We are a one-stop-shop for project development representation—from conception through planning, permitting, construction, and litigation, at all levels of government.
Why B&D?
We have granular knowledge of land use law, environmental permitting procedures, regulatory processes, and political sensitivities at the local level—where most project development actually takes place. Our ongoing relationships with local government officials additionally strengthen our ability to help clients complete their projects on time and under budget. These same advantages apply at the national level.
Unlike some environmental practices, our lawyers handle the project process from start to finish, including litigation. If a permit is challenged or denied, the same lawyers who helped obtain the permit can then appeal the challenge or denial—and if a government agency sues our client based on environmental documents that we reviewed, we can defend the documents and sue the agency if necessary.
A less heralded—yet equally important—aspect of our work involves knowing future trends that are taking shape and counseling clients on how to plan for them in projects. The rise of autonomous vehicles is a good example. Because there likely will be much less need for parking in the next 10–20 years, we advise that new parking structures be built with features making them easily habitable for other uses when demand for parking declines.
Clients
We represent infrastructure project developers, owners and operators—primarily private developers, corporations, states, municipalities and other local governments, and government authorities.
Our permitting clients are in the industrial, commercial, retail, and industrial sectors. They are developers, builders, and property owners seeking all types of permits and approvals from local, state, and federal boards, agencies, and permit-granting authorities. We also represent related trade associations.
Focus
We provide comprehensive representation for infrastructure projects, project development more broadly, and environmental permitting. Our core services include:
- Construction litigation.
- Energy and natural resources.
- Environmental mitigation.
- Land use and environmental permitting.
- Litigation defense and challenges.
- Natural, historical, cultural, and archaeological resources.
- Project development (infrastructure, residential, commercial, industrial).
- Real estate permitting.
- Smart cities.
- Takings laws.
- Transportation planning.
- Wetlands and environmentally sensitive properties.
We lead project teams through the development, acquisition, and construction of billions of dollars of infrastructure projects throughout the U.S., and provide strategic counsel on all aspects of infrastructure project development. Projects we have handled include power generation facilities, landfills, highways, airports, fiber-optic communications networks, wireless and broadcast communications sites, hazardous waste treatment facilities, waste-to-energy facilities, drinking water supply facilities, sludge treatment facilities, materials resource and recovery facilities, urban renewal projects, and sports and entertainment complexes.
Our project development experience covers all stages of the land use approval process including the applicability of land use and zoning provisions; selection of skilled consultants; preparation of applications for approval; formulation of strategies and implementation of tactics; obtaining variances, special permits, site plan approvals, and zoning exemptions; and representation before government bodies in both informal sessions and formal hearings. When necessary, we pursue land use approvals in state and federal courts. Our land use litigation capabilities—which are as broad as our land use practice—include defending approvals and prosecuting permit denials.
We also have extensive experience in taking large, complex projects through a multi-jurisdictional permitting review process. These projects can involve new commercial offices, electric generating facilities, laboratory complexes, large residential buildings, manufacturing facilities, mixed-use developments, refineries, or waterfront developments; brownfield or greenfield sites; or require major infrastructure improvements or rehabilitation. Our lawyers advise clients and their consultants regarding the scope of analyses required for projects’ environmental assessments and impact statements and see to it that related studies are sufficiently robust to support key permit applications.
