Professionals
206.816.1525 
206.464.0125 
Michelle Rosenthal is a member of the Environment and Natural Resources Section. She focuses her practice on environmental compliance and regulatory matters with an emphasis on hazardous waste cleanup actions arising under federal and state superfund laws. Ms. Rosenthal has represented clients at more than a dozen complex multi-party sites involving negotiations with federal and state regulators, cost recovery and contribution actions, the allocation of liability among private parties, natural resource damage claims and bankruptcies.
Ms. Rosenthal spent eight years working with the U.S. Department of Energy in Las Vegas, Nevada, on the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project and with the Nevada Test Site’s Environmental Management Program.
Experience
CERCLA and State Superfund SitesRepresentation of clients responding to information requests issued by EPA and state agencies; conducting site investigation and remediation activities; and settling environmental claims with EPA and other parties.
Cross-Border Environmental DisputesRepresentation of plaintiffs in a landmark transboundary CERCLA citizen suit against a Canadian mining company that had released hazardous substances into the United States. Representation of the Province of Manitoba in NEPA processes and related federal litigation regarding Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers projects.
Environmental LitigationRepresentation of clients challenging changes to regulations under the state APA.
Real Estate MattersRepresentation of clients in major aspects of real estate transactions, including purchase and sale agreements, commercial leases, environmental due diligence and contaminated properties.
Tribal Environmental ProgramsRepresentation of several Indian Tribes in the development of Tribal Brownfields programs and the creation of Tribal Hazardous Substance Control Acts.
Professional Activities
- Chair, Environmental Law and Land Use Section, King County Bar Association 2010-present; Vice-Chair, 2009; CLE / Speaker Chair, 2008; Treasurer, 2007; Secretary, 2006; Section Co-Founder
- Vice-Chair of Membership, Environment, Energy, and Resources Section, Superfund and Natural Resource Damages Litigation Committee, American Bar Association, 2010-present
- Executive Committee, Women in the Environmental Industry, 2010-present
- Reporter, Environmental Enforcement and Crimes Committee Newsletter, Region 10, Environment, Energy, and Resources Section, American Bar Association, 2005-2007
- Member, Northwest Indian Bar Association
- Member, Indian Law Section, Washington State Bar Association
Community Activities
- President, Board of Directors, Ballard Chamber of Commerce, 2005-present
- Chair, Ballard SeafoodFest, SEAFAIR community event, 2005-2009
- Executive Committee, Ballard District Council (Representing the Ballard Chamber of Commerce), 2006-present
- Legal Counsel and Member, Board of Directors, Showtunes Theatre Company, 2005-2007
- Member, Las Vegas Race for the Cure, 1997-2001; Advisor, 2000; Chair, 1999; Director, 1998
- Graduate, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Las Vegas Program, 1997
Publications
- "Brownfields Response Programs in Indian Country: Protecting the Reservation Environment," Environmental Transactions and Brownfields newsletter, ABA's Environment, Energy, and Resources Section, Volume 9, Number 1, November 2006.
- "CERCLA and Transboundary Contamination in the Columbia River," Co-author, Natural Resources & Environment, ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, Volume 21, Number 1, Summer 2006.
- "Tribal Water Quality Standards," Co-author, The Water Report, August 15, 2005.
- "Upper Columbia River Contamination - A Transboundary Application of CERCLA, Pakootas v. TCM Metals, Ltd.," Co-author, The Water Report, May 15, 2005.
