Beth S. Gotthelf

A knowledgeable environmental attorney in practice for more than three decades, Beth offers extensive experience in environmental, renewable energy, and sustainability matters. She guides clients through remediation, redevelopment, permitting, and compliance challenges, including climate change regulations and greenhouse gas (GHG) standards. Beth’s comprehensive background covers development and regulatory matters such as obtaining wastewater discharge, air, and wetlands permits, ensuring compliance with environmental permits and air emission limits, Brownfields cost recovery, and managing hazardous or toxic substances like pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), asbestos, and mold and other indoor air concerns. She has advised on a wide range of situations and compliance issues from emergency responses due to accidents, fires, and spills to tax incentives, enforcement, occupational safety and health, and insurance coverage. Beth also possesses considerable experience in the advanced battery technology sector, helping clients adapt to rapidly changing regulations by addressing lifecycle analysis, emissions, the emerging track and trace, and waste management requirements. As a frequent liaison for entities forming strategic industry partnerships, she supports transparent supply chains, circular economy initiatives, robust contractual structuring, and risk evaluation, empowering clients to succeed in a landscape that is shifting toward clean energy and sustainability.

Beth also advises clients in the aerospace,  defense, and satellite and space industries on a variety of legal issues, including governmental contracting, International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), bids and bid protests, Foreign Military Sales (FMS), and other areas pertinent to these sectors. She helps multinational and non-US-based companies navigate special regulatory requirements and enforcement trends related to the defense industry, and operational and strategic issues faced by companies doing business in this heavily regulated sector.

In addition to her legal acumen, Beth brings deep experience in industry collaborations, supply chain transparency, and strategic partnerships, supporting clients with compliance, risk management, and adapting to evolving regulations. She has successfully assisted companies in diversifying into new markets, such as guiding automotive suppliers into the aerospace and defense arena, and has been instrumental in facilitating cross-border business initiatives, including major missions connecting Canadian and Israeli entities with US defense and other business interests. Beth’s counsel routinely enables clients to achieve their goals in a dynamic and complex environment.

Clients can expect a pragmatic and holistic approach to resolving issues when collaborating with Beth. She helps clients reach their goals by understanding their objectives and using a range of tools, including strategic matchmaking, creative problem-solving, and serving as outside general counsel. Her assistance in diversifying automotive suppliers into the aerospace and defense arena during the economic downturn is just one example of her creative approach.

Actively involved in ongoing business dealings between Israel and Michigan, Beth was instrumental in arranging for the extraordinarily successful first Israel Ministry of Defense Mission of Defense in Michigan. The Israel Ministry of Defense Mission of Defense is an initiative to align Israeli companies with business synergies within the US. Beth has served as a lay leader on legislative trade missions to Israel to help Michigan legislators learn what has worked to make Israel an economic leader, and to then apply best practices learned from the missions.

Beth credits her successful practice to her business acumen, extensive legal training, and her active participation in professional groups and non-profits that provide many experiences for her to draw from. Beth became National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Board Directorship Certified. She serves on the Board of Directors of NATTBatt International, the Trade Association for Advanced Battery Technology in North America and is a board member of the Alpena Power Resources a/k/a Alpena Power Company. Beth also 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; Velocity Subject Matter Expert, Executive in Residence of Oakland University Incubator, OU INC SmartZone; Board member and former Chair, Michigan Israel Business Accelerator; and Michigan Advisory Board, Women in Defense.

Additionally, Beth is former Board member of the Better Business Bureau and former General Counsel to the Wayne County Brownfield Authority. She is a former Board member of the International Women’s Forum (IWF), Michigan and Florida Chapters. Beth has represented the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) on stormwater matters as it relates to the modernization of Department of Transportation (DOT) Interstates, 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 (DWSD) wastewater treatment plant expansion, upgrade, and compliance; wet weather; landfills; remediation; and ordinance amendments.

Beth 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. Beth also served as an arbitrator for the National Arbitration Forum.

Also active in numerous bar associations, Beth’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. Beth is a past member of the State Bar Representative Assembly on behalf of Oakland County.

A long-time supporter of several regional and national charitable organizations, Beth has multifaceted experience serving communities through philanthropic endeavors. She has served as a Trustee of Jewish Vocational Services n/k/a Gesher Human Services; Co-Chair of Gleaners Food Bank’s Women's Power Breakfast fundraiser; Board member and then President of the Board of Trustees, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter; Board member and then Chair of the Board of Trustees of Oakland Plus Foundation; and member of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit n/k/a Jewish Federation of Detroit, State Government Relations Oversight Committee.

Beth S. Gotthelf is a Shareholder based in Butzel's Troy office. She leads the firm’s Aerospace & Defense Industry Team, is a Co-Chair of the firm’s Environment, Energy & Sustainability practice, and additionally serves as Butzel’s Director of Innovation and External Relations. During her impressive career, Beth has been recognized consistently by Michigan and national legal publications for her experience in Environmental Law, Energy Law, Governmental Relations Law, and Environmental Litigation.

All Related Practice Areas

Education

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, J.D.

Oakland University, B.S., Public Administration and Public Policy

Admissions

Memberships

• NATTBatt International, Board of Directors
• Michigan Manufacturers Association - Chair, Environmental Policy Committee
• Detroit Regional Chamber, Environmental Committee
• Oakland County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
• Michigan Israel Business Accelerator - Board of Directors; past President
• Alpena Power Resources a/k/a Alpena Power Company, Board Member

Awards & Recognitions

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, 2011-2026; 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

Community & Professional

Oakland University - Honorary Doctorate of Humanities, 2019

Michigan State Bar Foundation - Fellow

Oakland County Bar Foundation – Fellow

Litigation Counsel of America - former Fellow

Oakland University - Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, 2009

Detroit Regional Chamber - Emerging Leader, 2003

National Association of Metal Finishers, Special Recognition, 2002