Program Chair:

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

Presenters:

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

8:20 a.m. Welcome and Introductions

David P. Ruetz

8:30 a.m. Keynote Address – Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources Secretary Karen Hyun

9:00 a.m. Water Update

• Water law in the courts
• PFAS regulation and litigation
• Changing approaches to water governance

Prof. David Strifling

10:00 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. Environmental Justice Panel

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

11:15 a.m. PFAS Update: Analytical Methods, Regulations, and Case Law Updates

• Recent updates to PFAS analytical method
• State and federal regulatory updates
• Developments in case law environmental practitioners need to know

William J. Nelson, Nick Nigro

12:15 p.m. Networking Lunch Break – All Welcome

1:15 p.m. Ethics for the Wisconsin Lawyer

• Confidentiality
• Lawyer Mobility Issues
• "Ownership" of Files
• Client's Right to Counsel of Choice
• Competence
• Diligence

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

2:15 p.m. Air Update

• Recent Clean Air Act regulations
• Litigation developments
• Enforcement trends

Taylor Fritsch

3:15 p.m. Break

3:30 p.m. Environmental Administrative Rulemaking Panel

• 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

Emma Esch, Bryna Goda

4:30 p.m. Program Concludes

• 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!

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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.