Experienced Attorney - Environmental Law

Harris Beach Murtha; Buffalo (NY); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Harris Beach Murtha seeks an experienced environmental attorney to join as a Partner or Senior Counsel in the Environmental and Commercial Real Estate Practice Groups and the Energy Industry Team.

The role involves advising on federal/state environmental regulations, leading due diligence, drafting complex environmental agreements, and guiding projects from permitting through closing, with a hybrid work arrangement in New York and Connecticut.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from ABA-accredited law school.
• Admission to the New York State Bar; Connecticut or Massachusetts admission is a plus.
• Extensive experience with environmental permitting, regulatory compliance and transactional matters.
• Significant experience supporting energy, infrastructure, and large-scale development projects.
• Ability to work across multidisciplinary teams with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of environmental risk allocation and deal structuring.
• In-depth knowledge of NEPA, CERCLA, RCRA, ESA, UIC and related frameworks.
• Experience drafting and negotiating environmental contracts and transaction documents.
• Ability to analyze technical environmental data and advise clients on implications.
• Experience managing regulatory timelines with agencies, consultants, and project teams.
• Familiarity with carbon markets and energy transition initiatives.
• Military experience welcome.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on federal and state environmental regulations, incl CERCLA, CAA, RCRA, ECL, SEQRA, NAV.
• Represent clients in permitting, compliance, enforcement, and regulatory matters.
• Structure, negotiate, and close complex commercial real estate transactions.
• Lead environmental due diligence for mergers & acquisitions, project finance, and real estate.
• Draft and negotiate environmental provisions in purchase, sale, financing, and development agreements.
• Manage permitting and approval processes for air, water, wetlands, energy, and infrastructure projects.
• Advise on remediation and risk mitigation for contaminated properties, incl Brownfield redevelopment.
• Collaborate with developers, sponsors, lenders, utilities, and stakeholders to assess risks.
• Review Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessments and other reports.
• Counsel on ESA compliance, land use, and habitat/conservation planning.
• Analyze title, survey, and environmental due diligence materials for real estate deals.
• Provide guidance on NYC Local Law 97, CLCPA, carbon markets, and energy transition.

Education

Juris Doctor from ABA-accredited law school

Job description

Location

All New York and Connecticut offices (Hybrid opportunity)

Experience Level

Minimum of 8 years of experience practicing U.S. environmental law with significant experience in energy, infrastructure, or large-scale development projects.

About the Role

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 Have The Opportunity To

• 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

Work Environment And Expectations

• Hybrid work opportunity available from any Harris Beach Murtha office in New York or Connecticut
• Minimum annual billable requirement of 1800 hours
• Opportunity to advise clients on complex environmental, real estate, infrastructure, and energy-related projects throughout the region

Applications Are Encouraged And Desired If You Have

• Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school
• Admission to the New York State Bar (required); Connecticut or Massachusetts admission, or ability to waive in, is a plus
• 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
• Portable book of business is welcomed but not required
• 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
• Familiarity with carbon markets, energy transition initiatives, and environmental considerations affecting domestic and international infrastructure projects
• Excellent communication, client service, and business judgment skills
• Military experience welcome

Salary information below will vary depending upon relevant experience for the position, book of business, and geographic locations. This role also offers an opportunity for performance-based bonus eligibility.

• Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Rochester, Syracuse, NY: $160,000 - $250,000
• Long Island (Uniondale) and White Plains, NY: $170,000 - $250,000
• New York, NY: $180,000 - $250,000

Harris Beach Murtha is committed to an inclusive environment and we welcome applications from diverse candidates with varied background and skills, including military experience. Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About Harris Beach Murtha

Harris Beach Murtha formed in 2025 via the combination of Harris Beach PLLC and Murtha Cullina LLP. A forward-thinking and innovative partnership with the benefit of more than 250 years of combined history, Harris Beach Murtha’s New York roots reach back to 1856 and the firm has had ties to New England since 1936. Harris Beach and Murtha Cullina were separately among the country’s top law firms as ranked by The National Law Journal.

Harris Beach Murtha and its subsidiaries have a strong Northeast presence, but a global reach. Clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, tax-exempt organizations and individuals. The firm’s practice areas and industries served span appellate law, business litigation, commercial real estate, construction, corporate, environmental, energy, financial institutions, financial restructuring, government compliance and investigations, health care, immigration, intellectual property, labor and employment, mass torts, medical and life sciences, political law, product liability, public finance, tax, and trusts and estates.

The firm’s lawyers and consultants practice from offices throughout Connecticut in Bantam, Hartford, New Haven and Stamford; New York state in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Long Island and White Plains, as well as in Boston, Massachusetts and Newark, New Jersey.

The firm’s policy prohibiting unlawful discrimination applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, placement, assignment of duties, training, promotion, compensation & benefits and termination. It is the policy of Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC that all applicants and employees enjoy a positive, respectful and productive work environment, free from behavior, actions or language constituting unlawful harassment. Accordingly, harassment or discrimination of any kind based on an individual’s race or color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, military status, genetic predisposition, carrier status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, creed, domestic violence victim status or any other legally protected status is strictly prohibited. Harris Beach Murtha complies with the provisions of the Human Rights Law, all other State and Federal statutory and constitutional non-discrimination provisions including non-discrimination on the basis of prior criminal conviction and prior arrest.