As an attorney who has specialized in defending clients against environmental claims for nearly 30 years, Fred Blum has become so skilled in anticipating key issues and working with experts, that clients have begun relying upon him to serve as an expert himself. He says this work has helped him to develop a 360-degree perspective on environmental cases.
“Given nearly 30 years of experience in practicing environmental law, I can bring a wealth of knowledge to the table when serving as an expert witness,” says Blum. “But the perspective I gain from working as an expert is equally valuable when I’m litigating and trying cases. Serving as an expert has made me a better lawyer and vice versa.”
Experts are critical in environmental litigation given their complexity and technical nature. In addition, the stakes are very high as settlement values are usually in the millions of dollars and hundreds of parties are involved. Blum has the knowledge and experience to navigate this tricky terrain.
In his work as an expert Blum has provided clients with valuable insight and testimony on a wide range of issues in high-profile, multi-faceted environmental cases. He has rendered opinions on whether settlement values were reasonable, the fair rates for attorneys involved in multiple jurisdictions, and whether attorney or consultant services were reasonable and necessary. Before accepting any expert engagement, Blum follows the same rigorous process that attorneys in the firm use to identify potential conflicts of interest.