Environmental Law

Environmental law concerns the intersection of local, state, and federal regulation, on the one hand, and private property and property rights on the other.  The attorneys at Martin Tate have experience in handling and addressing environmental concerns that arise in matters ranging from commercial real estate transfers to complex litigation, as well as local, state, and federal administrative proceedings and permitting matters.  Our experience includes representing clients in the following matters:

• advice concerning “all appropriate inquiry” in connection with business, commercial, and real estate transactions;
• brownfield redevelopment;
• compliance with federal, state, or local regulations;
• conservation;
• counsel regarding  the disclosure of environmental violations;
• defense of enforcement actions;
• defense or resolution of civil or criminal enforcement actions;
• due diligence;
• environmental audits;
• environmental cost recovery actions;
• environmental issues affecting the acquisition, financing, development, operation, and/or sale of real estate development projects;
• environmental remediation;
• internal investigations;
• interpretation and enforcement of environmental statutes and regulations;
• investigation and cleanup of contaminated properties;
• land trusts;
• litigation in federal and state courts;
• negotiate and draft contract and lease provisions to allocate environmental responsibilities and liabilities;
• negotiate resolutions to take advantage of penalty reduction policies;
• negotiate permit conditions;
• permit and licensing matters;
• proceedings before regulatory agencies;
• provide comments on proposed regulations that may affect clients’ businesses;
• sale and purchase of property where environmental compliance issues were investigated and corrected;
• spill or release reporting requirements; and
• work place exposure and safety.