Beth Gotthelf, Butzel Long Photo

Beth Gotthelf is renowned as a problem-solver. She is best known for bringing creativity and practicality to situations while forming true partnerships with each individual client. A skilled connector, Beth leverages her ingenuity and business insight to unite entities, solve problems, and drive growth. She works extensively with automotive and defense and aerospace companies, developers, and startups. Beth’s clients also benefit from her deep government relations experience at the local, state, and federal levels.

Overview

A knowledgeable environmental attorney in practice for more than three decades, Beth has extensive environmental, renewable energy, and sustainability experience. She assists clients with remediation, redevelopment, permitting, and compliance matters.

Beth also advises clients in the aerospace and defense 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, and other areas pertinent to these sectors.

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.

Beth 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.

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 as Chair of the Michigan Manufacturers Association’s Environmental Policy Committee; General Counsel to the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Surface Finishers; 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 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. Beth 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, including 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; as a Co-Chair of Gleaners Food Bank’s Women's Power Breakfast fundraiser; as a Board member and then President of the Board of Trustees, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter; as a Board member and then Chair of the Board of Trustees of Oakland Plus Foundation; and as a 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.

Credentials

Education

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

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

Admissions

  • Michigan

Memberships

  • Michigan Manufacturers Association, Chair
  • Detroit Regional Chamber, Environmental Committee
  • Oakland County Bar Association
  • Michigan Israel Business Accelerator - Board of Directors; past President

Awards & Recognitions

Awards & Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America® - Environmental Law, 2013-2025; Litigation-Environmental, 2020-2025

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

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

Experience

  • Represented manufacturing company in lawsuit against insurance company for coverage after environmental emergency
  • Defended against several claims of injury related to alleged mold exposure.
  • Representation of manufacturer in remediation using soil mixing
  • Representation of a county in a variety of issues from construction of a $300 million upgrade and expansion of its wastewater treatment plant to compliance of its wastewater discharge limits
  • Creation of a 13-community management authority for a regional wastewater plant
  • Negotiated an administrative order for a landfill client with the DNRE resulting from alleged violations of the laws and regulations regarding the operation and maintenance of solid waste landfills
  • Represented several manufacturing home park clients in obtaining ground water discharge permits.
  • Assisted in addressing regional transportation issues for client's possible move to downtown Detroit
  • Construction of a combined sewer overflow basin at a former dump site.
  • Obtained a judgment of approximately $24 million for DWSD and its rate payers
  • Assisted Developer in obtaining a unique 2007 Wetland Permit that allowed the construction of a wetland shelf for sediments and dredging
  • Successfully prosecuted several contested case proceedings related to wetland permit denials.
  • Represented credit union in sale of contaminated property and cost recovery against Texaco
  • Represented manufacturing company in class action suit for damages as a result of evacuation
  • Represented numerous clients in obtaining, modifying and or transferring air permits.
  • Assisting with the construction, financing & permitting of ethanol plants in two locations in a northern area of Michigan
  • Represented manufacturing company with respect to multimedia inspection by state and US EPA
  • Representation of solid waste and recycling company included a variety of landfill compliance and contamination issues of multiple landfills and transfer stations
  • Represented a County against the City of Detroit and Detroit Water and Sewerage Dept. to terminate special powers the Court gave to the Mayor of Detroit
  • Represented energy company in development, land purchase, equipment purchase and tax incentives for wood pellet manufacturing
  • Settled a suit against a manufacturer and designer of the pumps at the Wyandotte wastewater treatment plant, resulting in a program to repair the mammoth pumps and monetary damage
  • Various enforcement actions pursuant to Wayne County's air regulations against companies such as local steel and automotive corporations
  • Assisting with PUD approval, condo documents, along with wetland, shoreland and sewer water permits for a 450-acre lakefront residential development
  • Environmental representation for a metal finishing company in connection with a release of hazardous chemicals that caused the evacuation of over 3,000 people and a flood of class action lawsuits
  • Obtained court order to allow access for remediation.
  • Assisted numerous clients with international transactions involving environmental due diligence and permitting throughout South America, Asia and Europe.
  • Conducted environmental due diligence and organized a transfer of environmental permits for the purchase of a portable energy production facility
  • Advised client concerning purchase, tax incentives and the remediation of a contaminated site to redevelop into residential units
  • Create the first wetland bank in Michigan.
  • Represent developer in the obtaining of a wastewater discharge permit from a manufactured home park, including fighting the State's decision not to issue a permit through a contested case proceeding
  • Prosecuted several cost recovery actions on behalf of clients seeking to recoup remediation costs against responsible parties.
  • Defend client in CERCLA cost recovery claim.
  • Assist with the purchasing, contracting, bonding, construction and permitting of two ethanol plants
  • Defend various companies against alleged wastewater discharge violations
  • Created Brownfield Authority for large metropolitan county and local municipalities,
  • Represent company in the sale of highly contaminated gas station, conversion to drugstore while remediating contamination.
  • Various enforcement actions against industrial wastewater dischargers
  • Defend Client in multiple class action and multi-party lawsuits that were filed in reaction to hydrochloric acid release at Client's property; pursue insurance coverage related to same.
  • Assist in purchasing hundreds of thousands of dollars of tax credits in numerous transactions
  • Review and analyze environmental due diligence reports, and purchase agreements on behalf of buyers, sellers, and lenders, and advise as to potential environmental liability and available protections.
  • Represented a private equity investor in the lengthy and complicated effort to purchase all of Ford Motor Company's glass manufacturing operations in North America
  • Chaired Brownfield Authority for large suburban community
  • Ongoing representation for numerous casino clients in a variety of OSHA issues
  • Successfully represented client in dispute with DEQ over wetland delineation for 50 acre development.
  • Financial lending for development of Bloomfield Park
  • Investigation of remedial contamination and negotiation of non-liability status with state
  • Worked with client to obtain $1 million Single Business Tax Credit.
  • Represent solar and windmill energy company for tax incentives, pilot projects and sale for residential use
  • Defended against suit filed by MDEQ for alleged contamination of soils and groundwater
  • Represented the County in the transfer of sewer capacity to the communities of Novi, Northville & Plymouth
  • Represented major manufacturer in negotiating complex remedial action plan.
  • Represent manufacturer in stock purchase of contaminated property
  • Defended several class action law suits against waste treatment & disposal clients alleging harm due to odors and other impact from respected facilities.
  • Representing companies in alleged criminal environmental conduct
  • Represented a healthcare client with the environmental aspects of the sale of the company
  • Worked with client to obtain $1 million Single Business Tax Credit, approval of brownfield plan and negotiation of brownfield agreement with city
  • Assisted manufacturing company in reopening after major fire
  • Assisted client in purchasing, tax incentives and permits of alternative fuel, R&D facility
  • Supervised environmental due diligence and remedial activities related to major multi-parcel development in major metropolitan downtown area.
  • Assisted clients in obtaining permits and defending action in alleged disturbance of an endangered species (eagles).
  • Convinced MDEQ to reverse its policy not to process permit applications for wastewater discharges from treatment plants until proper zoning is in place
  • Working with a developer to obtain DEQ permit to fill wetlands and negotiating an agreement with a nearby conservancy
  • Represented owner of land next to landfill due to methane gas migrating onsite
  • Reached a settlement for a nuisance value for MDEQ claims against client
  • Represent Client in lawsuit against travel agent for refund of the cost of trip.
  • Advised bond insurer for Michigan higher education facilities authority on various aspects of bond and environmental issues
  • Ongoing representation of numerous solid waste and recycling companies on a variety of landfill compliance & permitting issues.
  • Numerous remediation projects of abandoned dumps.
  • Represent client after it was "raided" by US EPA
  • Successfully represented industry group in negations to amend an ordinance regulating industrial discharges into one of the largest wastewater treatment plants in the country.
  • Representation of companies undergoing a multimedia environmental investigation by local, state and federal authorities, with criminal undertones
  • Reviewed various environmental due diligence and terms in sales agreements on behalf of bank and its borrowers.

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