Byron Starns' Renowned Environmental Law Career Featured by Alma Mater

11.02.2020

The University of Chicago Law School Record recently featured Partner Byron Starns' path to a successful environmental law practice, his work at Stinson, and his advice for the next generation of attorneys.

Byron discussed his early days practicing law with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, where his career was launched by an environmental enforcement case, U.S. v. Reserve Mining, which lasted over a decade, including 10 months of trial and 11 arguments in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. "I got more experience from that case in one year than I might have seen in 10 years," he said.

He went on to discuss his work at Stinson, where he has worked on cases establishing principles related to environmental review and enforcement, remediation of Superfund sites, and obtaining payments by utilities to alternative energy suppliers.

Reflecting back on his career, Byron's advice to young and future attorneys includes a focus on building relationships. "There are a lot of money pressures on young lawyers today, from paying back loans to meeting billable-hours requirements, but I hope they’ll be sure that they are building relationships and savoring them, because your life and your career are too short not to," he said.