Profile: Charles McElwee

Environment

Biography: Environment

Charles R McElwee II, a seasoned environmental and energy lawyer at Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP, has represented a broad range of clients in China and the United States in a variety of matters including analysis of PRC environmental, energy and import/export laws and regulations. In the United States, he has defended clients in Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act and Safe Drinking Water Act enforcement cases, and toxic tort actions for personal injury and property damage caused by the release of hazardous substances into the air, soil and groundwater. He consequently can counsel clients investing in China through a shared vocabulary of US environmental laws.

Mr McElwee spoke on 'Clean Production and the Circular Economy in China' at the ABA's Annual Meeting in August 2007. His speaking engagements in 2007 include 'Environmental Law and Litigation in China,' The US-China Business Council, China Operations Conference 2007, 'Green China,' NYU Stern School of Business, executive MBA programme, Shanghai, China; and 'China's Environmental Regime' during the session 'Around the World in 80 Minutes (+10)' at the ABA's Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources' 36th Annual Conference. He is also a noted author on numerous China issues.

Mr McElwee is a strategic adviser for Joint US-China Cooperation on Clean Energy and vice chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai's Environmental Committee. From 2003 to 2005, he served as vice chair of the ABA's Environmental Crimes and Enforcement Committee.

Mr McElwee is a professor of American law fundamentals at Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Law.