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Ryan Russell Kemper

Partner

St. Louis
314 552 6321 314 552 6321 direct

OVERVIEW
INSIGHTS
NEWS & EVENTS
RELATED INFORMATION

INDUSTRIES

PRACTICES

Education
- Washington University School of Law,
  
  J.D., 2005
  
  Editor-in-Chief, Washington University Law Review
- University of Missouri-Columbia,
  
  B.A., Biological Sciences, magna cum laude, 2000
  
  B.A., Political Science, Departmental Honors, magna cum laude, 2000
  
  Minor in Classics (Latin)
  
  Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions
- Illinois
- Missouri
- Missouri USDC, Eastern District
- Missouri USDC, Western District
- Illinois USDC, Central District
- Illinois USDC, Southern District
Affiliations
- Missouri Bar Association
- Illinois Bar Association
- American Bar Association
  
  Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
  
  Chair, Environmental & Conservation Law Committee, 2013-2014
Representative Clients
- Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc.
- The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
- EaglePicher Technologies
- Norfolk Southern Railway
Recognitions
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® (by BL Rankings), 2024-2025
- Named to "The Missouri Lawyers Weekly" POWER List for Environmental & Energy Law (by BridgeTower Media), 2022-2023
- Listed in "Chambers USA" for Environment in Missouri; St. Louis & Surrounds, 2023 (by Chambers & Partners)
- Leadership St. Louis, Class of 2017-2018
  
  Selected for a nine-month immersion in the business/civic aspects of the St. Louis community as part of one of the most respected leadership development programs in the nation.
- 40 Under 40 honoree, St. Louis Business Journal, 2017
  
  Honored as one of the top 40 business leaders under the age of 40 in St. Louis.
- Included in "Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers" Rising Stars list, 2009-2015 (by Thomson Reuters)
  
  Environmental Litigation and Environmental Law
Employment
- Thompson Coburn LLP
  
  Partner, 2014-Present
  
  Associate, 2005-2013
- Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen
  
  Summer Associate, 2004
- Office of U.S. Congressman John M. Shimkus
  
  Congressional Fellow, 2003
- Illinois State Senate
  
  Legislative Staff, 2000-2002
  
  Executive Committee
  
  Environment and Energy Committee
Community
- United Way of Greater St. Louis
  
  Board of Directors, 2016-Present
  
  Illinois Division Board Campaign Chair, 2016
  
  Illinois Division Board of Directors, 2010-Present
  
  Metro-East Services to Persons with Disabilities Allocation Panel, 2010-2015
- United Way of Greater St. Louis Public Policy Committee
- City of O'Fallon, Illinois
  
  Appointed as Planning Commissioner by Mayor Gary Graham, 2016-Present
- St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association
  
  Member, Illinois Public Affairs Committee, 2007-Present
- Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc.
  
  Volunteer Lawyers Program, 2005-Present

Ryan has a broad and diverse practice serving clients navigating sophisticated matters related to air, water, land, energy, agriculture, emergency response and climate issues. He serves as co-chair of Thompson Coburn's Environmental Law group and has successfully handled cases across the country under the full spectrum of federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations.

Ryan serves as lead counsel for clients in multiparty complex litigation, defends civil and criminal enforcement, handles government investigations, leads permitting actions and negotiations, litigates administrative actions, and counsels clients on a wide array of regulatory compliance matters. Ryan has also responded to releases, accidents, spills and other incidents to provide on-the-ground practical advice and crisis strategy assistance to clients handling emergency situations.

Ryan has over a decade and a half of litigation experience from case initiation through final resolution, including trial, with an emphasis on environmental, agriculture, products liability, and property cases. Ryan currently serves as lead counsel for clients in multiple high-profile Superfund cases. He also has extensive experience handling expert discovery and developing technical evidence.

Ryan's regulatory and counseling work for clients covers a wide spectrum of environmental issues including matters under the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA), the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

Ryan also counsels clients on climate, ESG, and environmental justice issues. Ryan has handled significant air and climate issues for over fifteen years and has advised clients with regard to carbon sequestration, GHG reporting and accounting, and the environmental aspects of government incentive programs for carbon offsets and credits, including clients in the energy sector. He also has substantial experience with major source permitting and mobile source emission rules. He also has helped clients evaluate ESG issues and assisted clients with community outreach in permitting and other projects.

Ryan believes strongly in volunteerism and community service. Ryan is a board member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis and is the Chair of the Board's Public Policy Committee. He also serves as a Planning Commissioner for the City of O'Fallon, Illinois, and is a board member of the St. Clair County Special Emergency Services Association, a non-profit that assists first responders with highly specialized expertise and technical equipment (HAZMAT Response, Technical Rescue Response, K-9 Search and RMERT) during times of crisis. Ryan was named to the St. Louis Business Journal's "40 under 40" class in 2017 and is an alum of Leadership St. Louis.

Thompson Coburn Publications

EPA Makes Major Moves on PFAS in April April 26, 2024

California's New Environmental Disclosure Laws Mandate Corporate Transparency October 16, 2023

EPA incorporates environmental justice into enforcement policy: How can regulated industries prepare? May 7, 2021

SEC emphasizes ESG by establishing new website and taking public comments on climate disclosure April 5, 2021

New administration, new priorities: Preparing for the Biden-Harris Administration’s key environmental focus areas January 8, 2021

EPA Final Rule may keep projects at existing major sources from triggering stringent pre-construction permitting requirements October 23, 2020

What to do when the government comes calling: A checklist for handling facility inspections May 19, 2017

Environmental deregulation under President Trump: Business as usual? March 15, 2017

Supreme Court overturns EPA’s 'Tailoring Rule,' upholds GHG BACT for 'anyway' sources June 23, 2014

Publications

Ryan R. Kemper, Note,
Responding to Bioterrorism: An Analysis of Titles I & II of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, 83 Washington University Law Quarterly 385, 2005

Presentations

“Environmental Enforcement in Transition” (Panel Discussion);
REGFORM Biden Administration Transition Seminar, Virtual Conference, March 2021 March 2021

“EPA’s New Plan Under Trump”;
Mid-America Croplife Association, St. Louis, MO, June 2018

“Assessing Environmental Risk and Liability When Acquiring Real Estate”;
The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, St. Louis, MO, September 2016

“Waters of the United States”;
CPS Short Course 2015: Sharing the Vision, Loveland, CO, April 2015

"President Obama's Second Term & Energy Agenda";
Gateway Society of Hazardous Materials Managers Spring Seminar, St. Louis, MO, April 2013

"The Client Consultant-Attorney Relationship: Making it Work from Start to Finish";
Crop Production Services' Technology Share Conference, Loveland, CO, May 2012

"Accident Investigations: Collecting High Quality Information the Right Way";
Crop Production Services' EH&S Fall Staff Meeting, Providence, RI, September 2011

"Environmental Reports and Consultant Communications: Tips from a Legal Perspective";
Crop Production Services' Technology Share Conference, Loveland, CO, March 2011

"Environmental Law 101: Just the 'Acts'";
Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry Environmental Conference at the Lake, Osage Beach, MO July 2010

"President Obama's Green Team and the Administration's Environment and Energy Agenda: One Year Later";
Gateway Society of Hazardous Materials Managers Spring Seminar, St. Louis, MO, April 2010

"Pending Federal Carbon Cap and Trade Legislation- H.R. 2454: The American Clean Energy and Security Act";
Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois Board Meeting, Collinsville, IL, October 2009

"The New Administration: What to Expect from President Obama's Green Team";
Chemical Industry Council of Illinois Seminar: The Musical Chairs Surrounding Air Issues and the New Administration, Willowbrook, IL, March 2009

"USEPA RCRA Enforcement Issues";
Chemical Industry Council of Illinois RCRA Seminar, Fairview Heights, IL, January 2009