Jeff is Chair of the Environmental Law Practice at Mintz. With over three decades of litigation and transactional environmental law experience, some of the largest global companies rely on Jeff's insights and strategic guidance. Clients praise him for his substantive knowledge and experience, and his innovative approach to negotiations. He is ranked Band 1 by Chambers USA which says Jeff has a rare combination of skills and judgment that allows him to provide legal guidance that is politically astute and sensitive to all other external dynamics. He was also named the Environmental Litigator of the Year in Massachusetts by Best Lawyers in America. Jeff is a Trustee of the Massachusetts Environmental Trust. He is a long time member of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Waste Site Clean Up Advisory Committee. Jeff was a member of the MassDevelopment Board of Directors from 2013 to 2016, was the Chair of The Nature Conservancy's Trustee Council, having previously served as the Chair and Vice-Chair of The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts, and was also the Chair of Boston Harbor Now. Jeff is a frequent commenter on environmental legal issues in Law 360, Inside EPA, Bloomberg Environment, Energy and Environment, and other publications.
Work Phone:
617-348-1711
Email:
jporter@mintz.com
EPA Region:
Region 1 – (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, and VT)
Year of induction:
2016
Degrees:
Bachelor of Arts, Bates College, 1985; Juris Doctor, Cornell University, 1988
Admissions:
Bar of Massachusetts
Court Admissions:
Massachusetts State Bar; District of Massachusetts; First Circuit Court of Appeals
Professional Societies and Organizations:
Fellow, American College of Environmental Lawyers; Board Chair, Boston Harbor Now; Trustee, Massachusetts Environmental Trust; Member, Bureau of Waste Site Clean Up Advisory Committee, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection; Former Member, Board of Directors, MassDevelopment; Former Chair, Trustee Council, The Nature Conservancy (and former Chair, Massachusetts Chapter); Former Board Member, Boston Harbor Island Alliance (past Vice-Chair and Treasurer); Member, American Bar Association; Member, Massachusetts Bar Association; Member, Boston Bar Association; Member, NAIOP Massachusetts Chapter
Representative Publications:
Justices Leave Waters Muddy In County of Maui Sewage Case – April 29, 2020 (Law360); The Supreme Court’s Decision in County of Maui v. Hawai’i Wildlife Fund – The Answer to the Yes or No Question is Maybe – April 23, 2020 (Mintz Viewpoint); Only Congress Can Fix The Waters Of The US Whirlpool - January 9, 2019 (Law360); SCOTUS Says Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right for Dusky Gopher Frog – November 29, 2018 (Mintz Viewpoint); Defining the Waters of the United States: Which Time Will Be the Charm? - November 2, 2018 (Mintz Viewpoint); Gas Lines to Pipelines: The Case for Comprehensive Federal Energy Legislation – Coauthored with Ann Klee and Katy Ward - March 24, 2015 (American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources)
Illustrative Projects:
Represented GE in its dealings with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of Connecticut relating to the highly controversial selection of a remedy for the Housatonic River, one of the highest profile federal clean-up sites in the United States, culminating in a landmark settlement agreement with EPA, the communities through which the Housatonic River runs, and several other stakeholders; Represented Harvard University in connection with vacating of Beacon Park Railyard by CSX Transportation, including extensive environmental investigations and remediation. Represent Harvard in relating to Massachusetts Department of Transportation plans for highway and rail infrastructure on land owned by Harvard; Represented GE in the acquisition and development of the site of its future global headquarters site on the Fort Point Channel in Boston, and the complicated yet expedited state and local permitting of that headquarters; Advised Global Gaming Resort client on environmental issues relating to historic contamination of waterfront resort site and permitting of largest single phase private construction project in Massachusetts history on that Brownfield site; Successfully defended Wychmere Beach Club against allegations by the Conservation Law Foundation that the Beach Club’s discharge of treated effluent from its waste water treatment facility to leach pits on the Beach Club property violated the Federal Clean Water Act. This representation included the submittal of an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court in the Maui case; Represent Solar Power Developers in defense of allegations of violations of Federal and State wetland regulations; Represented GE in the defense of claims that GE arranged for the disposal of hazardous substances at the Fletcher’s Paint Works and Storage Facility Superfund Site; Represented Pharmacia & Upjohn in multi-party cost recovery litigation relating the West KL Avenue Landfill in Western Michigan.