Butzel Attorney Beth Gotthelf Named to Crain’s Detroit Business’ Notable Leaders in Sustainability

DETROIT, Mich. –  Butzel attorney Beth S. Gotthelf has been named to Crain’s Detroit Business’ Notable Leaders in Sustainability list. Among the Notable Leaders in Sustainability are top executives, nonprofit leaders, and entrepreneurs setting and reaching ambitious goals toward zero emissions, supporting environmental justice efforts and educational initiatives, and providing green solutions. The news appears in the November 3 edition.

Gotthelf is Butzel’s Director of Innovation and External Relations, Co-Chair of the Energy & Sustainability Practice and Chair of the Aerospace & Defense Industry Team.

Gotthelf has extensive environmental, renewable energy, and sustainability experience. She assists clients with remediation, redevelopment, permitting, and compliance. She is proud of the work she does with renewable energy, including assisting in the expansion of biodigesters to turn food waste and manure into renewable natural gas as well as ways to manage stormwater. She also is proud of her work to facilitate the redevelopment of property for such uses as affordable housing and industrial plants.   

Notably, Gotthelf was a part of the team that created the first wetland bank in Michigan and Wayne County’s Brownfield Authority. Her experience includes active involvement in a variety of enforcement cases on behalf of government and industry. She has counseled clients on compliance, emergency response, remediation, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), redevelopment, tax incentives, enforcement, occupational safety and health, and insurance coverage.

She serves as Chair of the Michigan Manufacturers Association’s Environmental Policy Committee; General Counsel to the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Surface Finishers; Board member and former Chair, Michigan Israel Business Accelerator; and Michigan Advisory Board, Women in Defense. Ms. Gotthelf is also board directorship certified through the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).

Additionally, Gotthelf is a former Board member of the Better Business Bureau and is former General Counsel to the Wayne County Brownfield Authority. She is a former Board member of the International Women’s Forum, Michigan and Florida Chapters. She has represented the Wayne County (Michigan) Department of Public Services Environmental Services Division on a broad variety of issues, including the Detroit bankruptcy as it related to the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department, the wastewater treatment plant expansion, upgrade, and compliance; wet weather issues; landfill compliance and expansion; remediation; and ordinance amendments.

Gotthelf served on the Detroit Regional Chamber Leadership Committee for Transportation and is past Chair of the Chamber's Task Force on Water and Sewer Issues. She is past Chair of the City of Birmingham (Michigan) Brownfield Authority. On behalf of industry, she served on the Federal Advisory Committee charged with recommending stormwater rules. She also served as an arbitrator for the National Arbitration Forum.

Also active in numerous bar associations, Gotthelf’s experience includes serving as Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law, Water Quality and Wetlands; former Vice-Chair of the Section's Annual Keystone Conference Committee; Chair of the State Bar of Michigan Environmental Law Section; and Chair of the Environmental Law Committee of the Oakland County Bar Association. She is a past member of the State Bar Representative Assembly on behalf of Oakland County.

Gotthelf has received numerous honors including:

• The Best Lawyers in America® - Environmental Law, 2013-2026; Litigation-Environmental, 2020-2026
• The Best Lawyers in America® - "Lawyer of the Year," Litigation - Environmental, 2023
• DBusiness- Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit - Environmental Law, 2011-2025; Energy Law, 2011-2012, 2016, 2018, 2020-2023; Government Relations Law, 2011-2012
• Michigan Super Lawyers - Environmental, 2006-2020
• Michigan Super Lawyers - Top 50 Female, 2006-2009; 2014-2018
• Michigan Super Lawyers - Top 25 Women - Business, 2016-2018
• Michigan Super Lawyers - Top 100, 2006-2009
• Michigan Lawyers Weekly - Leaders in the Law, 2019
• Michigan Lawyers Weekly - Women in Law, 2010
• Corp!Magazine - "Michigan's 95 Most Powerful Women," 2002
• Corp!Magazine - "Top 10 Business Attorneys for Southeast Michigan," 1999
• Crain's Detroit Business' - "40 Under 40," 1994