Maggie Macdonald

Career

Maggie focuses her practice on environmental litigation, environmental due diligence and transactional matters, environmental impact review, and land use issues. Maggie has litigated multi-million dollar claims for recovery of remediation costs under the Superfund Law (CERCLA) in federal courts in New York, New Jersey (pro hac vice) and Ohio (pro hac vice), and has also represented clients in administrative proceedings before the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York City Environmental Control Board. Maggie has significant experience with electronic discovery in complex, multi-party litigations, and leverages technology to efficiently meet her clients’ needs.

In addition, Maggie works with clients involved in the recycling and solid waste management industries to establish environmentally-responsible business practices and comply with product stewardship regulations.

Maggie frequently negotiates environmental provisions of purchase and sale agreements, as well as environmental indemnification agreements to facilitate redevelopment of contaminated properties. She advises Fortune 500 companies, individuals and small-business owners developing real estate, and real estate investment trusts with respect to environmental risks associated with investments in contaminated properties. In addition, Maggie advises clients with respect to remediation of contaminated properties, and assists clients with successfully remediating properties and obtaining liability protection under regulatory oversight.

Professional Memberships

Bar Admissions: New York, 2012, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Publications

“The Law of Climate Change in Canada”

Article Title: Chapter 18 “United States;" Chapter 19 “North American and Global Integration of Carbon Control Markets;" Chapter 20 “Private Sector Climate Action”

2023 | Written by Maggie Macdonald and Jeffrey B. Gracer

“An Update on County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund”

For: American Water Works Association Journal

October 2022 | Written by Maggie Macdonald (and Kelly Coulon, Roux Associates)

“Green Buildings: Law and Practices”

For: Practical Law Journal

November 2014 | Written by Dan Chorost and Maggie Macdonald

“EPA proposes new technology rules for boilers and incinerators”

For: International Law Office

July 19, 2010 | Written by Maggie Macdonald and Daniel Riesel

“State and Regional Carbon Reduction Markets in the United States”

For: Environmental Claims Journal

2007 | Written by Maggie Macdonald and Jeffrey B. Gracer

Experience

New York State Bar Association member

Bar Association of the City of New York member

Secretary of the International Environmental Law Committee at the City Bar Association

Graduate of the New York City Environmental Law Leadership Institute

Member, New York Road Runners

Work Highlights

Queens West Development Corporation

Location: New York, NY

The firm represents the Queens West Development Corporation (QWDC), a subsidiary of Empire State Development and a cooperative undertaking of the State of New York and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. QWDC has overseen the remediation and redevelopment of former industrial waterfront property along the East River in Long Island City, Queens. The project boundaries extend from the Anable Basin to 50th Avenue, west of 5th Street. SPR advised on the preparation of the EIS for the project, and successfully defended the EIS against a judicial challenge. The Firm helped to structure and negotiate environmental liability risk management protections associated with the property acquisition, oversee contaminated soil remediation pursuant to the Voluntary and Brownfield Cleanup Programs, secure the necessary tidal wetlands permits and other regulatory approvals that authorized the construction of eleven residential buildings (over 4,600 housing units), over 170,000 square feet of retail amenities, public streets and utilities, two public schools and 13 acres of public parkland and recreational areas that has greatly enhanced the Long Island City community. The Firm also represented QWDC and a private developer in litigation to recover costs associated with certain aspects of remediation.

Pier 94

Location: New York, NY

The long-blighted Pier 94, which once berthed Cunard Line’s 1,000-foot ocean liners, is being transformed by Blackstone and Vornado into Manhattan’s first purpose-built studio. The 266,000 square foot Sunset Pier 94 will have six soundstages along with open riverfront areas and other community amenities when it is completed at the end of 2025. Several stages will be equipped with technological infrastructure capable of handling virtual production. The project will create more than 1,300 construction jobs and 400 permanent jobs, contributing $6.4 billion to the local economy over the next 30 years.

Extra Space Storage

Location: Nationwide

SPR managed the environmental due diligence for a $12 Billion merger involving 1,300 facilities across the USA. Facilities were located in at least 37 jurisdictions, including: AL, AR, AZ, CO, CA, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MS, MO, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, and WA. SPR reviewed environmental due diligence documents including Phase I and Phase II site investigation reports, developed due diligence strategy, worked with Extra Space’s environmental consultants and local counsel to identify and manage risks across the portfolio, and supported SEC counsel with respect to environmental aspects of their 10b-5 opinion. The transaction closed on time.

Practice Areas

Environmental Impact Review/Permitting, Hazardous Substances Remediation, Environmental Issues in Transactions and Real Estate Management, Zoning, Land Use, and Municipal Law, Litigation

Education