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Jeffrey
Gracer

Of Counsel

E jgracer@sprlaw.com
P (646) 378-7280
V-Card

Jeffrey
Gracer

Of Counsel

E jgracer@sprlaw.com
P (646) 378-7280
V-Card

Jeff fashions solutions to environmental problems by harmonizing business imperatives with legal and regulatory mandates, funding requirements, public policy considerations, and community and stakeholder interests.  In addition to his domestic practice, he regularly represents companies based outside of the United States, helping non-US clients understand and navigate the nuances and complexities of the US legal system.  Jeff’s clients report that he “communicates well and listens to the client,” that he is “a strong strategic thinker and planner,” and that he “has great insights” and “comes up with innovative solutions.”

Jeff approaches complex environmental problems by stepping back from the law and thinking first about the client’s business objectives.  He then designs strategies that meld legal, technical, strategic, financial, and regulatory considerations, working with environmental consultants and other professionals to deliver integrated solutions.  His experience includes hazardous substance and toxic tort litigation; environmental permitting and approvals; resolution of federal, state and local regulatory enforcement matters; environmental impact assessments; historic preservation reviews; contaminated site remediation and brownfield redevelopment; and environmental insurance coverage.  Increasingly, his practice involves legal and other responses to climate change, including navigating the requirements of state and municipal laws mandating or incentivizing efforts to decarbonize business operations.

Jeff’s clients include public companies, family businesses, governmental and non-profit development agencies, real estate owners and developers, financial institutions, and pension and private equity funds, among others.  He also maintains an active pro bono practice working on behalf of environmental non-profits.

Jeff is a former Chair of the Environmental Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association.  He founded the Environmental Program at the Vance Center for International Justice at the City Bar, which provides pro bono assistance to environmental organizations around the world.  He also co-founded and is President and Chair of the New York City Climate Action Alliance, a non-profit that engages the private sector in efforts to mitigate climate change.

 

Leadership in Action Award, New York City Environmental Law Leadership Institute
Environmental Thought Leader, Who’s Who Legal
Best Lawyers®, Environmental Law and Litigation-Environmental
Chambers and Partners USA, Ranked Band 1 for Environmental Law
Business Today’s “Top 10 Most Influential Environment Lawyers in New York 2023”
New York Metro Super Lawyers, Environmental Law
Who’s Who Legal, Environment & Climate Change
Chambers and Partners USA, Ranked Band 2 for Environment: Mainly Transactional

Equinor Wind – Empire Wind Offshore Wind Projects

Location: Long Island, NY

SPR represents Equinor Wind US in the local and state permitting and development, and aspects of federal permitting, for the Empire Wind 1 and the Empire Wind 2 offshore wind projects that will supply New York State with over 2 gigawatts of renewable energy, power 1 million homes, and provide billions of dollars of economic benefits to the State. The projects also are expected to provide tens of millions of dollars in investments in long-term port facilities, related infrastructure, and new technologies. Together, these offshore wind projects will help the State meet the renewable energy and offshore wind capacity mandates set forth in NY’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, diversify NY’s energy portfolio, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. SPR assisted Equinor acquire various properties that will support its offshore wind projects, and helps navigate the remediation of those properties thorough the Brownfield Cleanup Program. The Firm also advises Equinor on parkland alienation and conversion issues, on the development of an offshore wind port in New York City that will service Equinor’s offshore wind projects and house the onshore substation for the Empire Wind 1 project, on other required local approvals and land rights, on contractor procurement, and on diligence for private finance relating to environmental permitting and litigation risk. SPR assisted Equinor on the development of the Beacon Wind 1 offshore wind project until early 2024, when Equinor transferred its interest in that project to another offshore wind developer.

Cape Cod Offshore Wind Farm

Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts

SPR performed due diligence on behalf of a potential investor in the proposed Cape Wind offshore wind farm, located off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The work involved review of the project EIS and analysis of permitting requirements under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Rivers and Harbors Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Endangered Species Acts.

Chautauqua Green Energy LLC – NY Green Bank

Location: New York

SPR represents a lender in connection with a $21 million landfill gas to renewable natural gas construction-to-term loan and $1 million letter of credit to Chautauqua Green Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of CGE Ventures, LLC, a joint venture of Vireo Energy, LLC, Emkey Gathering, LLC and Sumiya Investment Management.

“High Performance Leases: A Solution for Reducing Carbon Emissions in Commercial Buildings”

For: Environmental Law in New York

June 2021 | Written by Meg Holden, Jeffrey B. Gracer (and Audi Banny, Stuart Kaplan & Stephanie Margolis)

“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

“Climate Change Legislation, Environmental Law 2020”

For: American Law Institute

February 2020 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Local Law and Decarbonization, Conference on Climate Disruption and Decarbonization”

For: American Bar Association

February 2020 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Landlord-Tenant Collaboration: Key Strategies for Whole Building Energy and Emissions Performance”

For: Climate Week NYC (with the Institute for Market Transformation and the Building Energy Exchange)

September 2019 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“SPR Attorneys Explain the NYC Buildings Emissions Law”

For: SPR Webinar

August 2019 | Co-Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer and Alexis Saba

“Environmental Citizen Suits in the US”

For: Tianjin University Law School, China

2019 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Challenging BigLaw in NYC to Help Save the Planet”

For: New York Law Journal

2018 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“A Call to Action for New Yorkers”

For: New York Law Journal

2017 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“The Paris Agreement on Climate Change”

For: Legal Talk Network Podcast

2017 | Podcast Guest Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Companies Are Embracing Green Policies: Why Won’t Washington?”

For: The Hill

2017 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Environmental Aspects of Business Transactions”

For: American Law Institute

2016 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Strategic Risk Update: Climate & Sustainability”

For: Conference Board

2016 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Structuring Environmental Risk Transfers”

For: Stafford Webinar

2015 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Environmental Considerations in Business Transactions

For: American Bar Association

2015 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“U.S. Climate Change Developments,” Lecturer

For: University of Toronto Law School

2014

“How US Developers Address Site Contamination”

For: Lobo de Rizzo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

2014 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Commercial Real Estate Loans: Minimizing the Environmental Risk for Lenders under CERCLA”

For: Practical Law

2013 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer et. al

“Best Practices for Environmental Risk Management in the U.S.”

For: Brazilian Bankers Association, Sao Paulo, Brazil

2013 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Climate Change: Strategic Implications for Business”

For: Conference Board

2013 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“SEC Issues Interpretive Guidance on Climate Disclosure”

For: International Law Office

2010 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Climate Change Litigation”

For: Environmental Law Institute

2010 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Managing Environmental Risks in U.S. Bankruptcies”

For: Environmental Claims Journal

2009 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Can Carbon Trading Save The World (or Does the World Need to be Saved from Carbon Trading)”

For: American Bar Association

2009 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Cross-Border Environmental Handbook”

For: Practical Law Company

2009 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Disclosure of Climate Change Risk to Investors”

For: Practical Law Company

2009 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Lender Beware: Navigating the Superfund Safe Harbor During Workouts and Foreclosures”

For: New York Law Journal

2008 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer et al.

“NYC Climate Protection Act sets GHG Reduction Targets”

For: International Law Office

2008 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Vapor Intrusion Meets Reality”

For: Air & Waste Management Association

2008 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Cross-Border Litigation Gains Traction”

For: Environmental Claims Journal

2008 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Lender Beware: Navigating the Superfund Safe Harbor in Workouts and Foreclosures”

For: New York Law Journal

2008 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Disclosure of Climate Change Risk to Investors”

For: Bloomberg Law Reports

2008 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer

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

For: Environmental Claims Journal

2007 | Written by Maggie Macdonald and Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Superfund Cost Recovery Actions”

For: New York State Bar Association

2007 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Changes in GAAP Put Spotlight on Environmental Disclosure”

For: Metropolitan Corporate Counsel

2006 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Environmental Diligence Under Pressure”

For: Power Assets Acquisition & Divestiture Summit

2006 | Presented by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Disclosing Contingent Environmental Liabilities”

For: Metropolitan Corporate Counsel

2004 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer

“Implementing NY’s New Brownfield Law”

For: New York Law Journal

2000 | Written by Jeffrey B. Gracer

New Model High-Performance Lease Helps Unlock NYC’s Ambitious Climate Goals

  In August 2021, the Institute for Market Transformation, with pro bono assistance from SPR, released a model high-performance lease that will provide critical assistance for commercial building owners and tenants seeking to advance building decarbonization and comply with NYC ...
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New York City Council Passes Major Amendment to Local Law 97 Affordable Housing Provisions

On October 29, 2020, the New York City Council passed Read More

NYC Buildings Receive Their First Energy Efficiency Grades

On October 1, 2020, buildings over 25,000 square feet in New York City received their first energy efficiency grades from the City Department of Buildings (“DOB”). Buildings must post the grade “in a conspicuous location near each public entrance to such building” ...
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NYCDOB to Issue Local Law 97 Adjustment Guidance in January 2021  

Gina Bocra, the Chief Sustainability Officer for the New York City Department of Buildings (NYCDOB), recently announced that in January 2021, the agency expects to issue guidance on the process for obtaining an adjustment to buildings’ greenhouse gas emissions caps under Read More

New York City Council Considers Amendment to Local Law 97 Affordable Housing Provisions

On May 28, 2020, New York City Councilmember Costa Constantinides, among others, introduced a bill— Read More

Environmental Issues in Bankruptcy Sales

The economic distress ensuing from COVID-19 will likely result in more frequent sales of business assets and real estate under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. Section 363 sales provide an expedited process to raise revenue and are designed to enable an asset purchaser to take assets “free and clear of any ...
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Education

Columbia University School of Law, J.D., Charles Evans Hughes Fellow

Columbia College, B.A., 1981, (Comparative Literature)

Bar Admissions

New York, 1987

New Jersey, 1987

Clerkships

Hon. Myron H. Thompson, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, M.D. Alabama

Community

President and Chair, New York City Climate Action Alliance

US Board Member, The Climate Group

Leadership Council Member, Environmental Law Institute

Former Chair, Environmental Law Committee, New York City Bar Association

Founder, Environmental Program, Vance Center for International Justice, New York City Bar Association