Karin O’Connell is a seasoned commercial litigator who also practices in the environmental law area.
In the environmental arena, Karin acts as trial counsel in matters involving environmental auditing, site remediation, underground storage tanks, wetlands preservation and permitting, endangered species, stormwater permitting, air permitting compliance, archaeological sites, mining and clean fill, and Superfund liability. She also advises the firm’s clients on issues arising in connection with purchase/sale/lease transactions, real estate development, “green building” standards, liabilities and sustainability and land use, including risk assessment and allocation as well as compliance concerns.
As a trained commercial litigator, Karin has handled innumerable commercial disputes for both closely held and publicly held businesses in a diverse range of matters, including contractual disputes, discrimination claims, real estate disputes and disputes over estate handlings, among others, at administrative, trial and appellate levels. Karin works closely with the firm’s clients providing counsel in advance of transactions and significant business decisions to reduce or eliminate potential liability and disputes arising as a result of these activities.
Credentials
Education
- Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 1986
- University of Michigan, B.A., 1982
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- Federal Trial Bar, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Affiliations
- Alliance Française de Chicago
- North American Lake Management Society
- Society of Women Environmental Professionals
- LEED® Green Associate, U.S. Green Building Council – Chicago Chapter
- Co-Chair, ABA's Endangered Species Committee
Key Cases or Transactions
- Trial counsel for a major Midwest stone quarry in a federal Clean Water Act case seeking over $100 million in damages.
- Trial counsel for aggregate’s company at Illinois Pollution Control Board in connection with alleged landfill violations of licensee.
- Trial counsel for owner of investment properties in connection with private cost recovery action under federal CERCLA.
- Environmental counsel to major client with respect to potential real estate acquisition including concerns about endangered species, wetlands, historical contamination and archaeological sites.
- Environmental counsel to client purchasing assets from bankrupt estate of national clothing distributor.
- Environmental counsel to major aggregate production company with respect to potential sale.
- Litigation/environmental counsel to purchasers in connection with numerous multi-million dollar acquisitions of trailer company, agricultural machinery company and aggregates resources.
- Trial counsel for furniture manufacturer in dispute concerning sales representation, marketing and antitrust issues.
- Trial counsel for trailer manufacturer in multi-million dollar dispute with supplier and customer over issues of warranty, contract and misrepresentation.
- Trial counsel for regulated electric utility in arbitration seeking damages in excess of $40 million for alleged breach of electric power marketing contract.
News
- Gould & Ratner Represented JJD Management in the Acquisition of Metaltec, October 20, 2022
- Gould & Ratner Represented CC Industries in the Acquisition of Central Indiana Ethanol, December 22, 2021
- Karin O’Connell Appointed Co-Chair for ABA’s Endangered Species Committee, August 3, 2020
- Karin O’Connell Appointed Vice Chair of Membership for ABA’s Endangered Species Committee, July 30, 2019
Publications
- Illinois Supreme Court Finds Insurance Coverage for Alleged Violations of BIPA , May 24, 2021
- Policyholders See New Developments in COVID-19 Case Law , November 10, 2020
- More Hope for Insureds Experiencing COVID-19 Losses , September 30, 2020
- Coverage for COVID-19: How Are Insurance Policyholders Faring So Far With Claims and Litigation? , September 24, 2020
- Suburb's Citizens Out of Luck Against Contractor's Insurer for Contaminated Water , September 21, 2020
- Illinois to Test For PFAs in Drinking Water , September 15, 2020
- Private Permitting of “Take” of Endangered Species Under Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act: The Habitat Conservation Plan , American Bar Association: Section of Environment, Energy and Resources , May 7, 2020
- U.S. Supreme Court Expands Permit Requirements for Groundwater Discharge , April 28, 2020
- Here Today, Gone Tomorrow? Rules Changing How Endangered Species Act is Applied , August 13, 2019
- Greening Existing Buildings , GR Environmental Update , January 2011
- The Illinois Radon Awareness Act , GR Review , December 2007
Published Opinions
- Freeman United Coal Min. Co. v. Director, Office of Worker’s Compensation Programs, U.S. Dept. of Labor, 94 F.3d 384 (7th cir. 1996)
- Freeman United Coal Min. Co. v. Hunter, 82 F.3d 764 (7th Cir. 1996)
- Freeman United Coal Min. Co. v Hilliard, 65 F.3d 667(7th Cir. 1995)
- Freeman United Coal Min. Co. v. Cooper, 965 F.2d 443 (7th Cir. 1992)
- Hawkins v. Director, Office of Worker’s Compensation Programs, 907 F.2d 697 (7th Cir. 1990)
- Freeman United Coal Min. Co. v. Benefits Review Bd., U.S. Dept. of Labor, 909 F.2d 193 (7th Cir. 1990)
- Elipas Enterprises, Inc. v. Silverstein, 243 Ill.App.3d 230, 612 N.E.2d 9 (1st Dist. 1993)
- Luminall Paints, Inc. v. LaSalle Nat. Bank, 220 Ill.App.3d 796, 581 N.E.2d 191 (1st Dist. 1991)
- Premium Plastics v. LaSalle Nat. Bank, 904 F.Supp. 809, 26 Evtl. L. Rep. 20,681 N.D.Ill (1995)
Presentations
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The Development Approval Process in Illinois – Regulatory Concerns Related To Development, August 2006