Academic Credentials
  • J.D., Law, University of Idaho, 2007
  • Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of Idaho, 1989
  • M.S., Biology, Portland State University, 1985
  • B.S., Biology, University of California, Irvine, 1980
Licenses & Certifications
  • Bar Association Member (WA)
Professional Affiliations
  • American Bar Association
  • American Chemical Society
  • Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
  • Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Dr. O'Reilly has more than 25 years of experience developing strategic approaches for managing liabilities associated with both large and small contaminated sites. He has provided litigation support in toxic tort and property damage suits, and supported apportionment and allocation efforts at Superfund sites. 

Dr. O'Reilly has authored a number of papers focused on ensuring proper integration of chemistry into mathematical models used to quantify source contributions, and has conducted technical training on apportionment through Bar associations and other venues.

Dr. O'Reilly has assisted clients deal with the technical complexities of RCRA, CERCLA, the NPDES process, and state groundwater protection programs, and assisted the State of Kuwait to update its waste and wastewater regulatory systems. Based on an understanding of the evolution of site remediation programs and the uncertainties in risk evaluations, he has worked with clients and regulators to consider risk management approaches that are more cost effective than traditional remediation. To further this effort, Dr O'Reilly has assisted trade groups such as the API, WSPA, and PCTC develop the technical justification for regulatory modifications and has presented the results in peer reviewed journals, legislative hearing, and Information Quality Act requests.

Having spent 15 years as a technical specialist with major oil company, Dr. O'Reilly understands the client's perspective. In that position, he was involved in the early implementation of monitored natural attenuation and played a significant role in developing the oil industry's technical response to managing MTBE in the environment. Dr O'Reilly has experience with oil spill and has responded to spills of both crude oil and refined products, and served as an on-site liaison to environmental regulators.

Dr. O'Reilly promotes the use of strategic site assessments to reduce costs while improving quality. A recent focus has been the development of computer tools to evaluate large databases, such as California's GeoTracker, to improve our understanding of the fate of contaminants in the environment and reduce the need for long term monitoring. Dr O'Reilly has participated in collaborative research projects with regulators at the federal, state, and local levels, and taught technical courses sponsored by regulatory agencies, universities, and industrial trade groups. He is a member of the Washington State Bar, a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and former chair of ABA's Superfund and Natural Resource Damages Litigation Committee.