Charles Grieco

Practice Areas

- Property

- Hospitality and Tourism

- Environmental and Energy

- Municipalities

- Toxic Tor and Environmental Litigation

Publications

- Business "Summer Fun" Series - Breweries - An Interview with Chip Grieco and Jennifer Tsyn, Legally Bond Podcast, July 18, 2022

- Negotiation and Termination of Distribution Contracts, New York State Brewers Conference, March 10, 2022

- Issues Affecting Craft Alcohol Beverage Manufacturers, Bar Association of Erie County, March 3, 2017

- Preservation Fundamentals, New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Town of Clarence Historic Preservation Commission, April 29-30, 2016

Work Highlights

- Successfully represented chemical manufacturing client in major CERCLA cost recovery suit, involving multiple trials and two appeals to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, resulting in the client shifting the majority of on-going cleanup costs to other responsible parties.

- Drafted solid waste management law for municipal client and successfully defended a challenge to that law in New York State court.

- Successfully negotiated resolution of EPA compliance order alleging violations of Federal Clean Water Act Pre-Treatment Standards on behalf of manufacturing client.

- Successfully represented not-for-profit housing developer in cost recovery litigation related to cleanup of petroleum contamination.

- Assisted client in negotiating cleanup of historical contamination associated with former gas station and recovered those costs, including attorneys fees, from responsible party

- Represented large municipal client in successfully pursuing claims against bankrupt former steel manufacturers to fund cleanup of major brownfield site, which is now being put back to productive use as largest solar panel manufacturing plant in the United States

Career

Charles has years of broad-based and expansive experience in managing and resolving environmental issues for his clients.

His rich knowledge of environmental laws and regulations provides a legal advantage to his clients. He has the know-how to establish long-term relationships and the resources to tackle problems and develop durable solutions to meet his client’s diverse legal needs. He routinely and successfully represents clients in environmental litigation, environmental compliance, land use planning/environmental review and municipal law.

Charles counsels and represents clients with zoning and environmental review procedures under the State Environmental Quality Review Act and National Environmental Policy Act and has extensive experience in general municipal law. He currently acts as attorney of record for the Village of Williamsville and serves as counsel to several other local towns and municipalities.

Professional Memberships

- New York State Bar Association, Environmental Committee; State and Local Government Committee

- Erie County Bar Association, Environmental Committee, Past Chair; Municipal Committee

Personal

- The City of Buffalo Environmental Management Commission, Commissioner

- NYS Chemistry Council, Board of Directors and Government Affairs Committee Member

- Western New York Book Arts Collaborative, Former Board Member, Active Member

- Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, Former Board Member, Member of Legal Committee

- Preservation Buffalo Niagara, Board of Directors, Pro Bono Legal Work

- Congress for the New Urbanism National Conference, Program Committee Chair, 2014

- Leadership Buffalo Graduate, 2005

- City Honors Crew, Director

Education

Awards