Ira Gottlieb practices in the areas of environmental law, natural resource damages (“NRD”), insurance coverage on behalf of policyholders, commercial and intellectual property litigation. He is the Practice Group Leader of the firm’s Environment & Energy Practice Group. As described in Chambers USA 2010, Mr. Gottlieb is "one of the team's most strategic thinkers; not only can he develop a sound legal strategy, but he is skilled at assigning the most appropriate resources." Mr. Gottlieb brings together a wealth of experience from litigating and trying cases, and from his time with the EPA, to effectively assist clients with practical solutions to complex problems.
Mr. Gottlieb's environmental and NRD work involves large, multi-party Superfund sites, including urban watershed sites, located around the country. For example, Mr. Gottlieb takes a lead role on behalf of clients on a wide variety of issues involving Superfund and NRD matters concerning the Berry’s Creek Study Area in New Jersey and the Portland Harbor Superfund site in Oregon, as well as at other Superfund sites.
Mr. Gottlieb’s insurance coverage practice involves an array of litigation and counseling in multi-state environmental and toxic tort cases as well as for claims relating to products liability, business interruption, employers' liability, workers compensation issues, Directors and Officers and Errors and Omissions coverage.
Presently, Mr. Gottlieb is part of a litigation team pursuing insurers for recovery of damages to an oil platform in the North Sea. He is also lead trial counsel in a D&O coverage action seeking to recover losses arising from wrongful currency trading. Mr. Gottlieb also litigates commercial and intellectual property cases concerning disputes ranging from failed transactions to real estate matters. In connection with intellectual property litigation, Mr. Gottlieb is involved in actions concerning flash memory technology including licensing disputes.
Prior to joining McCarter, Mr. Gottlieb served as an Assistant Regional Counsel for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region III. During his tenure with USEPA, Mr. Gottlieb worked with remedial project managers, on-scene coordinators and other agency staff, as well as the US Department of Justice, US Department of Interior, USACE and various state environmental protection agencies. He acted as lead counsel for USEPA on a number of substantial Superfund Sites, including serving as the lead attorney for USEPA, Region III, in US v. Occidental Chemical, 200 F.3d 143 (3d Cir. 1999), a landmark decision related to the validity of USEPA "Participate and Cooperate" UAOs under CERCLA § 106. While at USEPA, Mr. Gottlieb received the Federal Executive Board gold medal for Excellence in Government and a bronze medal in recognition of his outstanding public service and achievements.
Before joining USEPA, Mr. Gottlieb represented clients in numerous and varied types of litigation, trying several cases to verdict. He is a frequent speaker at conferences on various topics, and publishes articles and book chapters on a range of subjects, including Superfund and Natural Resource Damages, insurance for climate change liabilities and insurance for business interruption. From 2005-07, Mr. Gottlieb was Co-Chair of the Committee on Superfund and NRD Litigation of the ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources. He previously served as the Vice Chair of the Committee and as Editor of the Committee's Newsletter.
He has been recognized as a New Jersey Super Lawyer for 2006, 2008-2013 editions. He has also been recognized as a Chambers USA "Leaders in their Field" lawyer for 2009-2013.