Lurie Friedman has an active practice in the areas of Public Interest Law and Environmental Law.
Our Public Interest experience includes handling multiple cases on behalf of news organizations, citizen groups, and private parties seeking public records from municipal and state entities under the Massachusetts Public Records Act and from federal entities under the federal Freedom of Information Act. We have pursued complaints to the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission regarding violations of the conflict of interest law, G.L. c. 268A, and the financial disclosure law, G.L. c. 268B. We have also handled matters before the Massachusetts Inspector General and other officials or entities charged with rooting out public corruption, unethical conduct, or misuse of public funds or property. We have handled multiple matters before the Massachusetts Historic Commission regarding preservation of historic buildings and structures and archaeological assets.
In the Environmental area, we have broad and deep experience and expertise in environmental regulatory processes including review of projects under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, the state Wetlands Protection Act and local wetlands protection bylaws, Chapter 91 tidelands licensing, the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, and other federal, state and local administrative permitting regimes. We have litigated matters regarding protection of public conservation land under Article 97 of the Massachusetts constitution and preservation of public easements in wildlife areas. We have handled cases involving environmental contamination under Chapter 21E, noise disputes, and private and public nuisances, as well as major commercial disputes concerning nondisclosure of or indemnification for environmental liabilities.
In the areas of both Public Interest Law and Environmental Law, we have worked with citizen groups, nonprofit conservation and preservation organizations, as well as public entities, developers, and abutters, in order to promote transparency in government and fulfillment of official responsibilities, while always advocating vigorously for our clients.