Bryan E. Keyt

Bryan E. Keyt
  1. People /

Bryan E. Keyt

Bryan E. Keyt

Partner

Bryan E. Keyt
  1. People /

Bryan E. Keyt

Bryan E. Keyt

Partner

Bryan E. Keyt

Partner

Chicago

Partner and Global Practice Group Leader - Energy, Environment and Infrastructure

T: +1 312 602 5036

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Biography

Bryan is the leader of the firm's Energy, Environment and Infrastructure Practice Group. His practice focuses on a wide range of environmental, energy, health and safety matters. In these capacities, he regularly counsels clients regarding the management of risks and liabilities associated with air, water, waste management, chemical handling and disposal, Superfund, process safety and risk management, and occupational  safety and health. He also counsels clients on strategic environmental, health and safety auditing and planning, and regularly defends litigation and administrative enforcement matters brought by U.S. EPA, OSHA, MSHA, and state and local regulatory agencies. His enforcement defense experience includes matters involving major federal environmental statutes, state and local environmental laws, and also cases involving release reporting issues. He has also successfully defended clients in safety and health enforcement matters following industrial accidents, including matters involving chemical spills and employee fatalities.

Bryan represents traditional, alternative and renewable energy businesses regarding environmental, safety and health, customer contract, supply contract, regulatory, transactional (asset and stock) and general business matters. His experience includes representation of alternative retail electric and gas suppliers, district energy companies, wind and solar companies, biofuel and other independent energy producers. He has helped clients negotiate pipeline/terminaling agreements, customer contracts, material supply and other energy business agreements. He has also represented numerous renewable energy companies regarding development issues involved with construction and permitting of large-scale wind and solar developments including counseling under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

As part of his extensive transactional background, Bryan regularly represents clients in corporate and real estate transactions including the negotiation of asset purchase and sales agreements, stock purchase agreements, and real estate and remediation agreements associated with “Brownfield” redevelopment projects. He has significant experience representing clients conducting environmental remediation and participating in state voluntary cleanup programs. Representative “Brownfield” experiences include: the acquisition, voluntary remediation and redevelopment of a 265-acre metals manufacturing facility; development of a large scale intermodal facility; and numerous other remediation and redevelopment projects ranging in size from one acre to over 1000 acres.

Bryan has written several law review and journal articles on environmental issues. His articles on recovering attorney's fees under CERCLA and RCRA Criminal Liability have been published in the DePaul Law Review and the Chemical Waste Litigation Reporter, respectively. He also co-authored the Environmental Chapter of the Illinois Continuing Legal Education's Construction law handbook. Bryan regularly speaks on a range of environmental, energy, health and safety topics. He has made presentations to Fortune 500 and other private companies including Robert Bosch Corporation, Dean Foods Company, Brunswick Corporation, and ACH Food Companies.

Civic Involvement & Honors

  • Best Lawyers of America, Environmental Law (2023-2024)
  • Chambers USA (2022-2023)

Professional Affiliations

  • Executive Committee of the National Brownfield Association – Illinois Chapter
  • American Bar Association
  • Illinois Bar Association

  • Sustainability Committee

Admissions

  • Colorado, 2025
  • Illinois, 1993

Education

DePaul University, J.D., with honors, 1993

Colgate University, B.A., cum laude, 1988

Related Capabilities

  • Energy Transition

  • Aerospace & Defense

  • Health & Safety

  • Investigations

  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution

  • Regulation, Compliance & Advisory

  • ESG & Energy Transition

  • Employment Class & Collective Actions

  • Logistics & Industrial

  • Renewables & Storage

  • Power

  • Environment

  • Cross-border Employment Issues

  • PFAS

  • Real Estate

  • Oil, Gas & Sustainable Fuels

  • Agribusiness

  • Food & Beverage

  • Restaurants, Pubs & Clubs

  • Food & Agribusiness

  • Employment & Labor

  • Infrastructure

Related Insights

Blog Post
Jun 13, 2025

PFAS drinking water standards: state-by-state regulations

The regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) in drinking water remains one of the primary focuses for legislatures and agencies at both the state and federal levels.  In May 2025, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) affirmed Maximum Contaminant Levels (“MCLs”) of 4 parts per trillion (“ppt”) for two PFAS substances, perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (“PFOS”).  Many states have already regulated PFAS compounds in drinking water but have done so in a variety of different ways and at different levels.  The result is a patchwork of regulations and standards which presents significant operational and compliance challenges to impacted drinking water systems.  This client alert surveys  MCLs, as well as guidance and notification levels, for PFAS compounds in drinking water across the United States.
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Blog Post
May 02, 2025

PFAS Announcement; Administrator Zeldin Signals Continuation of EPA Objectives

On April 28, 2025, EPA Administrator Zeldin issued the Agency’s most comprehensive statement since Trump’s inauguration regarding how EPA plans to address PFAS compounds under a variety of ongoing regulatory programs (“EPA Statement”).  The EPA Statement signals a continuation of many of the Biden EPA’s priorities and actions regarding PFAS, also while noting efforts to refine the scope of some of those actions.  EPA’s Statement confirms that the Agency plans to continue forward with several existing PFAS related regulatory and enforcement initiatives including drinking water, site investigation, chemical reporting, air emissions, and biosolids.  Importantly, the EPA Statement confirms that EPA intends to designate a lead official to manage PFAS efforts across various programs and agencies as detailed below.  Once that appointment occurs, the general policy declarations in the EPA Statement are likely to be translated into more concrete actions and rulemaking by the Agency.
Blog Post
Mar 12, 2025

Environmental Justice Revisited

Since January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration has implemented numerous changes to federal environmental justice (“EJ”) initiatives which are expected to result in reduced permitting and regulatory burdens. While the current administration may continue to make changes to EJ policies on a federal level, it is important to know that many states still have their own EJ policies that remain enforceable. This insight discusses the following three things: provides the necessary historical context regarding EJ; outlines the recent actions by the Trump Administration; and explores some state regulations and potential ramifications for your business. It is vital for your business to stay current with these developments and to consult with legal counsel before making any changes to your operations based on the current administration's actions.
Blog Post
Feb 04, 2025

PFAS in Soil: State Regulations

In the absence of enforceable federal standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) in soil, several states have started the process of regulating PFAS in soil themselves.  These regulations have implications for due diligence, site investigations, and remediation decisions.  This client alert explores the current landscape of state regulations regarding the advisory, notification, and cleanup levels for PFAS – most commonly perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (“PFOS”) and perfluorooctanoic acid (”PFOA”)  – in soil.

Related Insights

Blog Post
Jun 13, 2025
PFAS drinking water standards: state-by-state regulations
The regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) in drinking water remains one of the primary focuses for legislatures and agencies at both the state and federal levels.  In May 2025, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) affirmed Maximum Contaminant Levels (“MCLs”) of 4 parts per trillion (“ppt”) for two PFAS substances, perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (“PFOS”).  Many states have already regulated PFAS compounds in drinking water but have done so in a variety of different ways and at different levels.  The result is a patchwork of regulations and standards which presents significant operational and compliance challenges to impacted drinking water systems.  This client alert surveys  MCLs, as well as guidance and notification levels, for PFAS compounds in drinking water across the United States.
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Jun 11, 2025
BCLP Recognized in Mergers & Acquisitions’ Top 2025 Middle-Market Deals of the Year for Role in New Era–’47 Transaction
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Blog Post
May 02, 2025
PFAS Announcement; Administrator Zeldin Signals Continuation of EPA Objectives
On April 28, 2025, EPA Administrator Zeldin issued the Agency’s most comprehensive statement since Trump’s inauguration regarding how EPA plans to address PFAS compounds under a variety of ongoing regulatory programs (“EPA Statement”).  The EPA Statement signals a continuation of many of the Biden EPA’s priorities and actions regarding PFAS, also while noting efforts to refine the scope of some of those actions.  EPA’s Statement confirms that the Agency plans to continue forward with several existing PFAS related regulatory and enforcement initiatives including drinking water, site investigation, chemical reporting, air emissions, and biosolids.  Importantly, the EPA Statement confirms that EPA intends to designate a lead official to manage PFAS efforts across various programs and agencies as detailed below.  Once that appointment occurs, the general policy declarations in the EPA Statement are likely to be translated into more concrete actions and rulemaking by the Agency.
Insights
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Blog Post
Mar 12, 2025
Environmental Justice Revisited
Since January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration has implemented numerous changes to federal environmental justice (“EJ”) initiatives which are expected to result in reduced permitting and regulatory burdens. While the current administration may continue to make changes to EJ policies on a federal level, it is important to know that many states still have their own EJ policies that remain enforceable. This insight discusses the following three things: provides the necessary historical context regarding EJ; outlines the recent actions by the Trump Administration; and explores some state regulations and potential ramifications for your business. It is vital for your business to stay current with these developments and to consult with legal counsel before making any changes to your operations based on the current administration's actions.
Blog Post
Feb 04, 2025
PFAS in Soil: State Regulations
In the absence of enforceable federal standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) in soil, several states have started the process of regulating PFAS in soil themselves.  These regulations have implications for due diligence, site investigations, and remediation decisions.  This client alert explores the current landscape of state regulations regarding the advisory, notification, and cleanup levels for PFAS – most commonly perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (“PFOS”) and perfluorooctanoic acid (”PFOA”)  – in soil.
Blog Post
Jan 27, 2025
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