Cynthia M. Teel

When asked about her personal philosophy, Cynthia Teel said, "It is important to me to work creatively to find ways to say, 'yes,' and get our clients over the finish line efficiently."

Cynthia Teel takes a comprehensive approach to addressing environmental issues in litigation, transactional, and regulatory matters for clients. She represents large multinational public and private companies as well as smaller regulated entities, including major solid and hazardous waste, agricultural, and other industrial businesses.

With a wealth of experience representing clients in environmental negotiations, enforcement actions, and in front of federal and state regulators, Cynthia has litigated environmental claims across administrative, state and federal courts. She regularly handles matters in the following areas:

• Agricultural regulation
• Brownfield redevelopment
• Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability (CERCLA) / Superfund sites
• Environmental diligence, risk analyses, and mitigation
• Hazardous substances
• Landfills, solid waste, hazardous waste
• Odor nuisance class actions
• Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other emerging contaminants
• Remediation of contaminated sites
• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
• Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TENORM)

Much of Cynthia's practice deals with the assessment and remediation of contaminated sites nationwide, and creatively shepherding them through federal and state remediation programs. This includes determining and implementing creative and sophisticated legal and technical strategies, leading Potentially Responsible Party groups, negotiating and minimizing liability, and related litigation. She also works closely with clients' legal, engineering and remediation teams to efficiently handle enforcement actions or compliance issues, while considering litigation strategies and remaining cognizant of each client's risk profile before advising on transactions with potential environmental repercussions.

Cynthia also excels at analyzing real estate transactions and tax credit projects for environmental risks, providing strategic advice to understand and minimize liabilities. She provides clients with a regulatory focus addressing emerging or unique contaminants such as PFAS, 1,4 dioxane and technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (TENORM).

Prior to law school, Cynthia conducted public affairs and media relations for the Los Angeles/Ventura Chapter of the Building Industry Association and provided public relations services to a variety of organizations including public companies, government entities and nonprofits.

WHEN ASKED …

Why did you become a lawyer?

I wanted to contribute a perspective that would help drive environmental stewardship in an efficient manner. I knew it would be satisfying to deeply understand our clients' businesses and collaborate to achieve their goals.

What do you do outside of work?

Outside of work, I live the Colorado dream, enjoying the mountains with my husband and kids through skiing, hiking, camping and by attempting to become a mountain biker (it's hard!).

• Presenter, "CERCLA Liability and Reopened Superfund Sites: PRP Impact, Settlement Consequences, Insurance Considerations," Strafford CLE Webinar, April 30, 2024
• Presenter, "Widely Used, Widely Discussed: The Less Obvious Implications of PFAS," American Bar Association Environment, Energy & Resources Section (SEER) Spring Conference, April 26, 2023
• Speaker, "New EPA Guidance on PFAS and Safe Drinking Water: Health Advisories, Regional Screening Levels, Remediation Levels," Strafford Webinar, September 20, 2022
• Co-presenter, "The PFAS Roadmap and Beyond: PFAS Regulatory Update," Colorado Environmental Management Society Luncheon, April 12, 2022
• Panelist, What Happens When Recyclables Become Trash, Wastes Go Astray, or the Status of Naturally-Occurring Materials is Changed?, American Bar Association Environment, Energy & Resources Section SEER Spring Conference, March 2019

• Note: Free Exorcise Clause? Whether Exorcism Can Survive the Supreme Court’s “Smith Neutrality,” 104 Nw. U. L. Rev. 363 (2010)
• Author, "The Rapid Pace of Change in Environmental Regulation Continues in Colorado," The Energy Dispatch, December 2018

• Colorado Bar Association, Natural Resources & Energy Law Section; Member
• Denver Bar Association, Member
• Rocky Mountain Environmental Health & Safety Peer Group
• Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Fellows Program, 2022

• Colorado Environmental Management Society
• Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Foundation, Impact Denver, Fall 2018 Class

• Missouri Lawyers Media, Top Legal Innovations Award, Emerging Practice Areas, PFAS
• Selected among The Best Lawyers in America®, "Ones to Watch," 2021-2024