Kelly O’Neill, Associate
Kelly O’Neill is an expert in environmental investigations, regulatory enforcement matters, working with federal and state environmental agencies and extensive case investigation and criminal trial experience. Mr. O’Neill’s environmental investigative and supervisory experience has provided him with the capacity to quickly evaluate fact patterns and advise clients on their potential exposure to potential violations of environmental regulations. Mr. O’Neill’s experience in the federal and state justice system has refined his ability to quickly identify case strengths and weaknesses and assist clients and their counsel on viable resolution approaches.
Mr. O’Neill has 32 years of federal investigative experience, 22 of which was as a special agent with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Criminal Enforcement. His other investigative experience relates to high level internal investigations, international narcotics, and money laundering. Mr. O’Neill has personally conducted and supervised hundreds of complex environmental investigations with their associated white collar crime aspects.
His experience also includes electronic surveillance and digitally recorded interview practices and he worked closely with policy makers and managers at the national level to develop guidelines in the proper use of these methods. This effort resulted in the development of a national policy which has been endorsed by the Department of Justice as a best evidence gathering practice.
Mr. O’Neill served as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the U. S. EPA, Seattle (Region 10) and the Denver (Region 8) Area CID Offices and has served as Acting Special Agent in Charge of these field offices. Mr. O’Neill supervised a staff of special agents and directed area-wide investigative operations. In these positions he routinely coordinated with U. S. EPA regulatory experts, the EPA National Enforcement Investigation Center (national accredited forensic laboratory), National Computer Forensics Laboratory and with federal and state prosecutors. He has extensive criminal trial experience and is an expert in litigation support.
Mr. O’Neill can provide advice and guidance to corporate officials and defense and corporate counsel regarding:
- EPA’s evaluation of fact patterns to determine how federal or state agencies will view the violation
- Corporate Internal investigations
- Investigative process and the criteria EPA CID and prosecutors use to evaluate cases
- How a criminal case will likely proceed
- Agency decision makers and how to approach them to get positive results
- How to evaluate clients’ positions in relation to potential regulatory exposure
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Spanish Minor, State University of New York 1982
OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) certification.
