Sean W. Bezark

• Sean represented an international petroleum company in acquiring the assets of a downstream petroleum company which involved extensive environmental due diligence and the negotiation of four prospective purchaser agreements with the USEPA and the U.S. Department of Justice under the Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
• A client purchased a steel manufacturing facility which was used during World War II to roll uranium ingots as part of the Manhattan Project. Sean negotiated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Justice and state and local agencies regarding the investigation and remediation of the radiation contamination and other impacts at the site.
• An airline was developing a state of the art pilot training facility at a major airport. The 26-acre parcel it is developing was previously used by the U.S. Air Force for jet engine testing and manufacturing. Three million gallons of jet fuel were stored on site. The site was a FUDS site and Sean assisted with the complex remediation of it. The USEPA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the local environmental regulatory agency and municipality oversaw the work.
• A client's predecessor's operations were alleged to have caused a two-mile plume of solvent contamination in groundwater which impacted more than one thousand private residential drinking water wells. Sean advised the client regarding the remediation of the soil and groundwater and the personal injury and property damage claims, and negotiated with the USEPA and the state and local governments to resolve the numerous issues associated with the plume. Sean also assisted the client with a strategic restructuring and with creating a trust fund to compensate potential future claimants.
• A client owned 30 acres in downtown Chicago (adjacent to Navy Pier) which is being developed into 6000 residential units, a school, park and offices. The property was contaminated with thorium arising from historic manufacturing operations. Sean assisted with the investigation and remediation of the radioactive materials at the property which is located in a densely populated residential area.

• Represented GTCR in connection with its acquisition of Foundation Source, the nation’s largest provider of foundation management services.
• Represented Blue Wolf Capital Partners, LLC and GCM Grosvenor, as joint sponsors, in connection with their acquisition of Hallcon Corporation from Canadian private equity firm Novacap. Hallcon is the leading North American provider of mission-critical transportation services and infrastructure for a broad range of customers including railroads, universities, airports, hospitals and health care systems, public transit, technology and industrial companies, and other large employers seeking custom transportation solutions.
• Represented Crestview Partners in connection with the acquisition of Emerald EMS, an electronics manufacturing services provider specializing in high-mix, low-volume engineering, design, prototyping, testing, assembly and lifecycle support services for blue-chip original equipment manufacturers across a range of end markets.
• Represented Sun Capital Partners in its sale of Ames Taping Tools, the nation’s foremost provider of automatic taping and finishing tools and related products to the professional drywall finishing industry.
• Represented Blue Wolf Capital Partners, LLC in connection with the sale of StateServ Medical, the leading durable medical equipment (DME) benefit management company supporting hospices and other post-acute care providers in the United States.
• Represented Blue Wolf Capital Partners, LLC in connection with the acquisition of CIVCO Radiotherapy, a global leader of radiotherapy patient positioning and immobilization equipment.
• Represented Black Dragon Capital in connection with its acquisition of Grass Valley, a leading technology supplier of advanced broadcast and media solutions, with operations in over 20 different jurisdictions worldwide.
• Represented an affiliate of Centre Partners in connection with its acquisition of Boomerang Laboratories, Inc., a manufacturer of liquid products for personal care, household and pharmaceutical use.
• Represented Blue Wolf Capital Partners, LLC in connection with its acquisition of Kirlin Design Build LLC, one of the country’s leading engineering and construction companies, focused on large, complex federal and private sector projects. 
• Represented Centre Partners in connection with its sale of Stonewall Kitchen, a leading manufacturer of premium branded specialty food and gift products, including jams, olive oils, bottled sauces, crackers and pancake mixes. 
• Represented Blue Wolf Capital Partners, LLC in connection with its acquisition of RHA Health Services, a leading provider of community-based health services focused on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health needs and substance use challenges. 
• Represented Centre Partners in connection with its acquisition of Guy & O’Neill, Inc., a consumer products company that focuses on private label and contract manufacturing.
• Represented Centre Partners in connection with its acquisition of the IMA Group, a national provider of medical and psychological evaluations and case review services.
• Sean represented affiliates of Crestview Advisors in connection with their acquisition of ATC Drivetrain, a leading independent remanufacturer of automotive drivetrain components (primarily transmissions, engines and related components) for in-warranty vehicles in the United States.
• Sean performed all of the environmental aspects of a $4 billion merger of two publicly traded REITs. In connection with the deal, he also negotiated a novel environmental insurance policy which requires the insurer to issue new policies to purchases of any of the assets.

• A client filed for bankruptcy and Sean negotiated a first-of-its-kind global settlement of liability at more than 30 Superfund sites with the U. S. Department of Justice. Sean also counseled the client in connection with numerous environmental remediation projects prior to, during and after the bankruptcy case.
• DBSI, Inc Creditors’ Committee (a $2.5 billion real estate bankruptcy case involving approximately 150 debtors and 8,500 investors).
• LandSource Communities (a $2.3 billion bankruptcy case involving more than 15,000 acres of real estate immediately north of Los Angeles).
• Canal Corporation (f/k/a Chesapeake Corporation) Creditors’ Committee (an international manufacturer of value-added specialty paperbound and plastic packaging with 44 locations in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia).
• Aventine Renewable Energy, Inc. Creditors' Committee (690 million gallon per year ethanol producer).

• Sean has advised clients in connection with bankruptcy, corporate and real estate transactions in numerous industries, including: aviation, retail (including gasoline service station portfolios), real estate investment, ethanol and renewable energy, upstream, mid-stream and downstream petroleum, semi-pneumatic rubber tires, steel rolling and manufacturing, alumina and aluminum processing, reprographic services, roofing products, plastic and glass container manufacturing, high tolerance impression forging, distribution services, hardwood flooring manufacturing, aircraft maintenance, electro-mechanical assembly manufacturing, cabinet and vanity manufacturing, polystyrene and aluminum packaging manufacturing, metal shelving manufacturing, playground equipment manufacturing, wire and cable manufacturing, manufacturing of highly engineered valves and cylinders, material handling equipment manufacturing, plastic tableware manufacturing, mechanical power transmission component manufacturing, tractor motor attachments manufacturing, billiard cue manufacturing, kitchen textile products manufacturing, metal detector manufacturing, night vision products manufacturing, marine accessory manufacturing, lighting products manufacturing, light duty and heavy duty truck and automotive accessory manufacturing, molded pulp tray manufacturing, foie gras manufacturing, post-secondary schools, behavioral health care, chimney sweep products, equestrian products, logistics, transportation, warehousing and distribution services, barrel reconditioning, consumer chemical manufacturing, boat manufacturing, hotel acquisition and divestitures, funeral home operations, hospital and medical center operations, natural gas distribution, telecommunications equipment manufacturing, environmental laboratory testing, mattress manufacturing, aluminum ladder manufacturing, aluminum extrusion, motorcoach manufacturing, and tire manufacturing.

• Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law, 2013-2024
• Listed, Leading Lawyers Network, 2007-2024
  • Top 10 Environmental Lawyers in Illinois, 2019
• Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2015-2023
• Team Member, Chambers  & Partners USA Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, 2010, 2013, 2017-2018 and 2022
• Team Member, a Law360 “Environmental Practice Group of the Year,” 2022
• Team Member, U.S. News - Best Lawyers^®, Best Law Firms Edition, "Law Firm of the Year," Environmental Law, 2016
• Team Member, a U.S. News - Best Lawyers^®, "Law Firm of the Year" in Real Estate Law, 2015
• Team Member, The Legal 500 United States, "Top Tier" Firm in Real Estate, 2013 and 2014
• Team Member, U.S. News - Best Lawyers^® "Law Firm of the Year" in Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency & Reorganization Law and Litigation – Bankruptcy, 2013
• Team Member, a Law360 "Real Estate Practice Group of the Year," 2011-2013, 2015, and 2022
• Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Illinois Super Lawyers, 2006-2007
• Rated, AV Preeminent^® 5.0 out of 5.0

°AV^®, AV Preeminent^®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished^SM and Martindale-Hubbell Notable^SM are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell^® certification procedures, standards and policies.

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Association of International Energy Negotiators
• Member, Environmental Law Institute
• Member, International Bar Association