Rachel F. Wittenberg

RACHEL WITTENBERG focuses her practice on environmental litigation, workplace safety and health, and regulatory compliance. She assists clients in navigating complex federal and state regulatory requirements, responding to government investigations, and defending against enforcement actions.

Rachel has experience defending employers in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforcement proceedings, including contested matters before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Her work encompasses various stages of administrative litigation, including developing factual records, drafting written discovery requests and responses, coordinating electronic discovery and document production, evaluating privilege and responsiveness, and addressing discovery disputes. Rachel also assists clients with workplace safety investigations, citation defense, and compliance and abatement obligations under federal and state occupational safety laws.

In her environmental practice, Rachel advises on matters involving the Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). She assists clients with regulatory compliance assessments, enforcement risk evaluations, and obligations arising under complex settlements and consent decrees. Rachel also works on automotive and transportation regulatory matters, including vehicle emissions compliance, emissions-related recalls, and federal and California regulatory requirements. Her experience spans the automotive, manufacturing, energy, and food production industries.

Prior to joining Sidley, Rachel served as an extern for the Honorable John F. Kness of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and for Chicago Public Media's Office of General Counsel. She also served as a Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Fellow at Legal Aid Chicago. While attending Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Rachel served as managing technical editor of the Journal of Law and Social Policy. Before law school, Rachel worked in corporate interiors architectural design in Chicago, bringing a practical understanding of the built environment and workplace design to her legal practice.

• Alumni Associations: University of Michigan, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law