Join us for our annual Law Review Symposium on Friday, March 21, 2025! This year’s symposium will focus on the various facets of Environmental Law and will consist of presentations by legal professionals and environmental specialists who will each address a different environmental issue. The Keynote Speaker for the event will be Robert Bilott, a prominent environmental attorney, and the inspiration behind the movie, Dark Waters. Mr. Bilott will share the story of his epic legal battle against DuPont and recount the legal journey that unveiled chemical contamination of unprecedented scale and scope—leading to a new era of environmental regulation.
Mr. Bilott will be joined by:
Peggy Hall, OSU Attorney and Director of Agricultural and Resource Law, Capturing Carbon: Issues and Implications for Farmers and Farmland Owners in the U.S.
Derek Schafer, Executive Director of West Creek Land Conservancy, Protect—Restore—Connect
Raven Venegas, Counsel, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, The EPA’s Neighborhood: An Exploration of EPA’s Good Neighbor Plan
Sara Guiher, Harmful Algal Bloom and Water Quality Specialist, OSU Sea Grant Extension and Stone Laboratory, Harmful Algal Blooms and Water Quality in Lake Erie
Following the presentations, there will be a panel moderated by Ohio Northern University’s Environmental Law Professor, David Raack.
The event will be held in Tilton Hall. A complimentary lunch will be provided, and the event has been approved by the Ohio Supreme Court for 4.5 CLE hours.
EVENT SCHEDULE:
8:30 – 9 a.m. - Registration, Tilton Hall, Pettit College of Law
9 – 9:10 a.m. - Introductory Remarks
9:10 – 9:55 a.m. - Peggy Hall, Attorney and Director, Agricultural & Resource Law Program, Ohio State University "Capturing Carbon: Issues and Implications for Farmers and Farmland Owners in the U.S."
10 – 10:45 a.m. - Derek Schafer, Executive Director, West Creek Land Conservancy, "Protect—Restore—Connect"
10:50 – 11:35 a.m. - Raven Venegas, Counsel, Marathon Petroleum Corp., "The EPA’s Neighborhood: An Exploration of EPA’s Good Neighbor Plan"
11:40 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. - Lunch (Hanson Reading Room, Tilton Hall)
12:10 – 12:55 p.m. - Sara Guiher, Harmful Algal Bloom and Water Quality Specialist, Ohio State University, Ohio Sea Grant Extension and Stone Laboratory, "Harmful Algal Blooms and Water Quality in Lake Erie"
1 – 1:45 p.m. - Keynote Speaker: Robert Bilott, Partner, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. and Author and Inspiration for the film Dark Waters, "Dark Waters: The Story Behind the Environmental Legal Battle Exposing Corporate Coverup"
1:50 – 2:35 p.m. - Panel Discussion
2:40 p.m. - Closing Remarks