Erin L. Brooks

Erin Brooks
  1. People /

Erin L. Brooks

Erin L. Brooks

Partner

Erin Brooks
  1. People /

Erin L. Brooks

Erin L. Brooks

Partner

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

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

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

  • 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

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

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.
News
Jun 05, 2025

Chambers USA 2025

Blog Post
May 13, 2025

TSCA PFAS Reporting Delayed (Again)

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.

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.
News
Jun 05, 2025
Chambers USA 2025
News
May 21, 2025
Firm advises Industrial Realty Group LLC in its acquisition of Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company
Blog Post
May 15, 2025
EPA Announces Plan to Scale Back PFAS Drinking Water Limits
Blog Post
May 13, 2025
TSCA PFAS Reporting Delayed (Again)
Blog Post
May 06, 2025
Presidential Memorandum Directing Agencies to Repeal Environmental Regulations
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.
News
Apr 03, 2025
BCLP advises Terrestrial Energy Inc. in Milestone move to become first publicly traded molten salt nuclear reactor developer
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.