OEC Law Center Referrals

Transforming Ohio’s Environmental Future, One Case At A Time

At the Ohio Environmental Council, our team of attorneys pursues high-impact legal strategies in a variety of different venues across Ohio in order to achieve our vision of a healthy, clean Ohio. We represent the OEC in these cases, and we will periodically represent other organizations alongside representing ourselves. 

If you represent an organization and may have a situation the OEC could intervene in, participate as a party, or support through other means, please contact Chris Tavenor, OEC General Counsel, at ctavenor@theoec.org. 

Importantly, the OEC does not and cannot represent individual clients. However, we believe it is essential that all Ohioans have adequate legal representation in the fight for clean air, land, and water in our communities. Below, we have identified organizations that may be able to provide you with legal representation.

Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services

Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm that believes all people and communities should have access to the tools of change, and that everyone has the right to make decisions about the air, water, and land where they live, work, and play.

Fair Shake provides pro-bono and sliding scale legal services and representation to individuals, families, and organizations on legal issues concerning the environment, property, and land use and zoning. They represent traditionally underserved clients who are directly affected by environmental harms and enable legal action despite lack of economic means. In addition to legal services, Fair Shake also provides community legal education and consulting services to empower local decision making on communities’ environmental and economic future.

To contact Fair Shake, visit: https://www.fairshake-els.org/contact-us; email at infor@fairshake-els.org, or call at 412-664-5546

Case Western Environmental Law Clinic

The Case Western Environmental Law Clinic is an interdisciplinary clinic that addresses environmental law and policy problems on behalf of individual clients and organizations including environmental groups, nonprofits and community organizations. Students will cover the full range of environmental issues, but focus predominantly on environmental and energy justice concerns in Northeast Ohio. The Clinic combines teaching, student practice, policy work and impact litigation, as appropriate, to address environmental justice issues within the region and aims to take action in matters with significant interest and/or impact in the community.

To contact the Case Western clinic, contact lawclinic@case.edu or call 216.368.2766.

AltmanNewman Co. LPA: Protecting Human Health & The Environment

AltmanNewman’s focus is on environmental law and its impact on citizens, their families, communities, and local governments. Dedicated to Protecting Human Health and the Environment, they assist and represent plaintiffs who may be victim to injury resulting from pollution or contamination of land, air, or water.

Their approach, often executed via “citizen suits” is focused on facilitating solution-driven change through the enforcement of the law, as opposed to just obtaining compensatory damages. The firm often seeks enforcement of law to prevent future damages and compensation for past damages. If they prevail with their client, the polluter is responsible for paying all legal fees and expert costs related to environmental law enforcement.

Call AltmanNewman to make any legal inquiries, or to arrange for a phone interview, at 513.721.2180. You can visit their website at https://environlaw.com/   

Earthjustice

Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has saved irreplaceable wildlands, cleaned up the air we breathe, and fueled the rise of 100% clean energy. They have protected countless species on the brink of extinction, and secured long-overdue, historic limits on our nation’s worst polluting industries.

The OEC has worked directly with Earthjustice on a number of our own cases where we have needed additional legal support. Earthjustice does take on clients, but very strategically. However, your case may be right for Earthjustice—learn more here: https://earthjustice.org/about/request-legal-assistance 

Do you want your organization listed above?

If you work for an organization that provides public interest environmental legal services for Ohioans, please contact Chris Tavenor, OEC General Counsel (ctavenor@theoec.org) with a brief description of your organization and how potential clients can contact you. After we ensure your organization aligns with OEC values, we will post your information above.

A note about OEC’s Referrals

The OEC provides information regarding the organizations above for informational purposes only, and cannot guarantee that any other organization or law firm can take an individual’s particular case. Unless otherwise specified, the OEC has not received any compensation from the above listed entities for sharing their information.

At the OEC, we adhere to the highest ethical standards as outlined in Rule 7.2 of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. This rule guides our approach in referring clients to other legal organizations when their needs fall outside our scope of expertise. We ensure:

• Transparent Advertising: Our communication about legal services is clear, truthful, and includes necessary disclosures.
• Ethical Referral Practices: We do not offer or accept any form of referral incentive, in compliance with ethical guidelines.
• Client-Centric Approach: In every referral, our priority is the potential client’s best interest, ensuring they receive competent and appropriate legal representation.

Our commitment to these principles guarantees that when we recommend other legal services, it is done with integrity and a focus on the client’s specific legal needs.