Charles F. Helsten

Partner

Rockford, IL

He/Him

"Successful solutions to legal problems rarely follow a straight line. I have found the best approach is to meld the virtues of common sense, practicality, and honest hard work."

815-490-4906

Email Y2hlbHN0ZW5AaGluc2hhd2xhdy5jb20=

Charles F. Helsten

Partner

Rockford, IL

He/Him

"Successful solutions to legal problems rarely follow a straight line. I have found the best approach is to meld the virtues of common sense, practicality, and honest hard work."

815-490-4906

Email Y2hlbHN0ZW5AaGluc2hhd2xhdy5jb20=

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About Charles

Charles has a substantial environmental law practice, advising businesses of all sizes on environmental regulations, compliance audits, and policy matters. He also represents clients in contested environmental issues, defending their interests in compliance and enforcement actions, securing necessary permits, and handling private disputes over environmental indemnity/hold harmless clauses.

Charles served on Illinois Governor Edgar’s Environmental Task Force, where he contributed to the formulation of the Illinois Environmental Amnesty, or "Clean Break," Program. He has also been an editorial advisory board member for the Illinois Environmental Law and Regulation Report and regularly lectures on environmental law.

Charles led the firm’s Environmental Practice Group and represented clients before federal, state, and local regulatory agencies, tribunals, and courts. He acted as liaison counsel for defendants and chaired steering committees at several Superfund sites. Additionally, Charles served as a special assistant attorney general for environmental and land use matters with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Toll Highway Authority.

Areas of Focus

Industries:

- Energy & Environment

Services:

- Environmental

Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America®, Environmental Law, 2024 – 2026
Leading Lawyers, Governmental; Municipal; Lobbying & Administrative Law; Environmental Law; Real Estate, Construction & Environmental Edition, Top Ten Downstate Real Estate-Related Lawyer, 2009 – 2010; Business Edition, Top 100 Leading Downstate Business Lawyers in Illinois, 2010
Super Lawyers, 2005
Martindale-Hubbell

Credentials

Education

Drake University Law School, JD, with distinction, 1979
Eureka College, BA, summa cum laude, 1974

Bar Admissions

Illinois

Court Admissions

US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
US District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
US District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
US Tax Court

Thought Leadership

Presentations

A frequent speaker on environmental law topics, Mr. Helsten regularly appears before professional associations, client groups and firm seminars. His presentations include:

"Navigating the Implications of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Modernization Bill of 2015: How Prepared Are You?," webcast, The Knowledge Group, January 2016.

“Are You in Compliance with Environmental Laws?” Life Services Network, 2007 Annual Convention & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, March 2007.
“Environmental Law Update,” Hinshaw’s 2005 Breakfast Seminar Series, Rockford, Illinois, April 2005.
“Practical Aspects of Brownfields Transactions: How to Get the Job Done,” U.S. EPA Region V Brownfields Conference, Racine, Wisconsin, June 1996.
“The Environmental Winds of Change," National League of Municipalities Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, October 1995.

“Practical Aspects of Consent Decrees and Participation Agreements,” Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP’s Third Annual Insurer Symposium, Chicago, Illinois, November 1991.
“Derivative CERCLA Liability,” National Environmental Claim Managers Association Annual Meeting, Nashville, Tennessee, November 1991.
“Environmental Law: Defense of Hazardous Waste Claims, Property Damage, Personal Injury—A New Look at the Reasonable and Adequate Defense,” Hinshaw’s Missouri/Illinois Insurer Symposium, September 1991.
“Nature and Extent of Environmental Liability: Legal Issues,” Hinshaw’s Environmental Seminar, "The Nature and Extent of Environmental Liability: What Every Corporation Should Know," Peoria, Illinois, March 1991.
Safety Exposition and Seminar, American Society of Safety Engineers, March 1991.
“Enforcement and Compliance Ramifications of Clean Air Act Amendments,” Environmental Technology Expo, Chicago, Illinois.

Publications

Mr. Helsten has also written a variety of environmental law treatises, articles and materials. Examples of his work include:

“The Effect of Aviall on the Vitality of Brownfields Programs,” co-author, “ABA Section on Environment, Energy and Resources Newsletter,” March 2005.

“Illinois’ Underground Storage Tank Program: Past, Present and Future,” Illinois Environmental Law and Regulation Report, 22 January 1996.
“Practical Aspects of Consent Decrees and Participation Agreements,” Materials for Hinshaw’s Third Annual Insurer Symposium, November 1991.
“A CERCLA Overview,” Materials for Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP’s Environmental Seminar, “The Nature and Extent of Environmental Liability: What Every Corporation Should Know,” Peoria, Illinois, March 1991.
"Individual Liability for Corporate Environmental Violations: An Unpleasant Consequence of Obtaining Corporate Control," DePaul Business Law Journal, Fall 1989.
Interview, “Liability of Corporate Officers, Directors and Managers,” Environmental Law in The ‘90s.

Events

Hinshaw Alert

USEPA Hits Home Builder With $1 Million Penalty for Permitting and Storm Water Runoff Violations, Apr 26, 2010

Press Releases

102 Hinshaw Lawyers Recognized in 2026 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Ones to Watch™, Aug 21, 2025
105 Hinshaw Lawyers Recognized in 2025 Editions of Best Lawyers in America and Ones to Watch, Aug 15, 2024
101 Hinshaw Lawyers Recognized in 2024 Editions of Best Lawyers in America and Ones to Watch, Aug 17, 2023
Hinshaw’s Rockford Seminar Series, Oct 9, 2017

Interests

Did you know...

Charles enjoys spur-of-the-moment road trips with his wife, as well as catch-and-release fishing for trophy muskies and steelhead trout.

Thought Leadership

Presentations

A frequent speaker on environmental law topics, Mr. Helsten regularly appears before professional associations, client groups and firm seminars. His presentations include:

"Navigating the Implications of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Modernization Bill of 2015: How Prepared Are You?," webcast, The Knowledge Group, January 2016.

“Are You in Compliance with Environmental Laws?” Life Services Network, 2007 Annual Convention & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, March 2007.
“Environmental Law Update,” Hinshaw’s 2005 Breakfast Seminar Series, Rockford, Illinois, April 2005.
“Practical Aspects of Brownfields Transactions: How to Get the Job Done,” U.S. EPA Region V Brownfields Conference, Racine, Wisconsin, June 1996.
“The Environmental Winds of Change," National League of Municipalities Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, October 1995.

“Practical Aspects of Consent Decrees and Participation Agreements,” Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP’s Third Annual Insurer Symposium, Chicago, Illinois, November 1991.
“Derivative CERCLA Liability,” National Environmental Claim Managers Association Annual Meeting, Nashville, Tennessee, November 1991.
“Environmental Law: Defense of Hazardous Waste Claims, Property Damage, Personal Injury—A New Look at the Reasonable and Adequate Defense,” Hinshaw’s Missouri/Illinois Insurer Symposium, September 1991.
“Nature and Extent of Environmental Liability: Legal Issues,” Hinshaw’s Environmental Seminar, "The Nature and Extent of Environmental Liability: What Every Corporation Should Know," Peoria, Illinois, March 1991.
Safety Exposition and Seminar, American Society of Safety Engineers, March 1991.
“Enforcement and Compliance Ramifications of Clean Air Act Amendments,” Environmental Technology Expo, Chicago, Illinois.

Publications

Mr. Helsten has also written a variety of environmental law treatises, articles and materials. Examples of his work include:

“The Effect of Aviall on the Vitality of Brownfields Programs,” co-author, “ABA Section on Environment, Energy and Resources Newsletter,” March 2005.

“Illinois’ Underground Storage Tank Program: Past, Present and Future,” Illinois Environmental Law and Regulation Report, 22 January 1996.
“Practical Aspects of Consent Decrees and Participation Agreements,” Materials for Hinshaw’s Third Annual Insurer Symposium, November 1991.
“A CERCLA Overview,” Materials for Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP’s Environmental Seminar, “The Nature and Extent of Environmental Liability: What Every Corporation Should Know,” Peoria, Illinois, March 1991.
"Individual Liability for Corporate Environmental Violations: An Unpleasant Consequence of Obtaining Corporate Control," DePaul Business Law Journal, Fall 1989.
Interview, “Liability of Corporate Officers, Directors and Managers,” Environmental Law in The ‘90s.