Experienced Attorney - Environmental Law
About The Position
Harris Beach Murtha seeks a highly experienced environmental attorney to join our firm as a Partner or Senior Counsel in our Environmental and Commercial Real Estate Practice Groups, and Energy Industry Team. The Environmental Attorney will advise clients on federal and state environmental regulations, represent clients in environmental permitting, compliance, enforcement, and regulatory matters, and structure, negotiate, and close complex commercial real estate transactions. This role also involves leading environmental due diligence, drafting and negotiating environmental provisions, managing permitting processes, advising on remediation and risk mitigation, collaborating with stakeholders, reviewing environmental site assessments, counseling on land use and conservation planning, analyzing due diligence materials, and providing strategic guidance on emerging environmental matters like NYC Local Law 97 and CLCPA compliance. The attorney will also work collaboratively with other practice groups within the firm.
Requirements
- Minimum of 8 years of experience practicing U.S. environmental law
- Significant experience in energy, infrastructure, or large-scale development projects
- Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school
- Admission to the New York State Bar (required)
- Extensive experience with environmental permitting, regulatory compliance, enforcement, and transactional environmental matters
- Significant experience supporting energy, infrastructure, and large-scale development projects, including project permitting, regulatory compliance, and transactional matters
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams and with diverse stakeholders
- Strong understanding of environmental risk allocation and legal frameworks affecting deal structure and project finance transactions
- In-depth knowledge of NEPA, CERCLA, RCRA, ESA, UIC, and related environmental permitting and regulatory frameworks
- Experience drafting and negotiating sophisticated environmental contracts and transaction documents
- Ability to analyze technical environmental data and advise clients on legal and business implications
- Experience managing regulatory timelines and coordinating with governmental agencies, consultants, and project teams
- Excellent communication, client service, and business judgment skills
Nice To Haves
- Connecticut or Massachusetts admission, or ability to waive in, is a plus
- Portable book of business is welcomed but not required
- Familiarity with carbon markets, energy transition initiatives, and environmental considerations affecting domestic and international infrastructure projects
- Military experience welcome
Responsibilities
- Advise clients on federal and state environmental regulations, including CERCLA, CAA, RCRA, ECL, SEQRA, and NAV matters
- Represent clients in environmental permitting, compliance, enforcement, and regulatory matters
- Structure, negotiate, and close complex commercial real estate transactions involving acquisitions, leasing, financing, and development projects
- Lead environmental due diligence efforts for mergers and acquisitions, project finance, and real estate transactions
- Draft and negotiate environmental provisions within purchase, sale, financing, and development agreements
- Manage permitting and approval processes related to air, water, wetlands, energy, and infrastructure projects
- Advise clients on remediation and risk mitigation strategies for contaminated properties, including Brownfield redevelopment projects
- Collaborate with developers, sponsors, lenders, utilities, and project stakeholders to evaluate environmental risks and project feasibility
- Review and assess Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments and other technical environmental reports
- Counsel clients on ESA compliance, land use issues, utility commission proceedings, and habitat conservation planning
- Analyze title, survey, and environmental due diligence materials related to real estate and development projects
- Provide strategic guidance regarding NYC Local Law 97, CLCPA compliance, carbon capture and storage initiatives, carbon markets, and energy transition matters
- Work collaboratively with attorneys across the firm's Environmental, Commercial Real Estate, Energy, Land Use, and Infrastructure Practice Groups
Benefits
- Opportunity for performance-based bonus eligibility
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
