Expertise
Environmental
Clients, including developers, investors, private equity firms, and institutions, trust our Environmental Law Group’s ability to handle their most complex environmental matters. Our lawyers combine deep legal acumen and a unique technical understanding to provide practical, business-focused solutions that help clients successfully manage environmental risks and achieve their goals.
Consistently recognized by leading industry guides, our team advises clients across the United States on high-stakes transactions, redevelopment projects, and regulatory matters involving environmental risk, with particular expertise in issues surrounding Brownfields and soil, indoor air and groundwater contamination. We represent public and private companies, real estate developers, investment funds, private equity firms, medical and educational institutions, and lenders in industries including real estate, healthcare, hospitality, technology, transportation, and consumer products.
We regularly guide clients through the acquisition, redevelopment, financing, leasing, operation and sale of of contaminated “Brownfield” properties — as well as corporate mergers, private equity transactions, and financings. Our lawyers also provide strategic counsel on statutory compliance, environmental cost recovery claims, and environmental issues associated with products in commerce.
One of the nation’s most active environmental insurance practices, we leverage longstanding relationships with insurers to craft tailored coverages and negotiate favorable terms. Partner-level attention, lean staffing, and a collaborative, cross-practice approach ensure efficient, effective service. Over decades, we have built a network of trusted scientists, engineers, consultants, government officials, and local counsel to address any environmental challenge.
Strategic Risk Management
We identify, quantify, and manage environmental risks through thorough due diligence, regulatory planning, and creative allocation strategies. Our lawyers are able to identify and assist with a variety of environmental liability and deal issues such as historic contamination, potential regulatory obligations, or legacy cleanup costs, and we negotiate targeted indemnities, warranties, and escrow arrangements, and secure environmental insurance coverage to mitigate exposure.
Proven Results
- Comprehensive guidance on the successful acquisition and rehabilitation of a wide range of contaminated properties, everything from the repositioning of historic and iconic buildings, to the redevelopment of oil terminals and capped landfills for big-box retail, to transforming former Superfund sites into thriving residential neighborhoods.
- Advising on some of New England’s largest and most challenging redevelopment projects, including the recent redevelopment of Boston’s Seaport District
- Multi-million-dollar insurance recoveries and settlements for clients nationwide, as well as securing multi-million-dollar tax-credit benefits for brownfield redevelopment projects
- Representation of leading multifamily housing developers, major universities, and nationally recognized healthcare institutions in complex environmental matters, including providing regulatory compliance advice and successfully pursuing cost recovery claims.
A Client-Focused Approach
Clients value our practical guidance, business insight, and responsiveness. We translate technical and regulatory issues into actionable strategies, always keeping our clients’ business objectives at the forefront. Our collaborative culture ensures every client benefits from the full depth of the firm’s resources.
Key Contacts
Kate Heller
Director, Boston
kheller@goulstonstorrs.com+1 617 574 6575
Jonathan Z. Pearlson
Director, Boston
jpearlson@goulstonstorrs.com+1 617 574 3556
William M. Seuch
Director, Boston
wseuch@goulstonstorrs.com+1 617 574 4041