Boston law firm Casner & Edwards, LLP announces that attorney Greg D. Peterson has joined the firm’s Real Estate Group as a partner. Peterson also establishes a dedicated Environmental practice for the firm. Peterson joins from Tarlow Breed Hart & Rodgers, P.C., where he had been a partner since 2009. He previously was a partner at DLA Piper and Hill & Barlow.
With 30 years of experience, Peterson’s practice encompasses all phases of real estate development and purchase and sale transactions, joint ventures, leases and ground leases, development agreements, complex due diligence, land use, zoning and subdivision entitlement, title and survey review, easements, nested condominiums, and borrower-side financing. Peterson has negotiated and closed well over $1.5 billion worth of commercial real estate loan facilities and workouts for borrowers.
Peterson’s environmental experience includes a wide range of State permitting and related environmental impact reviews, environmental remediation and cost recovery, brownfields redevelopment, indemnities, liability transfer and environmental insurance, brownfields tax credits deals, and the negotiation and crafting of consent orders resolving compliance matters with environmental regulators. Peterson has been instrumental, as lead counsel or principal deal maker, in the permanent open space preservation of over 1,500 acres of land in Massachusetts, including the negotiation and drafting of numerous conservation restrictions, both for environmental non-profits and for landowners.
Peterson provides strategic counseling to corporations, developers, numerous non-profits, investors, public utilities, educational and health care institutions, and high net worth private owners in connection with complex commercial real estate transactions, environmental, permitting and land use projects, affordable housing, and open space land conservation transactions.
His work includes office and industrial properties, multi-family residential and mixed-use developments, energy facilities, and open space land conservation both for established conservation non-profits and private landowners.
Alongside his environmental work, Peterson guides clients through the complex process of legislative and regulatory policy development and drafting. Peterson was a significant contributor to the 2006 Expedited Permitting Act and the Smart Growth Zoning Act, chapters 40R and 40S. He provided the successful strategic advice behind three SJC decisions over the last decade, one concerning MEPA law, one confirming the legislative exemption of landlocked tidelands from c.91 licensing, and one concerning a foundational question in the law of easements.
Peterson’s experience also includes service as a member and Chair of both the Planning Board and the Affordable Housing Trust of the Town of Carlisle, and as a director of the local land trust. He represented the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in the negotiation and drafting of the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, which to date has been adopted in eight States and is pending in four more State legislatures. He represented the Real Estate Bar Association on the 2016 Massachusetts Senate Select Commission on Housing.
Peterson has been repeatedly listed in Best Lawyers in America in both the Real Estate and Environmental practice areas and is a recipient of the Sudbury Valley Trustees’ prestigious Lewis Conservation Award.
John T. Morrier, Casner & Edwards’ Managing Partner, said, “Greg’s work in handling complex brownfields and redevelopment projects throughout New England, and broad skill set, are highly respected. Our clients will benefit from his experience and skill in this area. With him joining the firm, we expand our commercial real estate practice and enhance our offerings to clients in environmental law and permitting work.”
Peterson commented, “I am delighted to join Casner & Edwards, which has a reputation for achieving outstanding results for clients. The firm is well-known for handling complex commercial, residential and nonprofit real estate projects in a variety of settings, which is a perfect fit for my practice.”
About Casner & Edwards, LLP
Casner & Edwards, LLP represents businesses, individuals and institutions across New England and around the world, providing the core legal services they need to succeed. Clients work directly with a team of expert attorneys, and can expect full attention, seasoned advice, top quality work, and good value.