Dennis Grzezinski Email & Phone Number

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A one-attorney law firm providing environmental law and civil litigation services to environmental organizations, municipalities, businesses, neighborhood groups, and individuals. Over the years, my practice narrowed from a general civil litigation practice to one focused on environmental law and litigation, primarily on the public interest side. Appellate practice, toxic torts, and federal false claims act and federal civil rights act work complemented my environmental law practice. From March 2010 to June 2013, I served full-time as Senior Counsel at Midwest Environmental Advocates. Since June 2013, I have revived my private law practice while continuing to serve for a time as Counsel to MEA on a then-pending case.

Served as Vice President for 3 years, and then as President for another 3 plus years, during UEC's transition from occupying a double-wide trailer without running water to designing, constructing, and raising the funds for a beautiful, new environmentally sustainable 20,000 square foot facility to serve as an urban environmental education center, a nature center, and a community center for surrounding neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Have remained as the organization's longest-serving board member as it expanded to a second facility in Milwaukee's Washington Park and to its new 3rd branch, which opened to serve Milwaukee's South Side from a newly-developed Three Bridges nature park, all as a result of a successful multi-million dollar public-private redevelopment effort. Participated in UEC's partnership with the Milwaukee Downtown Rotary Club in developing the Rotary Centennial Memorial Arboretum adjacent to UEC's Riverside Park branch.

As secretary ,I prepared minutes and correspondence on behalf of the board, provided legal and nonprofit experience and advice to fellow board members, and assisted with periodic seasonal events at Blue Heron, a wildlife refuge of approximately 90 acres on the west bank of the Milwaukee River north of Saukville, Wisconsin. More recently, I have served as Blue Heron's treasurer, responsible for its finances.

I previously served as a board member for multiple terms over the last 30 years, as well as a term in each of the officer positions (secretary, treasurer, vice president, and president), between 1991 and 2020.

Have worked on access to workplaces for payroll giving campaigns, negotiated partnership a greements between CSGM and United Way over the years, assisted with outreach and fundraising mailings, and with annual fundraiser events.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

After 19 years as a solo lawyer practicing environmental law primarily on the public interest side, in March 2010 I joined MEA, a nonprofit environmental law center providing litigation, advocacy and community organizing support to environmental organizations and community groups in the western Great Lakes region. I was a founding board member of MEA for a number of years. MEA is headquartered in Madison, and I worked from MEA's office in Milwaukee. In summer 2013, I transitioned from this full-time senior counsel position to a part-time "Counsel" position with MEA and when MEA's Milwaukee office closed, I returned to a solo environmental law practice later in 2013.

After 19 years as a solo lawyer practicing environmental law primarily on the public interest side, in March 2010 I joined MEA, a nonprofit environmental law center providing litigation, advocacy and community organizing support to environmental organizations and community groups in the western Great Lakes region. I was a founding board member of MEA, which is now in its 15th year, and was on the board until several years ago. While MEA is headquartered in Madison, I worked from MEA's office in Milwaukee, located on the lower East side between my home and downtown. In summer 2013, I transitioned from this full-time senior counsel position to a "counsel" position with MEA on a then-pending case, and returned again to a solo environmental law and litigation practice at Law Office of Dennis M Grzezinski.

Served as a member of the grant allocation committee, and of the community grantmaking event committee.

At various times during 4 calendar years, chaired the Commission, at which time I formulated meeting agendas, appointed committee members and chairs, ran commission meetings, and was involved in decisions regarding wastewater treatment, capital investments, flood management, personnel policies, setting of taxes and rates, litigation, and a myriad of other issues. As a commissioner, chaired the Public Policy and Audit Committee, Finance and Personnel Committee, and Operations Committee at various times. Participated in the settlement of "Sewer Wars" (long-running administrative, legal and political conflicts between MMSD and customer communities outside of Milwaukee County), in competitive negotiation of two 10-year operations contracts, in facilities planning processes, and in creation of the District's Greenseams and other innovative environmental, stormwater and flood management programs.

Was a founding board member and one of the Milwaukee-area board members at MEA, a nonprofit environmental law firm based in Madison, Wisconsin, for several years.

J.D., Law

Activities and Societies: Clinical work with New Haven Legal Assistance Society; Center for Advocacy & Planning of NAACP New Haven Branch;

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Public And International Affairs, Magna Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Coordinator of Student Personnel, Department of Dining and Food Services; Princeton University Marching Band.