Milwaukee Office
411 East Wisconsin Avenue Suite 2350
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin
53202
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Professional Experience
George Marek practices in the area of environmental law. He counsels corporations, municipalities and individuals in regulatory compliance, enforcement, and business and real estate transactions, including environmental assessments and cleanups. Mr. Marek’s practice includes the redevelopment of Brownfields sites, the remediation of Superfund and other contaminated properties, advising clients on wind farm projects, underground and aboveground storage tank regulation, and coordinating the investigation and remediation of toxic mold. Recently he has:
- Obtained a $750,000 Brownfields award from the State of Wisconsin for a client seeking to redevelop a historic industrial site, and managed the site investigation and cleanup. The site had been used for leather tanning, automotive repair and other uses. Proposed redevelopment uses of the property include office, retail and residential.
- Obtained a $125,000 grant from federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for a client. This award will assist in the cleanup of a historic industrial site, which will be redeveloped for commercial use.
- Obtained U.S. EPA and City of Milwaukee financial awards for site investigation at Brownfields redevelopment sites.
- Represented a client in an enforcement action brought by the Wisconsin Department of Justice alleging violations of asbestos removal regulations.
- Advised the Lenders in a $200 million financing project for a Wisconsin wind farm, coordinating environmental, real estate, energy regulatory and litigation due diligence.
- Assisted clients in obtaining Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources exemptions to build on former solid waste disposal (landfill) sites, including negotiating appropriate sampling protocols, engineering controls and monitoring programs. Clients have included real estate developers, automotive dealerships and paper companies. End uses have included large retail complexes, new condominiums, converted loft condominiums, automotive dealer showrooms and service centers, and recreational parks, including baseball diamonds and a rowing club.
- Represented clients in obtaining eligibility and subsequent financial reimbursement from the Wisconsin Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund (PECFA) Program for site investigation and remediation of petroleum releases from eligible underground storage tanks (USTs).
- Assisted municipalities in the creation of Environmental TIF Districts, to assist in redevelopment of contaminated properties.
- Assisted clients in obtaining eligibility and financial reimbursement for the investigation and cleanup of solvent releases from dry cleaning facilities, from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Dry Cleaner Environmental Response Fund (DERF) Program.
- Represented a municipality that will be the location of a new county-owned solid waste landfill. The representation culminated in a comprehensive negotiated siting agreement addressing the construction, operation, financial and long-term care of the landfill.
- Represented a variety of commercial and residential property owners in the investigation and cleanup of toxic mold.
- Represented a client in obtaining all state approvals needed to redevelop an existing building, and construct a new parking lot above a former coal ash fill area. This project included the use of an innovative construction technique.
Education and Honors
- Harvard Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1990)
- Harvard University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1984)
Bar Admissions
Wisconsin,
1990
Professional Recognition
Martindale-Hubbell AV ® Peer Review Rated. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® (2008-present: Environmental Law).
Professional and Civic Activities
- State Bar of Wisconsin (Member).
- Milwaukee Bar Association (Member).
- American Bar Association (Member, Environment, Energy and Resources Law Section).
- National LGBT Bar Association (Member).
- Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce Environmental Management Council (Member).
- Federation of Environmental Technologists (Member).
- The Fair Wisconsin Education Fund (Board of Directors, 2009-2011).
- Quarles & Brady Diversity Committee (Member).
- Quarles & Brady LGBT Affinity Group (Chair).
- Harvard Club of Wisconsin (Officer; Secretary, 2009-2011; President, 2003-2009).
- Harvard Alumni Association (Appointed Director, Harvard Law School Association, 2000-2003).
- Early Music Now (Board Member, 1995-1999; Vice President, 1997-1999).
Selected Presentations/Publications
- Presenter, “Protecting Yourself from Environmental Liability Before a Foreclosure: Wisconsin’s Lender Liability Exemption and Other Tools,” Quarles & Brady webinar, July 28, 2010.
- Presenter, “The Wisconsin Plant Recovery Initiative: A New Take on Brownfields,” Milwaukee Bar Association, Environmental Law Section, March 10, 2010.
- Presenter, “Brownfields and Environmental Considerations,” Quarles & Brady seminar on Opportunities for the Future, Real Estate Transactions, April 21, 2006.
- Presenter, “EPA’s All Appropriate Inquiry Rule: How it Affects Environmental Due Diligence in Real Estate Transactions,” Quarles & Brady seminar on Recent Developments in Commercial Real Estate Law, April 4, 2006.
- Presenter, “Solving Water Intrusion and Mold Problems in Illinois," Lorman Education Services seminar,
July 15, 2003.
- Author, “Toxic Mold: Practical Considerations to Reduce Potential Liability,” Environmental Risk Resources web site, 2003.
- Presenter, “Toxic Mold: Minimizing Liability Through Legal, Remedial and Insurance Tools,” Quarles & Brady seminar, May 13, 2003.
- Presenter, “How to Read Phase I and II Environmental Reports,” 2003 State Bar of Wisconsin Annual Convention, Business Law Section, May 7, 2003.
- Presenter, “Mold Contamination of Buildings: Causes and Related Insurance and Legal Issues,” Milwaukee School of Engineering Master of Science and Environmental Engineering Symposium, December 11, 2002.
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