Jonathan Steeler

Jon is a member of the firm’s Corporate and Environmental practice groups. Prior to joining the firm in 2016, he was a shareholder at both Ryley Carlock & Applewhite, where he served on the Executive Committee, and Isaacson Rosenbaum P.C., where he was chair of the Business Department and served as Chief Executive Officer of that firm for seven years. Jon serves as outside general counsel for many clients, including a grocery chain, a real estate brokerage firm, and a metal recovery and recycling business. In this capacity he provides ongoing advice and counseling on all manner of general business operations. Jon represents clients in acquiring and selling businesses in a variety of industries including telecommunications, grocery operations, marketing, engineering, casinos, manufacturing, food sales and warehousing. Jon is often involved in the financing of new and existing business enterprises. In addition, Jon represents parties in the formation of businesses and business planning. He helps companies establish and maintain sound legal frameworks for operation. He has helped corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships, draft and structure a wide variety of transactions, including complex venture capital and private equity transactions. Jon also has an extensive background in representing clients in shareholder and partner disputes. Jon’s environmental law practice is nationally recognized and he has earned an AV-Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He has been listed as a top lawyer in environmental law in Best Lawyers in America® every year since 2006 and named in Colorado Super Lawyers since 2007. He is also ranked in Chambers USA 2015 for Natural Resources & Environment. He is in the International Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers (2010). Jon has significant experience helping clients with redevelopment projects involving environmentally challenged property. He performs environmental audits to assure compliance with applicable environmental laws and regularly advises clients on state and federal civil environmental enforcement actions. Jon has led several environmental due diligence investigations in connection with a variety of acquisitions, sales, and loan transactions. This work has included negotiating extremely complex provisions to mitigate the risk of the environmental issues raised in these transactions, including the acquisition of environmental insurance coverage.  Jon has significant experience in leading the legal aspects of compliance with State and federally mandated remediation projects.

BAR ADMISSIONS

Colorado

• Representing numerous developers in environmental due diligence and development of “Brownfields sites,” including the redevelopment of a former Air Force base, Stapleton International Airport, and a regional shopping center located over a closed municipal landfill; in these transactions, Jon encountered and helped his clients overcome environmental issues involving wetlands, water contamination, asbestos, hazardous waste, voluntary cleanup plans, and much more.
• Representing numerous clients in connection with investigations of alleged violations of hazardous waste laws and alleged Clean Water Act violations (NPDES and stormwater cases).
• Representing numerous owners and operators of leaking underground storage tanks in connection with cleanup and obtaining reimbursement of cleanup expenses.

2013

• Updated Standard for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments,” Ryley Carlock & Applewhite Client Alert, August 2013

2014

• “EPA Issues Changes to Due Diligence Requirements for AAI Under CERCLA,” Ryley Carlock & Applewhite Client Alert, October 2014
• “Colorado Bill S.B. 73 Establishes Income Tax Credit for Cleanup of Contaminated Brownfield Sites,” Ryley Carlock & Applewhite Client Alert, May 2014

2014

• “Creative Solutions in the Legal Practice: Examples and Reactions from a Litigation Attorney, a Transactional Attorney, and a Judge,” Colorado Bar Association, June 2014
• National Brownfields Annual Conference
• Funding Incentives to Aid Brownfield Development

• Colorado Bar Association
• Denver Bar Association
• Legal Aid Foundation, Board of Trustees
• Colorado Attorney Mentoring Program (C.A.M.P.), Mentor

• Martindale-Hubbell
• Best Lawyers in America®
• Colorado Super Lawyers
• Chambers USA 2015 for Natural Resources & Environment
• International Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers