Practice Areas

Environmental Law

The firm’s attorneys have represented clients in an array of matters involving environmental issues. Their practices have included advice, permitting and litigation involving:

  • Contaminated properties in the context of real estate or business transactions, brownfields redevelopments, regulatory compliance, enforcement defense, and litigation (including defense and prosecution of cost recovery and contribution actions).
  • Enforcement defense in actions initiated by local, state and federal regulators under a variety of environmental laws, such as those relating to wetlands, waterways, stormwater management, wastewater, solid waste and releases of oil and hazardous materials under c. 21E and Massachusetts Contingency Plan.
  • Environmental impact review for large-scale or complex projects under MEPA (state) and NEPA (federal).
  • Transactions involving properties or businesses with environmental issues, including due diligence, permit and compliance review, negotiation of purchase and sale and related agreements, management of environmental risks and liabilities, and permit transfers.

 

Land Use Law

The firm has a sophisticated and growing land use practice. Jeff Roelofs has represented a diverse set of client types, including project proponents, abutters and citizen groups, and municipal boards and commissions. Jeff’s land use experience has included complex permitting, zoning, wetlands, contamination or other environmental or land use issues. Jeff assists clients, as part of a multidisciplinary team, at all stages of the development process, including due diligence, property/facility acquisition, planning, permitting at the federal, state and local levels, and representation in associated administrative or judicial appeals. Jeff regularly appears before state and federal agencies and has represented clients before nearly 100 local boards and commissions. The firm tailor’s its services to the unique objectives of each client and project and develops and implements strategies aimed at achieving results and avoiding unnecessary delays or litigation.

Representative development-related matters include:

  • Residential/Commercial Developments – Represent one of Massachusetts’ largest residential and commercial developers in permitting, litigation, wetlands, and other land use and environmental matters involving a variety of project types (such as Chapter 40B, age-restricted, subdivisions, open space developments, and PUDs).
  • Neighborhood Groups – Represented/representing numerous neighborhood groups in opposition to a variety of proposed developments, from single-family developments to large, multi-use developments such as the Wayland Town Center Project.
  • Concrete Manufacturing Facility – Representing proponent of a concrete manufacturing facility in connection with permitting, associated litigation, and the protection of development rights through a subdivision zoning freeze.
  • Telecommunications Facilities – Representing wireless services company in the siting, permitting and leasing of wireless telecommunications facilities.
  • Brownfields Redevelopment – Representing developer in acquisition and redevelopment of contaminated brownfields site, burdened by a DEP cost recovery lien, substantial contamination, wetlands and complex zoning issues.
  • Stormwater Enforcement Defense – Representing developer in defense of multi-site enforcement action of US EPA and US DOJ relating to stormwater management activities.