Edwardsville-based HeplerBroom law firm will be expanding its practice to include environmental attorneys of Hodge Dwyer & Driver based in Springfield. A merger will take effect Jan. 1.
Adding to its current roster of more than 120 attorneys, HeplerBroom will gain another seven, who combined, have more than 110 years of Illinois and federal environmental regulatory and litigation experience.
In a press release, HeplerBroom states that its new partners have great knowledge on the procedures required to obtain environmental permits, and that they work with clients to manage regulatory issues and defend clients in pre-enforcement and enforcement matters.
Hodge Dwyer & Driver was established in 1991 in Springfield, and specializes in environmental laws and regulations, Illinois Environmental Protection Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, RCRA, CERCLA/ SARA/ EPCRA and Emissions Trading.
The firm will remain in Springfield.
Kathy Hodge, one of the founding partners of Hodge, Dwyer & Driver told the Record that there are new state and federal requirements every day, making it challenging for businesses to know what they need to do to comply with the regulations.
“I think they[regulations] are getting more and more complex every day,” she said. “It’s increasingly more difficult to understand what you have to do to comply. Everybody wants to comply, so we bring that expertise to our clients on the environmental side.”
Hodge, Dwyer & Driver’s clientele include small and large industrial companies, agricultural cooperatives, municipalities and business associations.
Jeff Hebrank, managing partner in HeplerBroom’s Edwardsville office, said he was very pleased with the merger.
“They [Hodge, Dwyer & Driver] are really the most respected and experienced group outside of Chicago for all of Illinois,” he said.
Hebrank confirmed that Hodge Dwyer & Driver will be absorbed into HeplerBroom and will officially adopt its name in January.
HeplerBroom was established in 1984. Between the years of 1988 and 2015, the firm grew rapidly from seven attorneys to 120- plus,, and has offices in Chicago, Edwardsville, Springfield and St. Louis. Its attorneys represent defendants in civil lawsuits for Fortune 100 clients, among others.