James Bieke specializes in environmental and natural resources law and policy, with a particular emphasis on complex scientific, technical, economic and legal issues.

Work for Clients

For the past 25 years, Mr. Bieke has handled cases in federal and state courts and before federal and state administrative agencies. He provides advice to clients on numerous legal, technical, scientific and policy issues under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and other federal and state environmental statutes and regulations.

Mr. Bieke has special expertise in CERCLA investigations and cleanups (including the negotiation of complex consent decrees), natural resource damages, human health and ecological risk assessments, RCRA corrective action, Clean Air Act standard setting, issues relating to PCBs and other scientific and technical issues. His largest client is the General Electric Company.

Professional Activities

Mr. Bieke has been selected for inclusion in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and The Best Lawyers in America.

Publications/Presentations

While attending law school, Mr. Bieke was the Editor-in-Chief of the Michigan Law Review.

Professional Experience

Mr. Bieke was a partner at Shea & Gardner prior to its combination with Goodwin Procter in 2004. Before his work at Shea & Gardner, he served as law clerk to Judge J. Edward Lumbard, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (1970-71), Justice John M. Harlan of the U.S. Supreme Court (1971) and Justice Potter Stewart of the U.S. Supreme Court (1972-73).

Bar and Court Admissions

Mr. Bieke is admitted to the District of Columbia Bar, as well as the bars of the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts around the country.

Education

LL.M., New York University Law School, 1971
J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 1970 (Order of the Coif)
M.A., University of Michigan, 1970
B.A., Sacred Heart Seminary, 1967