Enhances Firm's Expertise in Green Building Practices
Newark, New Jersey - McCarter & English announced today that partners Mary Jane Augustine (New York) and Francis Kirk (Newark), and associates Brian Morgan (Boston) and Jocelyn Gabrynowicz Hill (Philadelphia) have received credentials as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professionals (LEED AP) by the Green Building Certification Institute. As a joint effort between the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the LEED Green Building Rating Systems, the LEED AP program was developed to assure that professionals have the latest knowledge and understanding of green building practices.
The four attorneys join the ranks of a small number of attorneys (approximately 350 nationwide) to become LEED APs.
"We believe that sustainable, energy efficient design and construction is really the way the future must unfold," said Ms. Augustine, the Practice Group Leader for the firm's Construction Practice Group. "As we continue to face a changing economic landscape, we must also be aware of our deteriorating environmental landscape and help to sustain the earth's natural resources by doing our part. Having attorneys who are also LEED APs not only expands and strengthens our ability to serve our clients, but also demonstrates McCarter's commitment to Green Building and sustainable industry practices."
Ms. Augustine has provided legal representation for more than 33 years to various participants in the construction industry, including owners, developers, contractors, construction managers and design professionals. Her practice currently focuses on the development of project delivery strategies, and the preparation and negotiation of design, construction and related contracts for complex domestic and international construction projects.
Mr. Kirk focuses on construction law and related business litigation matters, largely for property owners. He has litigated construction disputes, contract performance and payment disputes, shareholder/partnership disputes, actions involving real estate (including specific performance actions), condemnation actions, commercial landlord-tenant matters, and insurance coverage disputes for insureds. He is experienced in construction lien claims, bidding laws, and related matters. He also prepares and negotiates construction contracts.
Mr. Morgan, who is a civil engineer in addition to being an attorney, is a member of the Construction Practice Group and represents owners and contractors in transactional matters and dispute resolution. He has participated in complex litigation involving project delays, extra work, design changes, and contract disputes. His engineering experience includes the design of water/wastewater transport systems, wastewater pipe remediation, combined sewer separation, wastewater treatment plant upgrades, field investigations, data analysis, and the design of residential and commercial site layouts.
Ms. Hill is a member of the Firm's Climate Change and Renewable Energy Group. She concentrates her practice on insurance recovery litigation exclusively on behalf of policyholders and has a wide variety of experience in the insurance coverage field, including coverage for environmental liabilities, climate change, construction, and asbestos-related claims, as well as claims under professional liability and fidelity policies.
Developed by the USGBC, the LEED building rating system provides building owners and operators with a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. A LEED credential provides employers, policymakers, and other stakeholders with assurances of an individual's current level of competence and is the mark of the most qualified, educated, and influential green building professionals in the marketplace.
For more information about the U.S. Green Building Council and the LEED AP Program, please visit http://www.usgbc.org/leed.
About McCarter & English
McCarter & English, LLP is a firm of over 400 lawyers with offices in Boston, Hartford, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia and Wilmington. In continuous business for more than 160 years, we are among the oldest and largest law firms in America. www.mccarter.com
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