Background

Tom uses his strong regulatory and transactional experience to identify practical solutions for his clients. Prior to joining Hatchett & Hauck in 2005, he served as counsel for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), where he led the IDEM legal section for contaminated property cleanup and regulation of solid and hazardous waste.

Emphasis

Tom's unique focus on property concerns—from developing many of the laws, regulations, and policies on contaminated site cleanup and liability while at IDEM to finding creative uses of waste materials—positions him to advise clients involved in transfer, redevelopment, and cleanup of brownfields and other potentially contaminated properties. He is particularly experienced in developing solutions for completing and paying for property cleanup, and finds that reaching agreements without litigation is often possible through his understanding of the issues and focus on his clients’ underlying business objectives.  He also uses his experience and knowledge of environmental laws and regulations to help clients to find cost-effective solutions to compliance, permitting, and enforcement issues. 

Experience

Before joining Hatchett & Hauck, Tom's experience at IDEM as Chief Remediation Counsel prepared him to advise clients on remediation and waste-related issues as well as air, water, and waste permitting, enforcement issues, and litigation matters. His clients include developers, property owners, and lenders involved in the cleanup, transfer, and development of contaminated property, as well as small and large companies with regulatory needs. Tom's unique experience with IDEM’s cleanup programs, along with awareness of the latest developments in environmental law, has helped him assist clients with multi-million-dollar cleanup and cleanup cost recovery actions against insurance companies, private companies, and state environmental cleanup funds.

Education

• University of Illinois College of Law, JD, magna cum laude (1998)

• University of Notre Dame, BS in Chemical Engineering (1995)

Admission

• Indiana, 1998

Involvement

Tom is active in serving the community and his profession, including as 2020 Chair of the Indianapolis Bar Association Environmental Section and regularly lecturing and writing on topics like Indiana’s Brownfields Program, insurance recovery, and regulatory compliance. Tom also served as Young Alumni Coordinator for the Notre Dame Club of Indianapolis and was recognized as a finalist in the inaugural Indy’s Best and Brightest Awards. He enjoys travel, gardening, and playing sports with his family.

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