Joseph Koncelik, chair of the Tucker Ellis Environmental and Renewable Energy Group, has more than two decades of experience practicing in the areas of environmental law, property development and remediation, and oil and gas.
Joe has 12 years of government regulatory experience gained as Ohio EPA director and chief legal counsel under Governor Taft’s administration and as an assistant attorney general in the Environmental Enforcement Section. Joe uses this unique background to help clients efficiently navigate complex issues and governmental agency administrative processes to cost-effectively reach their goals.
Joe has significant experience in resolving a range of challenging and complex state and federal environmental issues. He has been involved in environmental due diligence associated with significant business transactions and more than 200 different properties. Joe is passionate about brownfield redevelopment and property remediation. He has advised clients on complex projects and helped to secure more than $15 million in brownfield grants and other financial assistance.
Joe provides counsel, advice, and guidance to clients in all facets of Ohio and federal environmental law and related compliance issues. His areas of expertise include: air emissions, wastewater discharges, hazardous and solid waste management, construction and demolition debris, and wetlands. Joe has assisted clients in defending against U.S. EPA, Ohio EPA, and Ohio Department of Natural Resources enforcement actions, including defense of criminal investigations/actions. He has assisted clients in complex permitting issues and disputes, such as wetlands/stream impacts, air emissions, and NPDES discharge permits. Joe’s clients include manufacturers, construction companies, municipalities, real estate developers, and waste management companies.
A board member of the Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC), Joe proposed the concept of sponsoring a bill through which the State of Ohio would adopt the federal Bona Fide Purchaser Defense (BFPD). After GOPC found a sponsor for the bill, Joe worked with the Legislative Service Commission to draft the language and worked with numerous stakeholders to resolve questions related to the bill. The passage of Ohio H.B. 168 in 2020 represents more than two years of work by Joe, GOPC, and the State legislature to fill the gap in Ohio law, resulting in a significant reduction in cost and time to clean up environmental contamination on commercial/industrial property.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Joe has been a resident of Northeast Ohio for the past 10 years. He lives in Westlake with his wife and three sons.