- Real Estate
- Represented small-scale LNG and CNG producers in all aspects of real estate acquisition and facility development matters
- Provided full range of legal services to upstream and midstream companies in the construction of dozens of buildings and facilities including real estate acquisition work, extensive due diligence review experience on all pre- and post-construction agreements, land use and zoning, and environmental permitting
- Leveraged in-depth real estate and regulatory experience, including risk management and resolution of environmental and general regulatory liability exposure concerns critical to project approval, construction, and operation for various energy clients
- Handled real estate acquisition and development projects across the East Coast
- Provided planning, due diligence and consultative services to both energy and utility companies involved in major acquisitions and greenfield projects
- Assisted clients in the data center space in navigating and responding to right-to-know requests, ensuring compliance with applicable public records laws while protecting sensitive operational information and maintaining confidentiality where appropriate.
- Provided comprehensive real estate counsel to developers and operators, guiding from site acquisition through development and disposition.
- Offered strategic advice on site selection, land purchase, zoning, permitting, and environmental compliance to ensure smooth project execution.
- Supported clients in urban and strategic locations near major infrastructure, facilitating access to power, connectivity, and transportation hubs.
- Assist with leasing arrangements, property management, and complex real estate transactions to optimize portfolios and operational flexibility.
- Represented a client in financing a data center to be constructed in Pennsylvania
- Land Use, Permitting, Zoning
- Led a team of consultants in the $300 million redevelopment of a blighted, vacant office complex into a state-of-the-art e-commerce distribution and logistics facility, including securing a zoning amendment, extensive community outreach, and obtaining conditional use approval after 14 public hearings.
- Handled and resolved complex and substantive land use and permitting issues for large-scale energy and infrastructure projects
- Successfully represented a developer in an appeal of a city’s denial of a curb cut permit for a regional destination facility.
- Advocated on behalf of the development community before planning commissions and city councils regarding proposed zoning legislation.
- Assisted developers with rezoning and plan approvals for projects such as a 300-unit residential building, a 270-unit mixed-use development with retail and office space, and surface and structured parking solutions.
- Managed zoning and building code appeals, including securing high-rise classification for a six-story building with an occupied roof deck.
- Facilitated the redevelopment of an existing school into a 53-unit affordable residential complex, including navigating zoning and planning approvals.
- Secured approvals for rooftop additions and new multi-unit residential buildings, including a 147-unit project on a vacant building site.
- Guided development teams through variance and plan approvals for a $60 million, 323-unit residential complex along the city’s riverfront.
- Assisted clients in transferring development rights to convert vacant office buildings into residential units with ground-floor retail.
- Represented clients in land use litigation and appeals related to mixed-use projects, addressing conditions for offsite traffic improvements and open space requirements.
- Government Relations
- Navigated the regulatory and public comment process of a large state agency for a national energy company seeking to construct critical energy infrastructure in the Commonwealth.
- Ensured an international company was at the table with policymakers and regulators to contribute to the final policy product related to the adoption of emerging energy technology.
- Developed a strategic plan for a large energy company to engage with the legislature, administration and PUC on two key legislative proposals and facilitated negotiations among key stakeholders.
- Assisted an energy production company with local government relations as they worked to develop partnerships with local communities, secure the necessary variances and permits, begin production and ultimately remediate the site to its final state.
- Developed a community benefits program and political giving plan for several energy companies in their areas of operation.
- Led a site selection process and efforts to secure public incentives for an energy company to acquire the initial location to build a first-of-its-kind energy project.
- Assisted a development company with state and local support as they sought to develop energy assets in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
- Construction
- Represented developers in the negotiation of EPC agreements and other agreements regarding alternative energy projects and other energy projects, including solar, liquified natural gas projects, and organic waste to renewable natural gas projects
- Represented developers, contractors, and subcontractors in the negotiation of other construction agreements, including design-build agreements, master services agreements, construction management agreements, preconstruction agreements, and other services agreements with designers and engineers
- Represented developers regarding construction agreements for other large-scale construction and development projects, including the construction of water treatment facilities, a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, a facility for the manufacture of road flares and similar explosive materials, a thirty-mile-long private rail spur, a LEED Platinum office skyscraper, a tribal casino, and redevelopment within operating airport terminal air malls subject to oversight by the Transportation Security Administration
- Negotiated and prepared an EPC agreement regarding upgrades to a gas-fired electric power plan.
- Represented a CERCLA performing party group regarding the negotiation of engineering and performance agreements for the cleanup of a Superfund site
- Provided clients with assistance in resolving conflicts and disputes regarding construction projects.
- Represented developers regarding developing and constructing projects in brownfields and other environmentally impacted or sensitive locations
- Advised clients on complex financing and development transactions for large-scale projects, including historic renovations, hospitality towers, and mixed-use developments across major markets.
- Supported companies in land acquisitions and construction projects, guiding them through legal and regulatory processes to ensure successful project completion.
- Counseled international EPC contractors on contract negotiations for multi-billion-dollar public-private partnership (P3) projects, including infrastructure systems such as airport automated transit solutions.
- Provided environmental and regulatory guidance to industrial clients during the acquisition and development of multiple facilities nationwide.
- Assisted educational institutions in negotiating and managing extensive renovation and expansion projects, including phased construction, design development, and cost management.
- Represented construction management joint ventures in litigation and claims related to large-scale public infrastructure projects, resolving disputes and protecting client interests.
- Environmental
- Counseled project developers and conducted environmental due diligence on multiple utility-scale wind power generation projects in Pennsylvania.
- Counseled clients on environmental permitting for cogeneration facilities in Pennsylvania.
- Assisted client with third-party challenges to air permits applicable to midstream and production facilities, which would have required the aggregation of emissions for regulation under Title V of the Clean Air Act.
- Assisted a purchaser with environmental and permit review, as well as negotiations regarding the acquisition of three solar facilities in Pennsylvania.
- Represented a lender regarding construction contracting, environmental and permit review for the construction and operation of three new gas-fired power plants in Pennsylvania and addressed the resolution of significant permitting gaps.
- Facilitated the expedited issuance of NPDES permits for new construction projects.
- Represented an industrial company regarding environmental regulatory and permitting issues, as well as construction issues, associated with the development of a water treatment plant to serve the oil and gas industry.
- Represented an alternative energy developer regarding challenges to its construction stormwater permit for a significant solar generating facility brought by local environmental groups.
- Represented a coal mining client regarding challenges to its federal mining leases and authorizations under the National Environmental Policy Act.
- Represented a refrigeration maintenance contractor in a dispute over alleged refrigerant emissions at a major industrial facility owned and operated by the client’s customer, with chillers covered under the facility’s Title V permit. Negotiated extensively with the EPA and ultimately demonstrated that the client was not responsible for chiller operations, which were managed by the facility owner, making the owner responsible for refrigerant leaks.
- Defended a significant challenge to a Title V air quality permit issued to our client for a compressor station as part of midstream oil and gas operations. The local environmental group argued emissions should be aggregated with other stations owned by the client. Prevailed before the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board after lengthy litigation.
- Advised the owner and operator of a Pennsylvania gas-fired power plant on an amended credit facility, reviewing all existing permits—including the Title V permit—to ensure compliance with applicable local environmental regulations and permitting requirements for the constructed and operational plant.
- Represented a plastics manufacturer regarding environmental and permit diligence regarding its proposed purchase of several plastics facilities with Title V air quality permits.
- Conducted a number of transactions where permits were reviewed as part of the due diligence process and then transferred as part of the transaction and revised if necessary to address any gaps. These permits included, but were not limited to, Title V and minor source air quality permits.
- Utilities
- Conducted comprehensive regulatory audits for utility clients to assess strengths, identify areas for improvement, and enhance overall regulatory relationships.
- Represented communication carriers and energy suppliers in mergers, acquisitions, and a variety of regulatory proceedings before state public utility commissions.
- Litigated numerous cases involving tariff interpretation, rate adjustments, and regulatory compliance to secure favorable outcomes for clients in competitive electric and utility markets.
- Provided strategic counsel to water and wastewater utilities across multiple states on rate relief requests and other key regulatory issues.
- Negotiated and settled complex utility rate cases before public utility commissions, ensuring clients’ interests are protected and objectives achieved.
- Advised financial institutions on potential mergers and acquisitions within the utility sector, evaluating regulatory risks and opportunities.
- Tax
- Represented developers, operators and investors in connection with numerous joint ventures formed for the purpose of jointly acquiring, developing and/or operating oil and gas assets in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Representation has included planning for the appropriate ownership structure, negotiating and drafting the entity formation documents, drilling and operating agreements, services agreements and all related documents. Experience includes extensive work with the Form 610 Operating Agreement, standard "Master Services Agreement" and the standard IADC Drilling Contract, as well as other non-standard agreements.
- Represented a client in connection with the development of a renewable natural gas (RNG) facility, including eligibility for the ITC under IRC §48 and credit adders, including beginning construction requirements.
- Advised rooftop solar developer in connection with credit monetization, including credit financing structures.
- Advised manufacturer in connection with negotiation of Solar EPC agreement and eligibility for the ITC under IRC §48 related to construction and installation of solar facilities co-located with client facilities.
- Represented renewable companies in connection with the development and acquisition of solar and wind projects, including wind repowering projects; representation includes eligibility for ITC (§48) and PTC (§45).
- Advised gas distribution company in connection with implementing its biodiesel operations, including compliance with biodiesel mixture credit provisions under IRC Section 6246 and excise tax implications under IRC Section 4081.
- Represented numerous energy clients in connection with federal, state and local tax compliance and appeal matters involving income tax, sales & use tax, property tax and other taxes.
- Represented companies in connection with monetizing federal and state renewable energy tax credits, including credit transfers and tax equity structures
- Power Generation
- Drafted and edited comprehensive memos addressing open issues in power and data center projects, ensuring clarity and actionable insights.
- Reviewed extensive technical and regulatory documentation, including power-related files, and prepared memoranda assessing energy regulatory risks impacting project development.
- Analyzed agreements with utility providers such as PPL and related construction contracts, providing strategic input and risk assessments.
- Reviewed revised project documents, responded to inquiries, and engaged in discussions to address due diligence and compliance requirements.
- Monitored the status of power project agreements and ongoing construction activities, conducting preliminary reviews to ensure alignment with project timelines and regulatory standards.
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