HODGE DWYER ZEMAN, Attorneys at Law - Christine G. Zeman - Springfield, Illinois, Sangamon County Lawyers - Air Water Land Use Permit Environmental Law

Christine G. Zeman has been a partner with the firm since 1995. Prior to joining the firm, she was a partner in a full-service law firm, where she built an environmental practice for clients requiring transactional guidance, regulatory consultation and representation in litigation. Her private practice involves all environmental media, with a concentration on waste-related issues, including permitting, storage, disposal, siting, and remediation. In addition to environmental consultation and litigation, Ms. Zeman has been retained as an expert in state cases involving environmental issues, has served as hearing officer for communities in the siting of pollution control facilities and has authored articles on Illinois environmental law.

Ms. Zeman served nine years as Assistant Attorney General with the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, including three years as Chief of the Environmental Control Division in Springfield. Her primary responsibility in that position was managing representation of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in enforcement of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act and its regulations, which implement state and federal programs. Ms. Zeman also supervised representation of other state environmental agencies, including the Illinois Pollution Control Board and the Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (now Illinois Emergency Management Agency). She also served as Chief of the General Law Division, managing the defense of state agencies in contract, tort, employment and constitutional claims.

During her tenure as a public defender, Ms. Zeman garnered extensive trial experience, particularly with respect to criminal defense. This background enables Ms. Zeman to provide clients of the firm with critical assessments of enforcement exposure, including as to potential criminal investigations, proceedings, and penalties. Ms. Zeman utilizes her litigation skills in representing the firm's clients in cases before federal and state courts and administrative tribunals.

Ms. Zeman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from the University of Illinois in 1974. She was awarded her Juris Doctor degree from the Southern Illinois University School of Law in 1979. Ms. Zeman was born and raised in the Chicagoland area.

Ms. Zeman is admitted to the bars of the State of Illinois, U.S. District Court for the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of Illinois; and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. She is a member of the American and Sangamon County Bar Associations, the Central Illinois Women's Bar Association, as well as the Illinois State Bar Association, where she has chaired the Administrative Law Section, Environmental Law Section and Committee on Women and the Law.