Peter D. Van Oot

Peter Van Oot advises commercial clients, utilities and institutions on significant policy issues, permits and transactions that require a range of expertise in corporate, environmental and regulatory law. With a practice concentrated in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, Peter provides strategic advice and serves as outside general counsel to a number of corporations and institutions. He also chairs DRM’s Regulated Entities Group, which includes DRM’s Public Utility Group, Real Estate and Environmental Group, Governmental Affairs Group and Heath Law Group.

As a trained and experienced environmental lawyer, Peter has served as lead counsel on significant development projects, negotiated numerous environmental settlements with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Justice, state regulatory agencies and third parties. He served on the National Commission on Superfund Reform, provides strategic counsel to clients, speaks to the regulated community and testifies before legislative committees on regulatory and environmental issues.

As corporate counsel, Peter serves as outside general counsel to for-profit corporations, non-for profit organizations and educational institutions, with a focus on transactional, governance, environmental and regulatory matters.

Development/Transactional Projects:

• Lead permitting counsel for Water Tower Hill Office Park development, Colchester, Vermont
• Lead permitting counsel for Rocking Stone Farm, 13 - Lot Subdivision Project, Manchester, Vermont
• Lead permitting counsel for High Point Estates, 29- Lot Subdivision Project, Brattleboro, Vermont
• Lead permitting counsel for $55 million Brattleboro Union High School Project
• Lead permitting counsel for Grafton Village Cheese Company Cheese Manufacturing Project, Brattleboro, Vermont
• Lead permitting counsel for 1,000 unit Ginn Development Resort Project, Burke, Vermont
• Seller’s and permitting counsel for sale of Retreat Farm, Brattleboro, Vermont
• Buyer’s counsel for purchase of Windham Hotel, Bellows Falls, Vermont

Representative Superfund Settlement Counsel Matters:

• Lead counsel at Darling Hill Superfund Site, Lyndon, Vermont
• Lead counsel at Parker Landfill Site, Lyndon, Vermont
• Lead counsel at Pine Street Canal Superfund Site in Burlington, Vermont
• Lead counsel at Bennington Landfill Superfund Site in Bennington, Vermont
• Lead counsel at the Pownal Tannery Superfund Site in Pownal, Vermont
• Lead counsel at the Elizabeth Mines Superfund Site in Stratford, Vermont
• Lead counsel at Solvent Recovery Service of New England, Inc. Superfund Site in Southington, Connecticut
• Lead counsel at Wells G&H Superfund Site in Woburn, Mass.

Representative Enforcement Settlement Counsel Matters:

• US EPA Lead Abatement/Clean Air Act enforcement matter
• US EPA SPCC/Clean Water Act enforcement matter
• Vermont Agency of Natural Resources solid waste enforcement matter
• Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Stormwater/Clean Water Act enforcement matter
• Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Land Use (Act 250) enforcement matter
• Vermont Agency of Natural Resources air quality enforcement matter

Representative Corporate Counsel Engagements:

• Sonnax Industries, Rockingham, Vermont
• Brattleboro Retreat, Brattleboro, Vermont
• Marlboro College. Marlboro and Brattleboro, Vermont
• Vermont Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing d/b/a The Austine School

Peter is a charter fellow of the American College of Environmental Attorneys; a member of the Section of Environment, Energy and Resources of the American Bar Association; a member of the Environmental Law Committees of the Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts Bar Associations; and a member of the Environmental Law Committee of Lex Mundi, a global association/alliance of premier independent law firms in 99 countries.

Peter is serving on the Brownfields Advisory Committee to the Vermont Legislature as Governor Douglas’ appointee and is on the advisory board of the Vermont Law School Environmental Law Center. Previously, he served as a member of Vermont Governor Howard Dean's Council of Environmental Advisors and as a board member and chair of the Vermont Land Trust. He is a past visiting professor of environmental law at Williams College (1999-2003) and was a legislative aide to U.S. Senator Patrick J. Leahy (1980-1985).

Peter was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2008 and New England Superlawyers. He has a AV rating from Martindale Hubbell as an environmental lawyer.

Peter serves on Vermont Governor Jim Douglas's Job Cabinet, the board of Chittenden Bank, the advisory board of the Chittenden Socially Responsible Banking Board , and on the executive committee and as current president of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC). He is on the leadership committee of the Brattleboro YMCA Facility Capital Campaign and is a member of the Vermont Community Foundation. Previously, he served as chair of the United Way of Windham County and as a member of the board and executive committee for World Learning, Inc.