Joseph Williams is a member of the Real Estate, Environment and Land Use Practice Group. He practices in the areas of environmental and land use permitting and litigation, primarily representing private companies, developers and property owners in a wide array of real estate-related proceedings including site development applications, administrative appeals, takings and eminent domain, adverse possession, boundary and easement disputes, injunction actions, workforce and affordable housing, fair housing claims and environmental clean-up and cost recovery actions. He also has represented several municipalities, boards of education and state agencies in such matters. Joe regularly appears before federal, state and local administrative agencies on such matters as well as trial and appellate courts at the state and federal level.
Distinctions
· AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
· Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers: Environment; 2007 and 2012
· Listed as a Connecticut Super Lawyer®: Land Use/Zoning; 2006-2012
· Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: Litigation-Environmental; 2009-2012
· 40 Under Forty, Hartford Business Journal (2004)
· New Leader of the Law, Connecticut Law Tribune (2002)
Professional Affiliations
· American Bar Association: Section of Environment, Energy and Resources (Water Quality and Wetlands Committee and Superfund and Hazardous Waste Committee); Section of Litigation (Committee on Corporate Counsel and Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use Litigation Committee)
· Builders Association of Eastern Connecticut, Inc.
· CBIA Environmental Policies Council
· Connecticut Bar Association: Executive Committee, Environmental Law Section; Executive Committee, Planning and Zoning Section; Legislative Liaison, Planning and Zoning Section
· Connecticut Developers Council
· Home Builders Association of Hartford County
· Real Estate Exchange
Community Involvement
· Connecticut General Assembly's Climate Change and Shoreline Preservation Task Force: Member
· Bushnell Park Foundation: President
· Glastonbury Education Foundation: Vice Chairman, Board of Directors
· Home Builders Association of Hartford County Charitable Foundation: Board of Directors, Chair of Grants Committee
· Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity: Past Build-a-Thon Team Leader, several committees
· United Way of the Capital Area, Shipman & Goodwin Annual Appeal: Past Campaign Chair
· Leadership Greater Hartford Participant (Quest, 2002)
· Former Coach, Glastonbury Hartwell Soccer Club & Glastonbury Lacrosse Club
Experience
Environmental Litigation
Defense of Federal Suit for Alleged Residual Petroleum from USTs
Defended Federal Lawsuit Involving Third-Party Claims Under CERCLA
Pursuing Claims for Reimbursement from Underground Storage Tank Fund
Defense of CERCLA Actions Over PCBs from Transformers in North Carolina
Defense of Claims of Environmental Contamination Related to Sale of Real Property
Resolved Cost Recovery Claim for Environmental Remediation
Defended Lawsuit for Costs of Remediating MTBE Plume in Area Groundwater
Defended CERCLA Action Regarding Former Ball Bearing Factory
Successfully Defended Noise Nuisance Allegations against Waste-to-Energy Facility
Defended Professional Malpractice Allegations
Defended CERCLA Action by a Competitor at a Superfund Site
Defense of Allegations of Underground Contamination - Case Withdrawn
Won Temporary Injunction Against Illegal Solid Waste Landfill
Defeated Negligence Claim over Lead Paint in Auctioned Property
Successfully Defended Neighbors' Lawsuits Over a New Ash Landfill
Successful Suit for Property Remediation Under CT Environmental Protection Act
Defended and Resolved Cost Recovery Claim in Massachusetts for Oil Company
Land Use Approvals and Litigation
Appeal from Granting of Use Variance by ZBA
Favorable Settlement of RLUIPA/Zoning Appeal
Favorable Settlement of RLUIPA/Zoning Appeal
Prevailed in Zoning Appeal for Private School
Defense of Demolition Code Appeal and Negligence Lawsuits Related to Urban Fire
Defense of Inland Wetlands Appeal
Successful Defense of Zoning Appeal for Private School
Prevailed in Zoning Appeal for 214 Townhouses Under Section 8-30g
Obtained and Successfully Defended Zoning Approvals for New Public School
Won Temporary Injunction Prohibiting Truck Ban Ordinance for Egg Distributor
Defeated Conflict of Interest Claim Brought Against Inland Wetlands Commissioner
Successful Affordable Housing and Inland Wetlands Appeals for 129 Townhouses
Gained Dismissal of Zoning Appeal for Lack of Aggrievement
Won Zoning Approvals for New Bulky Waste Landfill and Transfer Station
Wetlands and Zoning Appeals Resulting in Approvals to Build Apartments
Successful Wetlands and Zoning Appeals for Apartment Development Under Section 8-30g
Special Permit for Hospital Parking Garage
Successfully Defended Civil Rights Suit Over City's Use of Eminent Domain
Won Injunction Preventing Revocation of a Zoning Permit
Obtained Land Use Approvals for Several Gas Station/Convenience Stores
Managed Complex Process for New Downtown and Cancer Center Zoning Regulations in New Haven, Connecticut
Real Estate Litigation
Successful Injunction Action to Enforce Restrictive Covenant
Favorable Adverse Possession Settlement
Prevailed in Injunction Action to Prevent Eminent Domain
Successful Adverse Possession Lawsuit
Defense of Violations of Fair Housing Act and 42 U.S.C. § 1983
Publications
April 2, 2012, Shoreline Preservation Panel Battles The Elements
May 8, 2009, Supreme Court Determines Arranger Liability and Apportionment
July 24, 2008, Guidance Document for HOMEConnecticut Technical Assistance Grants
June 24, 2008, Update on Inland Wetlands Caselaw in Connecticut
February 2008, Connecticut's Aquifer Protection Program Governs a Wide Array of Business Activities
November 17, 2006, DEP's New Aquifer Protection Regulations
March 1, 2006, Aquifer Protection: Coming to a Town Near You
September 1, 2003, Shifting the Battlefield: Recent Changes in Federal Wetlands Policy
July 24, 2003, Environmental Concerns for Developers: Wetlands
July 22, 2003, Developments Under Connecticut's Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals Act
July 18, 2003, Religious Land Use And Institutionalized Persons Act Of 2000
July 18, 2003, Telecommunications And The Cell Tower Wars
July 1, 2003, Environmentally-Driven Zoning Law
March 1, 2003, Corps Shifts Toward A Functional Approach To Wetlands Mitigation
August 9, 2002, Congress Seeking to Restore Brownfields
April 1, 2002, Recent Developments Under Connecticut's Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals Act
April 1, 2002, Update on the Law of Wetlands, Vernal Pool Species and Aquifer Protection Areas in Connecticut
January 2, 2002, The Law Of Fiscal Zoning
News
February 27, 2012, Joseph Williams Appointed to Connecticut's New Shoreline Preservation Task Force
September 2, 2011, "Best Lawyers in America" Recognizes 30 Lawyers from the Firm
October 28, 2010, "Super Lawyers" Recognizes 47 Lawyers From Shipman & Goodwin LLP
September 23, 2010, "Best Lawyers In America" Recognizes 27 Lawyers from Shipman & Goodwin LLP
February 1, 2010, Attorney Joseph P. Williams Appointed to Board of Directors of the Glastonbury Education Foundation
October 27, 2009, Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named 2010 Connecticut Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
August 10, 2009, 25 Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Recognized as "2010 Best Lawyers in America"
May 29, 2009, Attorney Joe Williams Elected President of Bushnell Park Foundation
March 2, 2009, Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named 2009 Connecticut Super Lawyers & Rising Stars and Featured in Connecticut Magazine
December 4, 2008, Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Recognized as "2009 Best Lawyers in America"
November 7, 2008, Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named 2009 Connecticut Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
April 25, 2008, Attorneys Named By Super Lawyers®
June 15, 2007, Shipman & Goodwin Ranked in Chambers USA
February 1, 2006, Thirty-Five Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named Connecticut "Super Lawyers®"
August 16, 2004, 40 Under Forty: Joseph Williams
November 1, 2002, New Leaders of the Law: Joseph Williams
Events
October 18, 2011, Connecticut Bar Association Basic Land Use Law Seminar
September 30, 2010, Value Added: Finding and Saving Money in a Recovering Real Estate Economy
April 1, 2010, Wetland and Environmental Update
April 14, 2009, 2009 South Western Regional Planning Agency (SWRPA) Housing Summit
March 28, 2009, Connecticut Land Use Law For Municipal Land Use Agencies, Boards, and Commissions
February 26, 2009, Laws, Regulations and Policies Relating to Connecticut Licensed Environmental Professionals
November 11, 2008, Zoning, Subdivision and Land Development Law in Connecticut
October 29, 2008, Tips for Lawyers in the Land Use Practice
June 5, 2008, Connecticut Developers Council Legal & Legislative Update
January 18, 2008, CBIA Environmental Policies Council Monthly Meeting
November 8, 2007, Advanced Zoning and Land Use
October 3, 2007, Basic Land Use
March 17, 2007, Affordable Housing Applications
November 17, 2006, Advanced Zoning and Land Use
January 5, 2006, Update on the Law of Wetlands
November 17, 2005, Advanced Zoning and Land Use - "DEP's Aquifer Protection Regulations"
October 27, 2005, Housing 2005: Building Momentum, Celebrating Success
November 17, 2004, Advanced Zoning and Land Use
June 7, 2004, New Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Aquifer Protection Regulations
May 13, 2004, DEP's New Aquifer Protection Regulations
May 13, 2004, Overview of Final Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Aquifer Protection Regulations
April 1, 2004, Conflicts of Interest and Predisposition
November 15, 2003, Is Growth Management a Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) Issue?
June 23-24, 2003, Connecticut Land Use Law: Current Issues and the Cutting Edge
June 23-24, 2003, Connecticut Land Use Law: Current Issues and the Cutting Edge
March 23, 2003, Fiscal Zoning and Impact Fees
May 22-23, 2002, Connecticut Land Use Law: Current Issues and the Cutting Edge
April 6, 2000, Land Use Issues
April 6, 2000, Presentations Before Local Land Use Boards
January 6, 2000, The Law of Fiscal Zoning
June 11, 1996, Lenders and Lead Paint