John advises clients on navigating environmental risks and opportunities against the backdrop of a complex regulatory landscape.
His practice focuses on representing private equity, industrial, energy and transportation clients on acquisitions and divestitures, development and real estate projects, and on contaminated site remediation matters.
He also provides strategic and regulatory counseling on a range of environmental compliance and ESG matters, including the development of sustainability frameworks, programs and policies.
John’s work is informed by his experience in state and local government, including his position as the General Counsel at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the agency responsible for supplying New York City’s drinking water, treating wastewater, regulating air quality, noise, and hazardous substances, and advancing key sustainability initiatives. During his time at the Department of Environmental Protection, John advised on a range of legal issues affecting the agency, including environmental compliance and enforcement, contracts, litigation, and real estate, and played a key role in representing the City’s interests in relation to the Gowanus Canal and Newtown Creek Superfund Sites.
John has been recognized as a leading US environmental lawyer by Chambers USA.
Transactional Matters
- Apollo Global Management on multiple acquisitions, including its acquisitions of Tenneco, Arconic, Univar, ABC Technologies, Novolex, Atlas Air, Sun Country Airlines, Ingenico, Constellium, Xstrata Aluminum, Verso Paper, Borden Chemical, Parallel Petroleum, Jacuzzi Brands, Rexnord, Berry Plastics, Graanul Invest, ClubCorp, Constellis, and Rackspace
- LaGuardia Gateway Partners on the redevelopment and long-term operation of the Central Terminal Building at New York LaGuardia Airport
- JFK Millennium Partners on the redevelopment of JFK Airport Terminal 6
- The City of Miami on the development of the Miami Freedom Park stadium and related commercial and recreational assets
- INEOS on its acquisition of several chemical manufacturing facilities in the US
- TTM Technologies on its acquisitions of Anaren Inc. and Telephonics
Site Remediation and Litigation Matters
- Nu-West Industries in connection with the investigation and remediation of former phosphate mine sites in Southeast Idaho
- American Airlines on the defense of a state enforcement proceeding related to the remediation of soil and groundwater in connection with the redevelopment of JFK Terminals 8 and 9, and in the related contribution action for recovery of remediation costs
- Combe Fill South Landfill NPL Site (Chester Township, NJ): Common counsel for 14 defendants in US$200 million cost recovery action by USEPA and the State of New Jersey
- Gulf Nuclear Sites (Webster, Texas): Defense of industrial entity in cleanup cost recovery action brought by USEPA and State of Texas
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