Job Description
Location: All NY and CT offices (Hybrid opportunity)
Description: 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. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in environmental regulatory compliance and litigation, coupled with a strong background in commercial real estate transactions and land use and development.
The Environmental Attorney will have the opportunity to: - Advise clients on federal and state environmental regulations (e.g., CERCLA, CAA, RCRA, ECL, SEQRA, NAV)
- Represent clients in environmental litigation, permitting, and regulatory compliance matters
- Structure, negotiate, and close complex commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, leasing, and development
- Lead environmental due diligence for M&A and project finance transactions
- Draft and negotiate environmental provisions in purchase and financing agreements
- Manage permitting processes related to air, water, wetlands, and offshore infrastructure
- Support remediation and risk mitigation strategies for contaminated sites, including Brownfields redevelopment
- Collaborate with developers, sponsors, lenders, and attorneys to evaluate environmental risks and bankability
- Review and assess third-party environmental reports (e.g., Phase I/II ESAs)
- Counsel on ESA compliance, land use law, utility commission processes, and habitat conservation planning
- Analyze title and survey documents for environmental restrictions and lender-related conditions
- Offer strategic insight on NYC Local Law 97, CLCPA, CCS projects, carbon markets, and energy transition initiatives
- Collaborate with other practice groups on real estate, energy, land use, and infrastructure projects
- The firm requires a minimum of 1800 billable hours annually
Applications are encouraged and desired if you have: - Minimum of 8 years of experience practicing U.S. environmental law
- Juris Doctorate from ABA-accredited law school
- Admitted to New York State Bar; admission to Connecticut or Massachusetts (or ability to waive in) is beneficial
- Extensive involvement with federal and state permitting, regulatory compliance, and transactional environmental issues
- Demonstrated experience supporting energy, infrastructure, or large-scale development projects
- Proven ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams and with multiple stakeholders
- Strong understanding of environmental risk and legal frameworks impacting deal structure and finance
- Portable book of business a plus, but not required
- In-depth knowledge of NEPA, CEQA, CERCLA, RCRA, UIC, ESA, and relevant permitting regulations
- Expertise in drafting and negotiating complex environmental contracts and provisions
- Proficiency in analyzing technical environmental data and legal implications
- Ability to manage legal timelines and coordinate with regulatory agencies and consultants
- Familiarity with carbon-related legal frameworks and environmental impacts in international infrastructure projects
- Excellent communication and client service skills, particularly in high-stakes matters
- 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 not accepting candidate submissions from recruiting agencies for this position during the first two weeks after posting. Following this period, agencies with an active fee agreement with the firm may reach out to our internal recruitment team at resumes@harrisbeachmurtha.com to inquire about potential collaboration for this position.
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.
Job Tags
Full time, Local area,