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John V.
Byl

  • Partner
jbyl@wnj.com
Grand Rapids
T 616.752.2149
F 616.752.2500

My admin

Companies don’t want to pollute – they want to, and do, innovate and build amazing things. Sometimes in the course of this effort they run into environmental issues, which they usually address with great urgency and intention. Other times, they step in and clean up others’ problems – for example, in highly contaminated areas – that they had nothing to do with. All of my clients are in some way creating cool and useful products or contributing to a better outcome, and it is rewarding to be a part of these efforts.

In his long career as an environmental and economic incentives lawyer, John Byl has developed the expertise and the contacts needed to solve complicated environmental problems, and to help clients overcome financial and environmental obstacles in order to succeed with proposed redevelopment in Brownfield areas. John should also be considered a “go-to” for any PFAS (a group of man-made chemicals) issues clients may be encountering.

industries

practices

Economic Incentives

  • Drafted community revitalization legislation for the state of Michigan, which created the structure for the new brownfield program and other incentives.
  • Represented the developer of a 500-acre mixed-use project in Benton Harbor, Mich.; the project included more than $150 million in brownfield incentives, making it the largest brownfield tax increment financing (TIF) project in the state to date.
  • Secured more than $50 million in brownfield financial incentives for mixed use projects located in Detroit and Ann Arbor.
  • Secured $20 million in brownfield, TIF and other tax credits for $200 million in development of the Medical Mile in Grand Rapids, Mich.
  • Secured $50 million in incentives for more tha

Economic Incentives

  • Drafted community revitalization legislation for the state of Michigan, which created the structure for the new brownfield program and other incentives.
  • Represented the developer of a 500-acre mixed-use project in Benton Harbor, Mich.; the project included more than $150 million in brownfield incentives, making it the largest brownfield tax increment financing (TIF) project in the state to date.
  • Secured more than $50 million in brownfield financial incentives for mixed use projects located in Detroit and Ann Arbor.
  • Secured $20 million in brownfield, TIF and other tax credits for $200 million in development of the Medical Mile in Grand Rapids, Mich.
  • Secured $50 million in incentives for more than $400 million in new and rehabilitated construction projects for mixed-use, retail, office and residential space in downtown Grand Rapids.
  • Secured over $10 million in incentives for the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, a public private partnership that includes extensive involvement of local and state government, private philanthropy and a private nonprofit developer.
  • Secured $20 million in incentives for redevelopment of a 300-acre industrial site in Wixom.
  • Helped Whirlpool secure incentives for new office complex in Benton Harbor.
  • Assisted manufacturing clients with incentives for new manufacturing operations in Greenville and Coldwater.

Environment

  • Drafted portions of Michigan’s primary environmental clean-up law (Part 201), as well as other environmental legislation and rule-making.
  • Served as primary outside counsel for Cordova Chemical Company and Aerojet General Corporation in a landmark Superfund case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court (U.S. vs. Best foods) and resulted in a favorable conclusion for the clients.
  • Assists companies in negotiating air enforcement matters at the state and federal levels.
  • Serves as outside environmental counsel for Amway, Wolverine World Wide and others.
  • Represents banks on loan workouts and other issues involving contaminated property.
  • Frequent lecturer on a wide variety of environmental and economic incentive topics at state bar-related functions, state and local chamber activities, trade association meetings, privately sponsored seminars and other business group functions
  • Air & Waste Management Association + West Michigan Chapter: 27th Annual Spring Conference,
  • 2016 Summer Conference & Annual Meeting, State Bar of Michigan (SBM) Real Property Law Section Conference, July 12-16, 2016, Boyne Falls, Michigan
  • “Finding and Securing Economic Development Incentives,” Warner Webinar, April 30, 2014
  • “Financing the Cutting Edge,” Great Lakes High Performance Building Conference, June 6, 2013, Lansing, Michigan
  • “Re-Powering America’s Land: Highlights of the EPA initiative to Develop Renewable Energy on Contaminated Sites,” Michigan Energy Forum, June 6, 2013, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • “TIF Today: Using Tax Increment Financing for Brownfields Redevelopment,” Brownfields 2013, May 17, 2013, Atlanta, Georgia
  • “State Brownfield Programs: What Works, What Doesn’t?” Brownfields 2013, May 16, 2013, Atlanta, Georgia
  • 2013 Michigan Brownfields Outlook and Training, Moderator, February 21, 2013, Lansing, Michigan
  • “The Legal Parameters Around Brownfield Redevelopment,” Michigan Alternative & Renewable Energy Center, August 27, 2012
  • “Amendments to Act 381 and Update on Community Revitalization Program,” National Brownfield Association, August 2, 2012
  • “Brownfield and Historical Redevelopment is Still Alive After the Loss of Michigan Tax Credits,” State Bar of Michigan, Real Property Section, July 20, 2012
  • “Community Revitalization Program and Other Tools to Achieve Sustainability,” Michigan Municipal League and Michigan Chapter of National Brownfield Association, June 5, 2012
    Image for John V. Byl

    John V.
    Byl

    • Partner
    jbyl@wnj.com
    Grand Rapids
    T 616.752.2149
    F 616.752.2500

    My admin

    Biography|
    Credentials

    Companies don’t want to pollute – they want to, and do, innovate and build amazing things. Sometimes in the course of this effort they run into environmental issues, which they usually address with great urgency and intention. Other times, they step in and clean up others’ problems – for example, in highly contaminated areas – that they had nothing to do with. All of my clients are in some way creating cool and useful products or contributing to a better outcome, and it is rewarding to be a part of these efforts.

    In his long career as an environmental and economic incentives lawyer, John Byl has developed the expertise and the contacts needed to solve complicated environmental problems, and to help clients overcome financial and environmental obstacles in order to succeed with proposed redevelopment in Brownfield areas. John should also be considered a “go-to” for any PFAS (a group of man-made chemicals) issues clients may be encountering.

    industries

    practices

    • Frequent lecturer on a wide variety of environmental and economic incentive topics at state bar-related functions, state and local chamber activities, trade association meetings, privately sponsored seminars and other business group functions
    • Air & Waste Management Association + West Michigan Chapter: 27th Annual Spring Conference,
    • 2016 Summer Conference & Annual Meeting, State Bar of Michigan (SBM) Real Property Law Section Conference, July 12-16, 2016, Boyne Falls, Michigan
    • “Finding and Securing Economic Development Incentives,” Warner Webinar, April 30, 2014
    • “Financing the Cutting Edge,” Great Lakes High Performance Building Conference, June 6, 2013, Lansing, Michigan
    • “Re-Powering America’s Land: Highlights of the EPA initiative to Develop Renewable Energy on Contaminated Sites,” Michigan Energy Forum, June 6, 2013, Ann Arbor, Michigan
    • “TIF Today: Using Tax Increment Financing for Brownfields Redevelopment,” Brownfields 2013, May 17, 2013, Atlanta, Georgia
    • “State Brownfield Programs: What Works, What Doesn’t?” Brownfields 2013, May 16, 2013, Atlanta, Georgia
    • 2013 Michigan Brownfields Outlook and Training, Moderator, February 21, 2013, Lansing, Michigan
    • “The Legal Parameters Around Brownfield Redevelopment,” Michigan Alternative & Renewable Energy Center, August 27, 2012
    • “Amendments to Act 381 and Update on Community Revitalization Program,” National Brownfield Association, August 2, 2012
    • “Brownfield and Historical Redevelopment is Still Alive After the Loss of Michigan Tax Credits,” State Bar of Michigan, Real Property Section, July 20, 2012
    • “Community Revitalization Program and Other Tools to Achieve Sustainability,” Michigan Municipal League and Michigan Chapter of National Brownfield Association, June 5, 2012