Jeanne T. Cohn-Connor
Professional Profile
Jeanne Cohn-Connor has extensive experience providing environmental counseling for clients involved in Superfund enforcement matters, bankruptcy matters and corporate transactions. Clients have been geographically diverse and involve many industries, including railroad companies, utilities, banks, real estate developers, municipalities and quasi-governmental entities. Practice includes environmental compliance auditing, brownfields redevelopment, settlement negotiations and management of site investigations and cleanups. Work arises under the major federal environmental statutes, including CERCLA, RCRA, CWA, and NEPA, and various state, local and foreign laws and regulations. Her past experience includes representing clients in commercial transactions, including real estate conveyances and stock and asset sales and purchases.Representative Matters
Represents, for over a decade, a major railroad client in all facets of its environmental obligations for sites throughout Northern New England and Southern Quebec. Legal work included negotiating voluntary cleanups with regulatory authorities, advising client on environmental contract provisions and handling legal issues related to remediation work.
Negotiated creative alternative to traditional Superfund settlement at a large multi-party state uncontrolled hazardous substance site in which private company assumed all environmental liability for cleanup; this was one of the first such settlements of its kind in the nation.
Served as General Counsel to the Maine Low-Level Radioactive Waste Authority from 1988 until the Authority dissolved in 1994; represented and advised the Authority at public meetings, hearings and before the Maine Legislature on hazardous waste and radioactive waste law, real estate and contract matters, administrative procedures and the Freedom of Access law; handled legislative matters; advised the Authority during its extensive rulemaking efforts.
Successfully negotiated, on behalf of the City of Saco, the Administrative Order on Consent and institutional controls for the remediation of the Saco Municipal Landfill Superfund Site; received a commendation award from the City of Saco for legal work.
Spearheaded lobbying effort in state legislature that resulted in enactment of certification requirements for interior designers; legislation was introduced and adopted, despite opposition, in one legislative session.
Structured the successful negotiations on a heavily disputed consent decree with the Maine Attorney General's office with respect to antitrust issues arising from the merger of two large waste companies; this matter involved diverse groups and attracted significant press coverage.Publications
Wrote and published chapter entitled "Institutional Controls in Maine" for inclusion in American Bar Association book, "Implementing Institutional Controls at Brownfields and Other Contaminated Sites "
Published materials and gave presentation on "Getting the Deal Done - State Voluntary Cleanup Programs and Other Means for Redeveloping Contaminated Properties " - at American Bar Association, Business Law Section Spring Meeting
Published materials and gave presentation at Maine State Bar Association seminar on "Environmental Aspects of Real Estate Transactions"
Published materials and gave presentation on "Buyer Issues When Dealing with Environmentally Contaminated Properties " at program at American Bar Association, Business Law Section Spring Meeting
Published materials and lectured on "Liability Under CERCLA", "Environmental Considerations in Commercial Real Estate Transactions" and "Overview of Environmental Enforcement Agencies " at seminar entitled "A Practical Guide to Environmental Regulation in Maine"
Published materials and lectured on "Contract Provisions Concerning Environmental Matters", "Lender Issues in Maine" and "Other Environmental Issues: Asbestos, Lead Paint, Radon " at seminar entitled "Avoiding Environmental Liability in Maine"Seminars
Moderated and presented panel at the Maine Brownfields Conference sponsored by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Chaired all-day Maine State Bar Association seminar on "Zoning and Land Use" and published materials and gave presentation on "Hazardous Waste Issues, Brownfields, and Contract Provisions To Address Liability "
Half hour television interview regarding small business contracts for cable television program "Getting Down to Business "
Organized and presented workshop on "Understanding Contract Language " at 10th Annual Women Business Owners Conference
Presented program on "Buying and Selling Dirty Property " at conference sponsored by the Maine Chamber and Business Alliance and Environmental Business Council of Maine
Organized and presented program on "Brownfields Redevelopment " for conference sponsored by Environmental Business Council of Maine
Organized and presented program on "Environmental Compliance Audits " at conference sponsored by Environmental Business Council of MainePrior Experience
Verrill Dana, LLP - Washington, D.C. (2001-2005)
Counsel, Environmental and Administrative Law
Preti, Flaherty, Beliveau, Pachios & Haley, LLC - Portland, Maine (1987-2000)
Member, Environmental, Commercial Transactions, Real Estate and Administrative Law; Counsel (upon relocation to DC in July 2000)
Cole & Deitz (now part of Winston & Strawn) - New York, New York (1986-1987)
Associate Attorney, Banking and General Corporate Law
Rosenman Colin Freund Lewis & Cohen - New York, New York (1984-1986)
Associate Attorney, Real Estate and Environmental Law
McDermott, Will & Emery - Washington, D.C. (Summer 1983)
Summer Associate
U.S. Department of the Army, Office of the Judge Advocate General - The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. (Summer 1982)
Legal Intern, Litigation Division
Legal Assistant
