Riley Desper

RILEY DESPER focuses her practice on environmental litigation and regulatory compliance, with a particular emphasis on assisting clients in the chemical, industrial, and auto sectors.

Riley has assisted clients with a variety of challenges in connection with the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Toxic Substances and Controls Act (TSCA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Riley is a member of Sidley’s workplace safety and health practice, helping clients navigate Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance and enforcement actions.

Riley received her J.D., with highest honors, from The George Washington Law School. While in law school, Riley was a managing editor for The George Washington Law Review and externed at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Appeals Board. Riley earned her M.S., with first class honors, in climate change studies from The University of Edinburgh, and her B.S., summa cum laude, in chemical engineering from Arizona State University.

Riley’s representative matters include:

• Defending foundry in enforcement litigation under the CAA, alleging violations of Title V permit and associated regulations.
• Assisting clients with compliance responsibilities under TSCA, such as chemical-specific risk management rule restrictions and reporting requirements.
• Counseling a pharmaceutical client in regard to its responsibilities related to the storage and transport of hazardous waste under RCRA.
• Advising clients on emerging regulatory matters related to the use and disposal of PFAS.
• Assisting refinery clients with OSHA Process Safety Management/CAA Risk Management Program (PSM/RMP) audit responses.
• Representing an aftermarket parts client in a civil enforcement litigation under Title II of the CAA.
• Advising a chemical manufacturing client in connection with environmental contamination at a Superfund site.