Blaine Bengtson

Contaminants & Toxic Torts

Environmental Law

Litigation

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)

Environmental Litigation

Blaine Bengtson focuses his practice on environmental law, including regulatory compliance, transactional issues and litigation, as well as litigation involving contaminants and toxic tort claims, and some complex civil litigation. He assists clients with environmental matters under federal and state law, and in judicial and administrative forums.

Blaine’s environmental regulatory work has involved the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), among others. Blaine is a member of the firm’s PFAS team, where he helps monitor state and federal regulation of PFAS and assists clients in assessing their current and future liability.

Blaine previously served as Co-Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (ABA SEER), and was named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers in 2023. Prior to joining Lathrop GPM, Blaine served as an associate attorney at a Denver law firm, where he counseled businesses and corporations on complex civil litigation matters. While in law school, Blaine served as a law clerk for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where he assisted with developing Clean Air Act enforcement cases.

Environmental Representative Experience

Providing legal guidance on compliance with state and federal solid and hazardous waste laws

Advising on environmental reporting requirements, liability and risk mitigation

Assisting in negotiations with state and federal agencies for modifications to restrictive and environmental covenants for land development projects

Preparing environmental risk disclosures for public company annual reports

Analyzing utility owners' options for addressing the presence of PFAS in groundwater sources and seeking potential compensation for same

Defending commercial contractors in enforcement actions related to stormwater permit violations

Evaluating transportation projects for compliance with Clean Air Act conformity requirements

Navigating permitting and judicial review processes for the Underground Injection Control Program under the Safe Drinking Water Act

Complex Civil Litigation Representative Experience

Representing businesses in commercial disputes, including matters involving claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference with business relations and securities investigations.

Defending employers against actions by employees under the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and the Colorado Wage Claim Act.