Leonard, Christopher Shannon

Patrick van der Voorn is a counsel in the firm's Regulatory and Government Affairs Department, and a member of the Environmental Practice Group. He joined the firm in 1999.

Practice

Mr. van der Voorn regularly advises clients in the manufacturing, waste management, life science, energy and property development sectors on obligations under federal and state environmental laws.

Mr. van der Voorn has extensive experience on federal and state permitting and compliance requirements relating to hazardous waste generation, contaminated properties, toxic substances, solid waste management, emergency planning, and air and water emissions. His practice includes counseling clients in connection with civil and administrative enforcement matters.

Mr. van der Voorn’s practice includes advising clients on ways to manage environmental risk in real estate and corporate transactions, including bankruptcy proceedings, and obligations under state property transfer laws. He also counsels clients on SEC disclosure standards, financial accounting for environmental liabilities and obligations under Sarbanes-Oxley.

Mr. van der Voorn has extensive experience in representing clients at federal and state Superfund sites, including negotiating settlements and liability apportionment among potentially responsible parties, obtaining mixed funding and recovering defense costs from insurers.

Mr. van der Voorn has advised numerous clients about federal and state environmental audit standards. He has helped clients make voluntary disclosures to regulatory agencies based upon audit findings.

Mr. van der Voorn’s practice also focuses on evolving issues under environmental law. These include working with a national retailer on recently developed state standards for managing products and waste containing mercury.

Mr. van der Voorn also counsels clients on energy projects, with a focus on renewable energy and innovative technologies.

Recent Highlights

• Representing national big box retailers on property development, and compliance and enforcement matters.
• Representing a regional waste management company in connection with the sale of solid waste transfer station.
• Representing a specialty paper manufacturer during Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
• Representing a life sciences company during an enforcement proceeding alleging the client’s multiple locations constituted a single facility for permitting purposes.
• Representing a veteran of Desert Storm before the VA's Board of Veterans' Appeals in connection with claims for disability benefit increases.

Professional Activities

Mr. van der Voorn is a member of the environmental sections of the American and Boston Bar Associations. He participates in events sponsored by NAIOP, the New England Energy Innovation Collaborative, and the Environmental Business Council of New England. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Boston Chapter.

Before becoming a lawyer, Mr. van der Voorn was the environmental coordinator at a General Electric manufacturing facility, where he was responsible for environmental compliance and risk reduction programs.

Mr. van der Voorn is a former major in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.

Honors and Awards

Mr. van der Voorn was named a "Massachusetts Super Lawyer Rising Star" in the May 2006 and 2007 issues of Boston Magazine, and a "New England Super Lawyer" (formerly "Massachusetts Super Lawyer") in 2008 and 2009.