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 Energy & Telecommunications Group, Real Estate, Land Use & Environmental Law Group, Government & Public Affairs Group and Health 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.

Representative 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 the Ginn Development Resort Project, Burke, Vermont
• Seller’s and permitting counsel for sale of Retreat Farm, Brattleboro, 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
• Cheshire Oil Company, Keene, Hew Hampshire

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 recently chaired the Judicial Nominating Commission, which vetted candidates to replace a retiring judge on Vermont's U.S. District Court. The Commission recommended a slate of candidates from which Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders selected a nominee for President Obama's consideration.

Peter serves on the Brownfields Advisory Committee to the Vermont Legislature as Governor Douglas’ appointee and is on the advisory boards of Vermont Law School's Environmental Law Center and Land Use Institute. He is president of the Hillwinds Conservation Lands, Inc., which owns and operates 209 acres of conserved lands and trail networks. 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 2010 and New England Superlawyers. He received an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell as an environmental lawyer.

Peter serves 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. He is a member of the Vermont Community Foundation. Previously, he served on Vermont Governor Jim Douglas's Job Cabinet, as chair of the United Way of Windham County and as a member of the board for World Learning, Inc.