Megan Baroni is a member of the firm's Environmental Group, where she focuses her practice on environmental litigation, federal and state administrative compliance, and transactional environmental issues.
Ms. Baroni represents large institutional clients in a variety of litigation matters. Much of her litigation work has focused on representing private parties in disputes under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and other federal environmental laws. Ms. Baroni also represents clients in both federal and state environmental enforcement actions.
Additionally, Ms. Baroni assists clients with federal and state administrative compliance, including remediation of contaminated properties. In this capacity, she works with both clients and environmental consultants to develop remedial strategies that are creative, cost-effective, and protective of human health and the environment. Ms. Baroni has extensive experience coordinating the remediation of large properties that involve a number of remedial, development, permitting, and health and safety issues. She also assists clients with federal and state permitting, including water and waste permits.
In her transactional practice, Ms. Baroni helps clients manage and limit environmental risk associated with business and property transactions. She manages due diligence, identifies potential risks, and negotiates the allocation of environmental liability with an eye toward finding solutions to close the deal.
Ms. Baroni was included on the 2009 and 2010 Connecticut Super Lawyers® Rising Star list in the area of Environmental Law (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.).
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association, 2006 to present, Environmental, Energy and Resources Section; Young Lawyers Division
- Connecticut Bar Association, 2006 to present, Environmental Law Section; Young Lawyers Section
- Fairfield County Bar Association, 2006 to present, Environmental Law Section
- SoundWaters, 2006 to present, Business & Environment Committee
- Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens, 2011 to present, Board of Directors
Community Involvement
- Sustainable Stamford, Member
- Lawyers for Children America, Member of Connecticut Regional Council
- Fairfield County Bar Foundation, Vice President
Honors and Awards
- Listed as a Rising Star in Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the area of Environmental Law since 2009 (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.)
Experience
- Represents large manufacturing company with regard to remediation of formerly owned property. Issues include the recording of environmental covenants, soil and groundwater contamination, and potential vapor intrusion.
- Representation of Hackman Capital LLC, a real estate investor group, as outside environmental counsel for various environmental issues related to a portfolio of 19 light industrial properties in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Colorado, and Texas.
- Counseled former nuclear fuel manufacturer on issues under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act in connection with the decontamination and decommissioning of its manufacturing facility and grounds.
- Represented large car dealership in a multisite real estate transaction involving contaminated properties that qualified as establishments under the Connecticut Transfer Act. After the transaction was complete, we assisted the client in managing the remediation of contaminated properties in accordance with state standards.
- Represented Fortune 500 company in negotiating an administrative order with a state agency under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regarding contaminated property acquired though a business transaction. Negotiation resulted in a significant reduction in penalty as well as the incorporation of supplemental environmental projects.
- Representation of a well-known diversified technology, media, and financial services company in deconstruction and remediation of a manufacturing facility with environmental, historic, and wetlands challenges in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
CERCLA
- Representation of a large manufacturing company as plaintiff in federal cost recovery litigation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. The Superfund site involved property owned by multiple entities and contamination, principally to groundwater, from multiple sources.
- Representation as lead counsel in defending a drum recycling company in a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act action in U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island concerning the Centredale Manor Restoration Project Superfund site in North Providence, Rhode Island. The Superfund site includes a nine-acre peninsula where various entities operated a chemical manufacturing facility and the client operated a drum reconditioning facility. The principal containment of concern is dioxin. Estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency exceed $100 million.
Publications & Presentations
Articles
- "Lessons from the 'Tri-State' Water War" (Winter 2012), published in State & Local Law News
Book Editor
- Whose Drop Is It, Anyway? Legal Issues Surrounding Our Nation's Water Resources (4/2011), published by the American Bar Association's Section of State and Local Government Law, also authored chapter "Pricing Strategies to Manage Water Demand"
Presentations
- "Legal Issues Associated with Stormwater" (6/3/2009) presented at Lorman Seminar
- "Connecticut's Significant Environmental Hazard Statute and Its Reporting Requirements," copresented with Richard Fil (1/3/2007) at Connecticut Environmental Forum, Wethersfield, Connecticut
News
1.31.12, Environmental Attorney Writes Article on 'Tri-State' Water War ,
1.03.12, Robinson & Cole Announces Mentor of the Year Award Recipients ,
4.21.11, Megan Baroni Elected to Botanical Garden Board of Directors ,
1.05.11, Environmental Attorney Weighs in on Green Standards ,
1.27.09, Robinson & Cole Attorneys Named to LFCA Regional Council ,
11.03.08, Robinson & Cole Attorney Elected Fairfield County Bar Foundation Vice President