37th Annual Environmental Law Update 2025

  • OnDemand seminar
  • Attorney Regulation
  • Environmental Law
Up to 7.5 Credit Hours
View schedule and faculty
37th Annual Environmental Law Update 2025

Co-produced with the Environmental Law Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin

Environmental law in flux

Environmental law is facing major shifts as the second Trump administration pursues deregulation across federal agencies.1 At the same time, several cases before the U.S. Supreme Court could reshape foundational environmental law doctrines, potentially impacting agency authority, permitting, and jurisdiction.2 Rapid changes in environmental regulation, enforcement, and case law demand close attention from legal practitioners.

Stay current, compliant, and connected

The 37th Annual Environmental Law Update covers high-impact topics including:

  • Recent court decisions and governance shifts in water law
  • PFAS updates: analytical methods, compliance trends, and critical case law
  • Clean Air Act enforcement and litigation developments
  • Wisconsin’s administrative rulemaking process, including agency roles, legislative oversight, and recent court decisions
  • Ethics considerations specific to environmental law practice
8:20 am
Welcome and Introductions

David P. Ruetz

8:30 am
Keynote Address – Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources Secretary Karen Hyun
9:00 am
Water Update

Prof. David Strifling

  • Water law in the courts
  • PFAS regulation and litigation
  • Changing approaches to water governance
10:00 am
Break
10:15 am
Environmental Justice Panel

Moderator: Tressie K. Kamp Panelists: Hannah S. Richerson, Bryan Rogers, Katie Rosenberg

11:15 am
PFAS Update: Analytical Methods, Regulations, and Case Law Updates

William J. Nelson, Nick Nigro

  • Recent updates to PFAS analytical method
  • State and federal regulatory updates
  • Developments in case law environmental practitioners need to know
12:15 pm
Networking Lunch Break – All Welcome
1:15 pm
Ethics for the Wisconsin Lawyer

Jodi Arndt Labs, Christopher J. Jaekels, Timothy J. Pierce

  • Confidentiality
  • Lawyer Mobility Issues
  • "Ownership" of Files
  • Client's Right to Counsel of Choice
  • Competence
  • Diligence
2:15 pm
Air Update

Taylor Fritsch3:15 p.m. Break

  • Recent Clean Air Act regulations
  • Litigation developments
  • Enforcement trends
3:30 pm
Environmental Administrative Rulemaking Panel

Emma Esch, Bryna Goda

  • Agency rulemaking process in Wisconsin
  • Role of the Natural Resources Board in the DNR rulemaking process
  • Legislative review of agency rules
  • Overview of the Evers v. Marklein Wisconsin Supreme Court cases
  • Impact of the Wisconsin cases on the relationship between the legislature and state agencies
4:30 pm
Program Concludes

Program Chair

David P. Ruetz
von Briesen & Roper, S.C. · Milwaukee

Presenters

14 total
Emma Esch
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · Madison
Taylor Fritsch
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP · Madison
Bryna Godar
University of Wisconsin Law School · Madison
Karen Hyun
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · Madison
Christopher J. Jaekels
Amundsen Davis LLC · Milwaukee
Tressie K. Kamp
Center for Water Policy, University of Wisconsin · Milwaukee
Jodi Arndt Labs
Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry, S.C. · Green Bay
William J. Nelson
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. · Madison
Nick Nigro
Pace Analytical · Madison
Timothy J. Pierce
State Bar of Wisconsin · Madison
Hannah S. Richarson
Clean Wisconsin · Madison
Bryan Rogers
Walnut Way · Milwaukee
Katie Rosenberg
Wisconsin Department of Administration - Office of Environmental Justice · Madison
Prof. David Strifling
Marquette University Law School · Milwaukee

  • Hear directly from Wisconsin’s DNR Secretary on emerging priorities and agency direction
  • Understand how recent federal and state court decisions could reshape environmental compliance, permitting, and agency authority
  • Explore current trends in PFAS regulation, litigation, and testing standards
  • Gain practical insight into Wisconsin’s rulemaking process
  • Discover what recent Wisconsin court decisions mean for environmental policy implementation
  • Learn how Clean Water and Clean Air Act enforcement priorities are shifting
  • Tackle real-world ethical dilemmas facing today’s environmental lawyers
  • Environmental lawyers
  • Real estate lawyers
  • Municipal and government lawyers
  • Administrative lawyers
  • Construction lawyers
  • Agricultural lawyers

Book Bonus!

Real Estate Transactions System
Save 15% on the Real Estate Transactions System.* Make quicker work of closing with a proven method for completing real estate transactions efficiently and effectively. Use discount code CA3803 when you order online or by calling (800) 728-7788.

*Discount applies to both print and digital Books Unbound editions of this title and cannot be applied to previous purchases. Offer valid through 12/31/26. For Books Unbound users, discount may be applied to purchase of individual Books Unbound title only and may not be used on the purchase of libraries. Discount cannot be combined with any other offers.

The Environmental Law Section is pleased to offer three scholarships to attend the 37th Annual Environmental Law Update in person or via live webcast on Thursday, September 11, 2025. For more information on scholarship eligibility and the application process, please visit wisbar.org/EnvironmentalScholarship. The deadline to apply is Friday, August 15. Questions? Please contact Section Coordinator Kara Olson.

Attend the in-person seminar for a special opportunity to meet and chat with presenters and fellow attendees at a complimentary taco bar luncheon sponsored by the State Bar’s Environmental Law Section.

Sponsored by

Interested in sponsoring this program? Find out more.