Resources

Publications

  • "A Rule Old and New, Borrowed and Blue: Exxon Adapts State Punitive Liability Law to Craft New Interpretation in Admiralty," 54 St. Louis U.L.J. 357 (2009)

Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, Brownfield Listings conference, Project Empowerment Through Environmental Due Diligence, June 2019
  • Moderator, Midwest Environmental Compliance Conference, Contaminated Property: Latest Trends, April 2019

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Nov 13, 2025

PFAS in firefighting foam (AFFF) and equipment: state-by-state regulations

Numerous states have either enacted or proposed regulations regarding per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) present in Class B Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (“AFFF”) used for firefighting, or PFAS present in firefighters’ clothing and equipment.  This alert provides a comprehensive state snapshot regarding the status of these regulations across the United States, especially as significant portion of the federal activity involved with firefighting foam involves products used by the Department of Defense (“DOD”). These regulations typically involve restrictions in four general areas:  Discharge or Use Restrictions.  These regulations usually limit or prohibit the use of AFFF in training or testing exercises, and may only allow the use of AFFF in active firefighting situations; Disposal, Storage, Inventory or “Take-back” Provisions.  Some states have enacted state-run programs to purchase and dispose of AFFF, usually purchasing supplies from government agencies; Notification or Reporting Requirements.  When continued use of AFFF is allowed, some states have required that businesses report specific details regarding their discharge; and Limitations on Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”).  Some states have limited or prohibited PPE for firefighters that contain PFAS compounds. 
Insights
Oct 01, 2025

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News
Sep 26, 2025

BCLP advises Safran Defense and Space on Attollo Engineering acquisition

Blog Post
Sep 26, 2025

EPA Retains PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA Hazardous Substances

Blog Post
Sep 25, 2025

PFAS in groundwater: state-by-state regulations

In the absence of federal cleanup standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) in groundwater, several states have started the process of regulating PFAS in groundwater themselves. As a result, states have adopted a patchwork of regulations and guidance standards that present significant compliance challenges to impacted industries. This client alert explores the current landscape of state regulations regarding the advisory, notification, and cleanup levels for PFAS – typically perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (“PFOS”) and perfluorooctanoic acid (”PFOA”) – in groundwater.
Awards
Aug 21, 2025

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Insights
Aug 19, 2025

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Related Insights

Blog Post
Nov 20, 2025
Ninth Cir. Halts CA Climate-Related Financial Risk Law; Emissions Reporting Law Remains in Force
Insights
Nov 13, 2025
EPA Proposes Significant Exemptions to the TSCA PFAS Reporting Rule
Blog Post
Nov 13, 2025
PFAS in firefighting foam (AFFF) and equipment: state-by-state regulations
Numerous states have either enacted or proposed regulations regarding per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) present in Class B Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (“AFFF”) used for firefighting, or PFAS present in firefighters’ clothing and equipment.  This alert provides a comprehensive state snapshot regarding the status of these regulations across the United States, especially as significant portion of the federal activity involved with firefighting foam involves products used by the Department of Defense (“DOD”). These regulations typically involve restrictions in four general areas:  Discharge or Use Restrictions.  These regulations usually limit or prohibit the use of AFFF in training or testing exercises, and may only allow the use of AFFF in active firefighting situations; Disposal, Storage, Inventory or “Take-back” Provisions.  Some states have enacted state-run programs to purchase and dispose of AFFF, usually purchasing supplies from government agencies; Notification or Reporting Requirements.  When continued use of AFFF is allowed, some states have required that businesses report specific details regarding their discharge; and Limitations on Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”).  Some states have limited or prohibited PPE for firefighters that contain PFAS compounds. 
Insights
Oct 01, 2025
Are You Affected? California’s Climate Disclosure Laws: Reporting Deadlines and Requirements
News
Sep 26, 2025
BCLP advises Safran Defense and Space on Attollo Engineering acquisition
Blog Post
Sep 26, 2025
EPA Retains PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA Hazardous Substances
Blog Post
Sep 25, 2025
PFAS in groundwater: state-by-state regulations
In the absence of federal cleanup standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) in groundwater, several states have started the process of regulating PFAS in groundwater themselves. As a result, states have adopted a patchwork of regulations and guidance standards that present significant compliance challenges to impacted industries. This client alert explores the current landscape of state regulations regarding the advisory, notification, and cleanup levels for PFAS – typically perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (“PFOS”) and perfluorooctanoic acid (”PFOA”) – in groundwater.
Awards
Aug 21, 2025
Best Lawyers in the USA 2026
Insights
Aug 19, 2025
California Climate Reporting Deadlines Loom After Denial of Preliminary Injunction
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