About 50 percent of my job involves education - explaining the many aspects of the law, and how the law may apply to a client’s situation. I’ll write client letters and memoranda that must be simple and understandable, but the issues that underlie them are often technical and obscure. That communications work is essential to helping my clients get things done - a developer who wants to invest millions in a Brownfields property, or a municipality that wants to assess its environmental needs.

I have all kinds of clients - corporations, lenders, entrepreneurs, municipalities, public authorities, and all have different levels of knowledge, and different needs. Whatever side they are on, they want to resolve their issues properly. Sometimes they are surprised how long the process can take, but it’s my job to move the ball forward.

New Jersey for years had been very aggressive with enforcement, but during the 90s enforcement wound down a bit. The Corzine administration has stepped up enforcement again. And we’re busy.

Having served as a corporate counsel for many years, I understand how corporations work and how business people think. And my redevelopment work is very gratifying - we’re partnering with our clients to get things accomplished.

The active areas of environmental law now are brownfields redevelopment, natural resource damages, green buildings and global warming and air pollution. Environmental law continually becomes more complex, and we need to communicate new developments in the field to our clients so that they can adapt to the changes. I am first and foremost a problem-solver. We’re always seeking to formulate plans and structures for our clients that are workable and positive, and consistent with environmental regulations. That’s important work.