Maggie
Macdonald
Principal
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Maggie
Macdonald
Principal
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.
Queens West Development Corporation
SPR represents Queens West Development Corporation (QWDC), a subsidiary of New York State's Empire State Development (ESD), in connection with New York's largest mixed use public-private development. During the early planning stages of this major initiative to redevelop a 74-acre area of the Long Island City waterfront, the firm provided environmental and land use counsel to the Urban Development Corporation (now d/b/a ESD) in connection with development of the General Project Plan and the environmental impact statement (EIS) process. It subsequently represented ESD in successfully defeating litigation challenging the adequacy of the EIS. The firm has handled all waterfront permitting issues for the development of parks and the waterfront esplanade, which involved obtaining permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and other agencies.
The firm represented QWDC over CERCLA action for response costs and settled. The firm assists in connection with all aspects of remediation of legacy contamination from the area's long and varied industrial uses, including remedies under auspices of either the State's Voluntary Cleanup Program or the Brownfield Cleanup Program, recently representing QWDC in a case over response costs. The litigation recently settled.“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”
“An Update on County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund,” Co-Author
For: American Water Works Association Journal; Co-Author(s): Kelly Coulon, Roux Associates
“Green Buildings: Law and Practices,” Co-Author
For: Practical Law Journal; Co-Author(s): Dan Chorost, Maggie Macdonald
“EPA proposes new technology rules for boilers and incinerators,” with Daniel Riesel
For: International Law Office
“State and Regional Carbon Reduction Markets in the United States,” Co-Author
For: Environmental Claims Journal; Co-Author(s): Jeffrey Gracer
NYC Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation Proposes New Enforcement Rules
Sixth Circuit rules in two cases that discharges to groundwater from coal ash ponds do not require a Clean Water Act Permit
New York City Proposes First Stormwater Management Program Regulating Construction Runoff
New York University School of Law, J.D., 2011
Harvard College, B.A., 2008, magna cum laude
New York, 2012
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
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
Attorney spotlight from 2014
