Arthur Siegal

Arthur is a member of Taft’s Environmental and Real Estate practice groups. For over 35 years he has represented clients dealing with all aspects of environmental law including governmental regulations, permitting, and compliance, assisting clients in corporate and real estate acquisitions with assessing and managing liabilities, and helping clients obtain brownfield redevelopment incentives.

Arthur is often asked to assist the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE formerly MDEQ) with difficult issues. He has significant legislative experience, including:

• Assisting in crafting 2010 Michigan’s Part 201 “superfund” amendments.
• Serving on the 2014 Stakeholder Initiative and was primary drafter for the redraft that streamlined and strengthened Michigan Act 381 – the brownfield financial incentive statute.
• Drafting new coal ash legislation for Michigan.
• Serving on the Solid Waste and Sustainability Advisory Panel.

He has served as chair of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce’s Energy and Environment Policy Committee and as chair of the Oakland County Bar Association Energy, Sustainability, and Environmental Law Committee.

• Represented real estate developer in a multimillion-dollar dispute with a major auto manufacturer; devised strategies and mastered 90+ years of history, using creative statutory interpretation leading to a successful resolution.
• Represented client in litigation against both a corporate neighbor and a county agency challenging proposed county road abandonment using precedent and focused discovery to negotiate a superior settlement.
• Lead counsel for defendant in United States v Rapanos, a landmark environmental case, after remand by the United States Supreme Court. With limited resources and significant government opposition, demonstrated that much of the alleged wetlands were not subject to federal jurisdiction, thus allowing a client to retain and develop much of his property and sparing him jail time.
• Aided client denied brownfield reimbursement by municipality leading to seven figure settlement.

• White Paper on Pending Part 201 Legislation – SB 605-611 (2024)
• “Environmental Liability Protection and Due Diligence,” Michigan Bar Journal (2021).
• “Emerging Contaminants and Phase I ESAs” AKT Peerless (2021).
• “Current Environmental Challenges for Buying, Developing and Financing Properties”, ICSC Michigan Continuing Education Program (2019, 2020).
• “Vapor Intrusion – A New and Challenging Issue,” co-authored by Arthur Siegal and Jeffrey Bolin, Michigan Defense Quarterly (2013).
• “Dry Cleaning Issues: Prevention, Remediation, and Litigation,” Shopping Center Business (2006).
• “Environmental Considerations in the Acquisition of Real Estate,” Ann Arbor Area Business Monthly (2005).
• “A brownfield strategy that works,” Michigan Business Sites (2003).
• “Drafting Commercial Leases,” Environmental Law chapter of the ICLE treatise.
• “End-of-Life Decisions (For Your Computer Equipment),” Michigan Business Law Journal (2006).
• “It’s Dirty Work: Solid Waste Legislation in Michigan,” ABA Section of Environment, Energy Resources, Waste Management Committee Newsletter (2004).
• “State’s landfill rules protect public; new restrictions would make disposal expensive,” The Detroit News (2003).
• “Economic criteria may now apply to brownfields,” Michigan Real Estate Journal (2003).
• “If the current system works, why dump it?” Crain’s Detroit Business (2002).
• “State e-mails are public record, shouldn’t be clicked into oblivion,” Detroit Free Press (2002).
• “Attorney: Don’t be lulled by first impressions,” Michigan Real Estate Journal (2002).
• “Document Destruction Violates The FOIA,” Michigan Bar Journal (2002).
• “Takings and Environmental Regulations,” Laches (1996).
• “Wetlands and Development,” Laches (1995).
• “Waste Management: An Example of Accelerating Regulation,” Laches (1994)
• “The Rising Cost of Waste Disposal,” Laches Oakland County Bar Association, (1992).
• “Impacts of QA/QC Consulting Services on Owner’s Long Term Liability,” 3rd Annual Waste Equipment & Recycling Conference (1991).
• “State of the Law (Environmental),” ICLE & State Bar of Michigan, Annual Publication (1989-1992).

• Listen as Arthur Siegal tells us about his landmark case, United States v Rapanos and how his hands-on investigation lead him to triumph over the Feds.  Podcast recording.