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Ed Cohen

Partner

St. Louis
314 552 6019 314 552 6019 direct

Chicago
312 580 2312 312 580 2312 direct

OVERVIEW
INSIGHTS
NEWS & EVENTS
RELATED INFORMATION

INDUSTRIES

PRACTICES

Education
- Washington University School of Law,
  
  J.D., 1982
  
  Editorial Board, Washington University Law Quarterly
- Tulane University,
  
  B.A., cum laude, 1979
- University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England,
  
  Honors Program For Junior Year Abroad Program, 1977-1978
Admissions
- Illinois
- Missouri
- Illinois USDC, Central District
- Illinois USDC, Northern District
- Illinois USDC, Southern District
- Missouri USDC, Eastern District
- Indiana USDC, Northern District
- Indiana USDC, Southern District
- Michigan USDC, Eastern District
- US Ct Appeals, 7th Circuit (Covers IL, IN, WI)
- US Ct Appeals, 8th Circuit (Covers AR, IA, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD)
- US Ct Appeals, 9th Circuit (AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA, Guam, M. Isles)
Affiliations
- Chemical Industry Council of Illinois
- Past Chair, Missouri Bar Environmental and Energy Law Committee
- American Bar Association
  
  Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
  
  Tort and Insurance Practice and Litigation Sections
  
  Environmental Litigation Committee
- The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
  
  Prior Chair and Co-chair, ARCH Committee
  
  Former Chair, Young Lawyers’ Section
- United States Arbitration & Mediation
  
  Arbitration Panel
- American Arbitration Association
  
  Formerly on Panel of Neutrals
- Pinnacle Arbitration & Mediation Services
  
  Formerly on Panel of Neutrals
Recognitions
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (by BL Rankings), 2012-2025
- Named Lawyer of the Year for Litigation - Environmental in St. Louis by The Best Lawyers in America (by BL Rankings), 2015, 2024
- Listed in Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law (by Lawdragon Inc. ©), 2023-2024
- Named Lawyer of the Year for Environmental Law in St. Louis by The Best Lawyers in America (by BL Rankings), 2017
- Listed in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers (by Thomson Reuters), 2005-2020
  
  Top 50 Lawyers in St. Louis, 2011-2012
- Listed in "Chambers USA" for Environment in Missouri; St. Louis & Surrounds, 2019-2023 (by Chambers & Partners)
Employment
- Thompson Coburn LLP
  
  Partner, 1992-Present;
  
  Associate, 1986-1991
- United States Army
  
  Judge Advocate General’s Corps, 1982-1986
- Chief Prosecutor, Fort Rucker, Alabama
  
  1984-1986
- Special Assistant United States Attorney, Middle District, Alabama
  
  1984-1986
Community
- Washington University
  
  Alumni Board of Governors, 2011-2017
- Trailnet
  
  Past Member, Board of Directors
- MERS/Missouri Goodwill Industries
  
  Past Member, Board of Directors, Executive Committee
- Leadership St. Louis
  
  Class of 2005-06
- Washington University School of Law Alumni Association
  
  Past President
- ABA High School Peer Mediation Project
  
  Past Instructor
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) 150 Bike Ride
  
  "Lifetime" Rider/Fundraiser

Ed has substantial experience in a wide range of complex lawsuits, most of which involve multi-party environmental litigation.

His litigation work is national in scope and includes complex environmental and commercial disputes. Ed practices out of the Firm's Chicago and St. Louis offices and has been listed in Chambers USA (2009-2023 by Chambers & Partners), The Best Lawyers in America (2012-2024, including 2024 and 2015 "Lawyer of the Year for Litigation - Environmental" for St. Louis and 2017 "Lawyer of the Year for Environmental Law" for St. Louis by BL Rankings) and Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers "Top 50 Lawyers in St. Louis" in 2011-2012 by Thomson Reuters. Ed served as co-chair of the Firm's environmental practice group for years.

In addition to his several decades of experience guiding clients through a wide variety of complex environmental lawsuits, Ed has also handled a number of enforcement actions and substantial citizen suits. He has been involved in insurance coverage disputes involving environmental claims. Ed has also handled more than 50 indoor air quality matters, involving vapor intrusion, toxic mold issues and Legionella/Legionnaires issues. He has served as lead counsel on Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, CERCLA, FIFRA and RCRA cases. He also served as lead counsel on one of the largest Brownfields developments in the Chicago area.

Ed has served as lead counsel on a number of lawsuits involving underground storage tanks. He has litigated matters involving the Missouri Air Conservation Commission, the Clean Water Commission, the Hazardous Waste Commission and the Illinois Pollution Control Board. His groundwater cases have run the gamut from chlorinated solvents to MTBE to nitrogen issues. He has also handled a number of toxic tort suits. Ed has also first and second chaired a wide range of cases involving contract disputes and ones with significant actual and punitive damages claims based on business and traditional tort allegations, in addition to a white collar criminal practice.

Thompson Coburn Publications

How the Atlantic Richfield decision may impact the EPA Model Consent Decree template May 29, 2020

EPA reveals first 10 chemicals to be reviewed under a more robust toxic substances act December 16, 2016

Top Region 7 attorney details EPA’s biggest enforcement, compliance priorities June 4, 2014

Publications

Co-Author, How the Atlantic Richfield Decision May Impact the EPA Model Consent Decree Template,
Thompson Coburn Insights, May 29, 2020

Co-Author, EPA Reveals First 10 Chemicals to be Reviewed Under a More Robust Toxic Substances Act,
Thompson Coburn Insights, December 2016

Author, "REACH - Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals: An Overview of the EU's New Directive";
Thompson Coburn LLP, 2007

Co-Author, “New EU Regulations Cover Wide Range of Electrical Products”;
Midwest In-House, July 2006

Co-Author, “The Supreme Court Severely Limits Cost Recovery Options for Environmental Cleanups”;
Midwest In-House, January 2005

“Litigation Involving Mold Problems is on the Rise”;
Thompson Coburn LLP Envirobrief, 2002

“Mold: Common Questions and Answers”;
American Bar Association Section of Real Property Probate & Trust Law, “E Dirt” Electronic Newsletter, December 2002

Co-Author, “Challenging Agency Enforcement Actions: New Developments and Some Not-So-Common Approaches”;
The St. Louis Bar Journal, Summer 1998

Presentations

Citizens Get Active - Vapor Intrusion, Environmental Justice, and Emerging Litigation, Co-Presented with Eric E. Boyd;
The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois Hot Topics Program; Chicago, IL; June, 2019

Citizen Suits – What Does This Mean to Your Company?;
The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois and the Gateway Society of Hazardous Materials Managers; October 2017

How to Prevent Your Project From Being Stopped by a Citizen’s Group Lawsuit: The Story Behind the Story of the RTC Southwest Connector Litigation;
APWA Nevada Chapter, 2017 Fall Conference; September 2017

"Vapor Intrusion: Federal Illinois and Missouri Issues";
The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois and Gateway Society of Hazardous Materials Managers, St. Louis, MO, September 10, 2015

"Environmental Litigation and Compliance: Things to Remember to Avoid Environmental Disputes";
Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chicago, Chicago, IL, February 20, 2014

"Brownfields: How to Get Off on the Right Foot";
Illinois Tax Increment Association Fall Conference, Chicago, IL, October 18, 2012

"Environmental Litigation and Compliance";
Miscellaneous Locations, Tokyo, Japan, October 2012

"REACH"-- Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals: Annual Update on the EU's "New" Directive;
The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois, Chicago, IL, February 20, 2014

"Nuisance Suits in the Environmental Context: Are They Just A 'Nuisance' or Something More Substantial?";
2011 Missouri Environmental Conference at the Lake, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, July 28, 2011

"Enforcement and Citizen Suits";
The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois, January 27, 2011

"Managing Legal and Communication Issues in Environmental Emergencies";
2009 Missouri Environmental Conference at The Lake, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Osage Beach, MO, July 31, 2009

"Expert Witness Admissibility";
2009 National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators Regional Seminar, April 14, 2009

"Hot Legal Topics";
2008 Missouri Environmental Conference at The Lake, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Osage Beach, MO, July 31, 2008

"REACH"-- Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and restriction of Chemicals: An Overview of the EU's New Directive;
The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois, Chicago, IL, April 9, 2008

"Environmental Law Update";
2006 Missouri Environmental Conference at The Lake, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Osage Beach, MO, July 27, 2006

"Environmental Caselaw Update";
Missouri Bar Association, Jefferson City, MO, November 18, 2005

"Mold Litigation: Who is being sued, Why and What can you do about it?";
St. Louis, MO, January 9, 2004; March 19, 2004