Our firm’s Environmental Practice Group represents corporate, industrial, municipal, real estate, insurance and individual clients throughout New York State and the Northeast in a wide range of environmental matters.
Our group is one of the largest in New York outside of New York City. Our environmental attorneys have expertise in environmental areas that include:
- CERCLA – PRP Representation and Cost Recovery Actions
- Criminal and Civil Enforcement Proceedings Before Federal, State and Local Agencies and Courts
- Regulatory Compliance (State and Federal), including MOSF Terminals and SPDES permits
- Negotiation of Consent Decrees, Administrative Orders on Consent, Unilateral Administrative Orders, CERCLA §122(h) Agreements
- Environmental Risk Assessment and Due Diligence for Developers
- SEQRA Review
- Land Use and Development
- Asbestos Remediation, Abatement and Litigation, and AHERA compliance
- Emergency Spill Response
- PRP Group Allocations
- Oil Spills and Navigation Law Claims
- Construction and Demolition Debris sites, exposure, and permitting
We represent corporate clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies, including major oil and chemical companies, to regional corporate institutions, municipalities and insurance companies. We supervise and manage complex cases involving hundreds of litigants. We are well versed in the constantly evolving complex science and technology at issue in the environmental arena, and are known for our working relationships with the best technical experts and consultants. We represent PRPs affiliated with numerous Superfund sites, some with radiological impacts involving not only EPA, but also the USACE. Our lawyers assess the risks presented and then offer cost effective and sound advice on site strategies. We regularly represent and counsel real estate developers and investors concerning environmental risks for pending deals, and provide useful interpretations and translations of site assessments.
We also represent local corporations and individual clients in matters pertaining to zoning and compliance issues, discharges of petroleum and hazardous substances and toxic torts. We regularly appear on their behalf before administrative agencies as well as in state and federal courts.
Examples of environmental matters we handle include the In Re MTBE Multi-District Litigation, Clean Water Act claims, New York City DEP watershed/reservoir enforcement actions and NYCDEP/NYSEFC Waste Water Treatment Plant upgrade projects; complex State landfill and transfer station claims, and New York Navigation Law claims. We have substantial expertise and experience in permitting; construction and demolition debris issues; dielectric fluid spills affecting waterways; PCB contamination and attendant TSCA litigation; and soil and groundwater contamination from dry cleaning solvents, fuel oil and gasoline discharges.
Our attorneys have years of experience in taking major environmental claims to trial and verdict. Our combination of trial skills and sound environmental experience is a great asset for our clients, helping them to avoid the costs of litigation when possible. When matters cannot be resolved outside of the courtroom, our trial attorneys have the experience to effectively represent our clients’ interests when it is needed most.
Bleakley Platt is committed to our clients’ success and believes that in some instances, an alternative fee arrangement may be preferable to a traditional hourly fee structure. Such arrangements require approval by the Firm’s management. To learn more about the Firm’s policy regarding alternative fee arrangements, click here or speak with a partner.