Education
-
Pace University Law School, J.D., Environmental Certificate, magna cum laude, 1995
-
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, M.E., Environmental Engineering, 1990
-
New Jersey Institute of Technology, B.S., Chemical Engineering, cum laude, 1988
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
-
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
|
|
| |
Laurie Matthews performs litigation, regulatory and compliance casework involving federal and state environmental laws. Ms. Matthews represents clients, individually and as members of PRP Groups, in connection with remediation of and litigation regarding contaminated sites. Ms. Matthews handles all aspects of environmental cost recovery and contribution litigation between corporations and with the United States and state governments.
Ms. Matthews has participated in several cost allocation proceedings, performing volumetric analyses, assisting to develop allocation methodologies, applying allocation methodologies and drafting advocacy papers. Ms. Matthews regularly conducts permitting and compliance support for industrial facilities and remedial programs, determining applicability and compliance with various federal and state environmental laws. She represents major corporations in defense of enforcement actions at federal and state levels. In addition, Ms. Matthews has represented lending institutions, buyers and sellers regarding environmental aspects of business transactions.
Before practicing law, Ms. Matthews was an environmental engineering consultant for six years for an international technical and scientific consultancy and a century-old environmental consulting firm. As an environmental consultant, Ms. Matthews was involved in all phases of hazardous site remediation, conducted due-diligence reviews and environmental assessments, and prepared permit applications.
Representative Matters:
- As representative of common counsel for several potentially responsible parties (PRPs), managed all legal, technical and administrative aspects of Superfund site remediation, including negotiating consent decrees with federal and state environmental agencies that have included resolution of natural resource damages, negotiating consultant contracts, working with federal and state agencies in remedy selection, drafting comments on agency decision documents, managing trust funds and consultants and overseeing all technical work.
- Represents chemical manufacturer in connection with the remediation through the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) of radiological materials originating from a predecessor company. Assisted in negotiation of a settlement with the United States for the FUSRAP cleanup. Also, represents the company in a parallel Superfund cleanup of chemical contaminants. Provides counsel on regulatory matters related to the entire clean-up, including those relating to a license issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
- Represented chemical manufacturer in connection with the remediation of a former facility where PCBs are the principal contaminant of concern. Performed extensive analyses regarding the handling and remediation of PCBs, and worked closely with consultants to develop a risk-based remediation proposal for approval by the United States Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to regulations implementing the Toxic Substances Control Act. Supported third-party liability buy-out by identifying requirements for the buy-out, assisting in contractor selection, drafting and negotiating the liability buy-out contract with the contractor and a settlement agreement with the State, which included settlement of natural resource damages, and negotiating the insurance policy backing the buy-out.
- Represents power producer in connection with its wastewater discharge permit for a nuclear power plant. Supports all aspects of permit renewal through review of technical application submissions, counseling on regulatory requirements, particularly the requirements of recently issued Section 316(b) regulations, and drafting advocacy documents to support the renewal application.
|
|
|