H. Max Kelln

Environmental Compliance, Enforcement and Transactional Issues

A true pragmatist, Max puts clients first by helping municipalities and businesses of all sizes come up with practical solutions to compliance with state and federal environmental laws, defending agency actions, and shepherding clients through environmental issues in transactions. Max draws upon his in-depth knowledge of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, CERCLA, RCRA, and other state and federal environmental laws to “cut to the chase” of any matter and strive for swift outcomes. Max is frequently called upon to lend his assistance to many of the country’s largest manufacturing companies and facilities.

Government, In-House and Prior Experience

Max’s broad background helps him appreciate the important history of environmental jurisprudence yet adapt as long-settled issues get turned on their heads.

Prior to joining Faegre Drinker, Max worked in Indiana state government, as the Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) counsel at an international pharmaceutical company in New York, and most recently at a large, multinational law firm in Chicago. These tools have helped Max to implement a novel plan to coordinate state environmental agencies, insurance companies, local stakeholders and a client to sell a former glass bottling plant for redevelopment despite recent failed attempts because of known off-site contamination.

Municipal Water & Sewer Issues

In addition, Max represents municipalities in the niche area of Clean Water Act regulation of sanitary and stormwater sewers. Max has firsthand experience helping sewers and publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) overcome challenges posed by aging infrastructure and requirements to implement capital upgrades. This includes through negotiating (or modifying) Clean Water Act consent decrees. Case-in-point, Max was a key negotiator between state and federal agencies, a client POTW and interested neighboring communities to resolve decades’-old environmental and rate-paying issues.

Environmental Educator

Max is the creator and executive producer (aka Podfather) of “Notice & Comment: Faegre Drinker Environmental Podcast.” This monthly podcast showcases attorneys from Faegre Drinker’s offices nationwide and guests as they discuss cutting-edge issues in environmental law.