Partner
Attorney Beckman concentrates his practice in the areas of environmental and construction law, including environmental regulatory, permitting and litigation matters, as well as public and private sector construction contracting, arbitration and litigation.
Mr. Beckman brings a diverse set of legal and non-legal experiences to his current work on behalf of his clients. After receiving his Master's Degree in Geology, he worked for five years as an Operations and Exploration Geologist for Shell Offshore, Inc. in New Orleans. He left Shell in 1990 to attend law school to pursue his interest in environmental law. After receiving his law degree in 1993, he joined MacDonald Illig's environmental law group.
In 1996, Mr. Beckman was appointed by Governor Tom Ridge to serve as the Regional Director of the Northwest Office of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP). As Regional Director, he was responsible for state environmental programs in the twelve county Northwest Pennsylvania region and managed a staff of over 200 employees. As part of his responsibilities at PaDEP, he was the lead Regional Director for the Oil and Gas Program and served on several statewide committees involved in the development of environmental policy. Mr. Beckman left PaDEP and returned to MacDonald Illig in 2001.
Since returning to MacDonald Illig, he has represented numerous businesses and individuals in permitting and enforcement matters involving government environmental agencies, including PaDEP, the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. In addition, he has litigated private party actions in the state courts involving claims under the environmental statutes.
In his construction law practice, Mr. Beckman has represented various private and public entities in negotiating and administering construction contracts for projects costing up to $100 Million. He has also represented sureties, general contractors and subcontractors in construction and bond claims in the courts, as well as in arbitrations involving the American Arbitration Association's Construction Industry Arbitration Rules.
Mr. Beckman brings a diverse set of legal and non-legal experiences to his current work on behalf of his clients. After receiving his Master's Degree in Geology, he worked for five years as an Operations and Exploration Geologist for Shell Offshore, Inc. in New Orleans. He left Shell in 1990 to attend law school to pursue his interest in environmental law. After receiving his law degree in 1993, he joined MacDonald Illig's environmental law group.
In 1996, Mr. Beckman was appointed by Governor Tom Ridge to serve as the Regional Director of the Northwest Office of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP). As Regional Director, he was responsible for state environmental programs in the twelve county Northwest Pennsylvania region and managed a staff of over 200 employees. As part of his responsibilities at PaDEP, he was the lead Regional Director for the Oil and Gas Program and served on several statewide committees involved in the development of environmental policy. Mr. Beckman left PaDEP and returned to MacDonald Illig in 2001.
Since returning to MacDonald Illig, he has represented numerous businesses and individuals in permitting and enforcement matters involving government environmental agencies, including PaDEP, the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. In addition, he has litigated private party actions in the state courts involving claims under the environmental statutes.
In his construction law practice, Mr. Beckman has represented various private and public entities in negotiating and administering construction contracts for projects costing up to $100 Million. He has also represented sureties, general contractors and subcontractors in construction and bond claims in the courts, as well as in arbitrations involving the American Arbitration Association's Construction Industry Arbitration Rules.
