Brief Firm History | Environmental Litigation Group, P.C.

Environmental Litigation Group P.C. Was Founded in 1990

We began our activity in 1990, among the first law firms decided to bring the serious issue of asbestos to public attention. Our firm started when our founder, Bill Lewis, the owner of a successful tax practice, decided to represent asbestos cases and to help victims receive their rightful compensation.

The reason he began to pursue asbestos cases was that his own father suffered and died from complications due to an asbestos-related disease. His search for justice led him to start our firm's activity and to represent many cases similar to his father's.

The Owner of Environmental Litigation Group P.C.

Gregory Cade started his activity at our law firm as a paralegal in 1992. While striving to get his Master's Degree in Industrial Hygiene, Greg became one of the foremost drivers in the development of the firm. After achieving his Law Degree, Greg went on to establish a successful solo practice.

Years later, when Bill Lewis decided to retire, he asked Greg to come back and lead the firm. Eventually, in 2010, Gregory Cade became the owner of Environmental Litigation Group P.C..

We Started off with 50 Clients

Asbestos has been used all over the country and Alabama, with more than 50 major industrial sites in the Birmingham area alone, was one of the most prolific states.

We started off with 50 clients and within 4-5 years, we were representing over 8,000 clients. As the firm quickly grew, we became experts in matters of environmental litigation.

Expansion of Our Firm

In our first years, many asbestos victims were compensated large amounts of money in litigation against asbestos companies due to our successful trial groups in 1999-2000. Unfortunately, in the early 2000's, after liability and losing court cases seriously hampered their profits, these asbestos companies were allowed to declare bankruptcy with the condition that they take care of their creditors.

The asbestos victims are classified as creditors, not only the current victims, but also the future ones. Currently, there are 26 major asbestos trusts and many smaller ones all across the nation.

Multiple Partnerships

When our original owner retired, our firm went into a multiple partnership. Five years later, the firm is now owned by a single attorney, Greg Cade.

As a paralegal, Greg became more involved in developing the scope and direction of Environmental Litigation Group P.C.. Greg's original plan was to have a better understanding of the science behind toxic exposure as he began work on his Master's Degree in Industrial Hygiene. Now, Greg is an expert in the legal and scientific fields of toxic exposure.

Filing Claims in the Bankruptcy Trusts

There are still some viable companies that we litigate, but we now predominantly file claims in the bankruptcy trusts against accountable companies.

Until a few years ago, we focused on the Southeast. Now we represent clients from all over the country. With a dedicated staff of nearly 40 people and with the help of our specialists, we represent our own cases that deal with the complex system of asbestos litigation.

Environmental Litigation Group P.C. Relationships Involvement

Over the years, we have built an extensive database of over 200,000 records. The records place manufacturers and products in specific sites. The development of these records is a key component to our success.

One of our most important guidelines is that we don't assume anything. Instead, we ask, we record and we research, thus getting to know our cases to the last detail. On a personal level, representing a client in an asbestos case also means building a trust-based relationship with each of them.

A Brief History of Environmental Litigation Group P.C.