Francis X. Lyons

Partner

, Bryan Cave LLP

Chicago

Tel

1 312 602 5057

Fax

1 312 698 7457

francis.lyons@bryancave.com

Download vCard

Francis X. Lyons

Partner

Chicago

161 North Clark Street, Suite 4300
Chicago, Illinois 60601-3315

Phone:

1 312 602 5057

Fax:

1 312 698 7457

email:

francis.lyons@bryancave.com

Biography

Francis Lyons counsels clients on diverse environmental issues including project development, regulatory compliance, brownfields redevelopment, corporate investigations, environmental audits and due diligence, administrative and judicial enforcement, litigation and permit negotiations and appeals.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Lyons served during the Clinton administration as the Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region V. He was responsible for leading and implementing all U.S. EPA policy and enforcement initiatives for the Great Lakes Region, consisting of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and 35 Native American tribal reservations. With a staff of over 1300 employees and over 100 attorneys, he represented the Great Lakes Region in its dealings with other federal agencies, state and local officials and industry and public interest groups. Mr. Lyons was also the Great Lakes National Program Manager. He oversaw the U.S. EPA's national and international policies on the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes.

Before his appointment to the U.S. EPA, Mr. Lyons served for more than a decade as a trial attorney in the Environmental Enforcement Section of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. and the Environmental and General Law Divisions of the Illinois Attorney General's Office in Chicago, representing the U.S. EPA and the Illinois EPA. He is the recipient of the U.S. Department of Justice Special Achievement Award for sustained superior performance and the Special Commendation Award for outstanding service.

Mr. Lyons also received the U.S. EPA National Notable Achievement Award for participation on the Superfund Enforcement Team of the Year. Mr. Lyons was selected by his peers for the Law Bulletin Publishing Company's "Leading Lawyers Network, The Top Lawyers" in the field of environmental law. Additionally, he serves on its Board of Advisors. His peers have also selected him as one of Law and Politics' Chicago magazine's "Illinois Super Lawyers" and he served on its rating panel. Chambers USA rates him as a leader in environmental law, as does "Who’s Who Legal – Illinois." He is profiled in both "Who's Who in America" and "Who's Who in American Law." Mr. Lyons is a member of Chicago Lawyer's Class of 2000 "40 Under 40." Mr. Lyons formerly served on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for the Great Lakes, a non-profit organization dedicated to restoration and protection of the Great Lakes. He serves on the Board of Directors of Chicago's Environmental Fund (CEF). CEF is a non-profit organization founded to complement and expand existing activities of the Chicago Department of the Environment. Mr. Lyons also serves on the Chicago Council on Global Affairs Task Force on National Energy Policy, and Midwest Competitiveness

Mr. Lyons served 13 years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Reserve Field Artillery. He achieved the rank of captain and received numerous honors. He was twice awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. Mr. Lyons is a member of the American Bar Association, Section on Energy, Environment and Resources, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Chicago Bar Association.