Susan E. Brice

As a partner at Nijman Franzetti, Susan E. Brice brings 30 years of experience aggressively defending clients in environmental law, toxic torts, and product liability cases across the country and mitigating the environmental and exposure risks involved in major transactions such as mergers and acquisitions and Brownfield redevelopment projects.

A bold and outspoken advocate and advisor, Susan has extensive experience in all major aspects of environmental law, taking cases to trial or hearing involving the Clean Water Act, CERCLA, RCRA, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Act. She also defends clients in Clean Air Act enforcement matters and National Environmental Policy Act disputes. Notably, she defeated the USEPA in a CERCLA case in the Northern District of Illinois and the Seventh Circuit. In addition, Susan handles toxic tort and product liability litigation involving a wide range of chemicals, including PFAS, asbestos, ethylene oxide, chlorinated solvents, petroleum derivatives, volatile organic compounds, metals, radiological materials, BTEX, landfill gas, ethanol, and naphthalene.

With her sharp scientific mind and background in journalism, Susan is adept at translating complex science – whether in a brief or to a jury – into concepts a layman can understand. She has worked directly with scientists and experts in the fields of genomics, toxicology, and epidemiology in matters spanning various industries, including chemical manufacturing, energy production, transportation, food/beverage, agriculture, real estate, construction, and banking. In recent years, her practice has embraced the implications of genomics in legal defense, especially its ability to shed light on causation in toxic tort cases.

Previously, Susan headed the environmental department in a large international law firm where she wrote briefs to the Supreme Court and appellate courts on Clean Water Act issues.