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Environmental Law and Occupational Safety and Health

PATRICIA M. O’TOOLE has over 25 years experience in counseling and management in the environmental, health and safety fields. Both Ms. O’Toole and The O’Toole Law Firm have an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and Ms. O’Toole is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. Ms. O’Toole also was listed as a Southern California “Super Lawyer” by Law and Politics Magazine, in a joint project with the publishers of Los Angeles Magazine, 2007.

The O’Toole Law Firm has represented Fortune 100 companies, small and medium-sized businesses, real estate developers, and governmental entities in a variety of environmental, health and safety matters. Such matters include cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater (including private and CERCLA/State Superfund sites); compliance with air quality, water quality, hazardous materials, waste management, “right-to-know,” emergency planning and response, worker safety, and toxic pollutants laws and regulations; global warming and climate change issues; investigation, defense and settlement of civil and criminal violations of environmental, health and safety laws and regulations; administrative hearings, particularly in air quality compliance and worker health and safety matters; appeals of agency rulemakings; and the performance of environmental due diligence and negotiation of transaction terms in connection with corporate, financing and real estate transactions. The O’Toole Law Firm also has represented a large PRP Committee, composed of numerous businesses and agencies named by the government in a Superfund action, as common counsel for defense and for prosecution of third party claims.

Ms. O’Toole’s experience also includes the development and drafting of legal and technical comments on legislative and regulatory proposals relating to environmental, health and safety issues. She has represented clients in negotiations with the United States Congress and EPA on environmental legislation, including reauthorization of CERCLA/SARA, the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Clean Water Act.

Ms. O’Toole also has represented clients in business and trade organizations, including the American Petroleum Institute, the Chemical Manufacturers Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, The Business Roundtable (national and California), the National Environmental Development Association — Clean Air Act Project, the Air and Waste Management Association, the Western States Petroleum Association, the California Council on Environmental and Economic Balance, the California Manufacturers Association, the California Mining Association, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the International Forum of the World Environment Center, the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association, and the World Industry Conference on Environmental Management (UNEP, Paris, November 1984).

Ms. O’Toole received her law degree from the UCLA School of Law. Prior to establishing The O’Toole Law Firm, Ms. O’Toole practiced in the Environmental, Health & Safety Section at the law firm of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue for five years, and was with Unocal Corporation for eight years before that.