Philadelphia, PA — Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox partner John Gullace discussed CERCLA liability as a panelist on an August 5 webinar entitled, “Allocating CERCLA Liability: Divisibility or Section 113 Equitable Contribution”. Gullace and the panel examined the statutory language and what the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co. v. U.S. decision means for divisibility, provided guidance for environmental counsel on when the divisibility of harm defense is appropriate and discussed tactics to overcome challenges in proving divisibility. This was an update to the similarly-titled Strafford program he presented in March 2014. John Gullace represents a broad array of clients, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to smaller closely held businesses, facing diverse environmental issues. Although John is a partner in the firm’s environmental litigation group, he is also regularly called upon by clients to handle site remediation matters and complex negotiations with government entities and private parties, such as arise in the infrastructure projects in which he has been involved in recent years. John is currently listed in Chambers USA for environmental law and in The Best Lawyers in America for environmental litigation. He has also been included in the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers listing for environmental litigation since 2012.He is very active with the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources. John has held numerous committee positions and is currently the Vice Chair of the Superfund and Natural Resource Damages Litigation Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Lower Merion Conservancy.
Kate Campbell, a partner with Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox, LLP participated in a panel on “EPA Vapor Intrusion Guidance: Analysis and Application” on August 19. This audio webcast is sponsored by the American Law Institute. In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on vapor intrusion risks at cleanup sites across the country, and a growing trend of plaintiffs’ lawyers bringing toxic tort actions for personal injury, medical monitoring and property damage against defendants, even for closed, legacy sites. Campbell will provide the litigation perspective on a myriad of issues related to vapor intrusion and offer strategies and practice pointers to consider when defending these types of cases.Kate Campbell focuses her practice on environmental, toxic tort and class action litigation. Since joining the firm in 2003, she has developed considerable experience in representing potentially responsible parties in cost recovery and contribution actions under CERCLA and state law, in defending complex toxic tort claims for personal injury, wrongful death, medical monitoring and property damage, and in litigating federal, state and private enforcement actions under an array of environmental statutes.
In other news...MGKF announced that Garrett Trego has joined the firm as a new associate. Trego had been practicing as a member of Drinker Biddle & Reath’s Commercial Litigation Group where he focused his practice in complex commercial litigation Trego also maintained an active pro bono practice, advocating for clients through programs supporting veterans and military service members, the homeless, and those incarcerated or indigent in cases involving voting rights, civil rights, family law, criminal law, and probate and tangled title. He was named to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Roll of Honor for Pro Bono practice.At MGKF, Trego will concentrate his practice on environmental litigation.