Susan L. Johnson

Susan L. Johnson is a Shareholder based in Butzel's Troy office. With over 40 years of representing clients with respect to environmental and regulatory law, Susan is recognized as a leading environmental attorney in Michigan. Her principal areas of practice include all aspects of environmental law including regulations, siting, permitting, and compliance, community and governmental relations, assisting clients with due diligence and managing liabilities associated with corporate and real estate transactions and helping clients obtain brownfield redevelopment and other governmental incentives. Susan has considerable experience with the siting and permitting of solid and hazardous waste materials management facilities gravel mines, scrap and other recycling facilities.

Susan is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School (J.D., 1984) and the University of Michigan (B.A., 1980). She also completed the NITA Trial Advocacy Course (1987), Sanitary Landfill Design Course (1990) and the Groundwater Chemistry Course Certificate (1991) from the Engineering Society of Detroit; and the ISO 14000 Lead EMS Auditor Course, British Standards Institute (1997).

Prior to joining Butzel, Ms. Johnson's experience included positions as senior environmental and general in-house counsel to a large private sector environmental services company and corporation counsel to the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.

As Vice President and General Counsel to Inland Waters Pollution Control, Inc. and ProLine Technologies, N.A. L.L.C., large privately held industrial and environmental services/sewer rehabilitation companies, Ms. Johnson was responsible for advising on legal and regulatory matters, including monitoring and reviewing contract and bid processes; construction contract issues; OSHA and environmental compliance.

Ms. Johnson was also Senior Environmental Counsel to Soave Enterprises L.L.C., a large privately held management company with affiliates engaged in a variety of industries including real estate development, scrap metal processing and solid and industrial waste services. Ms. Johnson had chief responsibility for advising the company on all aspects of environmental and regulatory matters, including compliance, permitting, campaign finance, governmental liaison, facility siting, host community negotiations and the monitoring and overseeing of legislative initiatives in areas affecting the companies' interests. She represented the company concerning Michigan and federal laws dealing with hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste; including Michigan Act 451; RCRA; CWA; CERCLA; (and state equivalent, Part 201); TSCA; contract development and review and real estate matters.

Prior to private practice, Ms. Johnson was Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). Ms. Johnson acted as in-house counsel to a large wastewater treatment plant, with emphasis on environmental and contract law. Her experience included the development and enactment (through City Council) of an Industrial Waste Control Ordinance and multi-jurisdictional agreements with suburban community users of POTW; negotiation of EPA settlements and remedial plans for contaminated properties acquired by City; drafting and reviewing municipal contracts; handling miscellaneous bid protests and litigation affecting DWSD.

Ms. Johnson is a member of the State Bar of Michigan. She is also a member of the Michigan State Bar's Environmental Law Section; Superfund and Insurance Committee; Solid and Hazardous Waste Committee; Natural Resources and Wetland Committee. She is a member of the Michigan Waste and Recycling Association, Inc., and serves on the Environmental and Air Policy Committees for the Michigan Manufacturers Association, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Energy and Environment Committee, the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce Energy and Environment C0mmittee and the Energy, Sustainability and Environmental Law Committee of the Oakland County Bar Association.

All Related Practice Areas

Education

Wayne State University Law School 1984, J.D.

University of Michigan 1980, B.A.

Admissions

Memberships

• State Bar of Michigan - served on Environmental Council in 1999 member of the Environmental Law Section Superfund and Insurance Committee Solid and Hazardous Waste Committee Natural Resources and Wetland Committee
• Michigan Waste Industry Association, Inc.
• Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce Task Force on Water and Sewerage Issues
• Environmental Management Association - elected to a Director's position (2008-2009)

Awards & Recognitions

DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, Environmental Law, 2011-2012, 2014, 2016-2025; Energy Law, 2018, 2021-2023

Michigan Super Lawyers, Environmental, 2014-2020

The Best Lawyers in America®: Litigation - Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental, 2021-2025