The POWER List 2022: Sarah Rubenstein

Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, St. Louis

Armed with 25 years of experience representing plaintiffs in environmental law issues, Sarah Rubenstein brings utilities and other businesses to heel when they contaminate her clients’ air, water and land.

Rubenstein first joined Great Rivers Environmental Law Center in 2019.

Rubenstein is commonly tapped to represent the Sierra Club and other organizations in St. Louis-area cases. She represents the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association against 11 Shreve Automotive Plant industrial properties over years of alleged city and state violations that have impacted residents, including improper disposal of industrial waste and dumped automotive debris as well as buildings left in disrepair.

Rubenstein also has taken on a coal mine releasing PFAS chemicals into Illinois waterways and has worked to enforce Title VI compliance for environmental protections in Missouri.

Rubenstein also helped a family dealing with contaminated wastewater discharge flooding their property from a nearby nursing home’s holding tanks system. Rubenstein’s intervention on behalf of the family compelled the nursing home to comply with improvements.

Rubenstein earned her law degree from the University of Chicago in 1997.