As the market demand for green buildings increases, real estate developers, managers and building owners are looking to strategically position themselves as leaders through the construction or renovation of building spaces that meet voluntary green building standards. Likewise, the number of jurisdictions with green or energy-efficient building mandates and incentives continues to grow. Clients in every sector from manufacturing and commercial retail to healthcare and education are pursuing opportunities to reduce risk, enhance value and demonstrate leadership in sustainability through green and sustainable building operations. Our firm assists clients in all sectors in evaluating opportunities, managing liability risks, negotiating contracts, and complying with voluntary and mandatory green and energy-efficient building standards.
Our firm is a member of United States Green Building Council (USGBC"). MGKF partner Brenda Hustis Gotanda and technical consultant Michael Nines are accredited as LEED® Accredited Professionals ("LEED® APs"). MGKF provides counseling and representation for clients pursuing certification under the USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ("LEED") rating systems and compliance with other national or local standards.
MGKF represents clients across a range of matters from the planning stages through project completion and beyond. When project siting is an issue, we are experienced in site development and permitting issues. MGKF assists clients in evaluating environmental permitting requirements for alternative site designs in order to allow selection of a site design that both has a minimal impact on the environment and achieves the project's main purpose. When a client's project creates the potential for environmental impact, for example to a waterbody, wetland, or an important plant or animal species, we have negotiated permit conditions, memoranda of agreement, and green design strategies to eliminate or mitigate the potential adverse impact while achieving the client's project objectives. MGKF assists clients with regulatory approvals necessary to incorporate various aspects of green building into their projects, such as beneficial reuse or water reuse approvals. We are experienced in negotiating representations, warranties and indemnities in contracts, purchase agreements and leases. We assist clients by identifying and developing strategic plans to maximize potential federal, state, and local funding and incentives for clients building green or undertaking green retrofits. MGKF also represents clients in litigation and other adversarial proceedings, as well as in alternative dispute resolution. Our attorneys and technical staff are frequent speakers and have written articles on a wide variety of green building, sustainability and energy-efficiency topics.
In recognition of the growing marketplace interest in green building, MGKF sponsored a Harvard Law School Environmental Law & Policy Clinic White Paper on The Green Building Revolution: Addressing and Managing Legal Risks and Liabilities, which provides recommendations on how to avoid or mitigate risks of claims in the green building context.
"USGBC" and related logo is a trademark owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and is used with permission.
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The following are some of the representative matters MGKF has handled in the green building context:
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MGKF has counseled and represented commercial developers of green building projects on a broad range of issues, including voluntary standard certification, material reuse opportunities, brownfield redevelopment, environmental regulatory approvals, and project contracts.
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We have assisted clients in obtaining beneficial use approvals to handle recyclable and reusable materials.
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We have drafted and counseled clients regarding green leases.
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We have represented and counseled commercial developers pursuing LEED certification in a wide range of matters, including advocating on their behalf in the USGBC Credit Interpretation process and with respect to legal contracting matters.
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MGKF has provided counseling and representation to clients on voluntary and mandatory energy and water use benchmarking.
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MGKF has assisted clients with siting, permitting, contracting and regulatory approvals for a wide range of alternative energy generation projects, including solar and wind power. We have experience with the siting and development of solar photovoltaic projects in a variety of settings, including on rooftops, closed landfills and brownfields. We have drafted power purchase agreements both solar and wind power and have prepared related project development contracts.
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The firm has counseled commercial and industrial clients and lending institutions on the availability of grants and tax incentives for innovative technology, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and assisted clients with the preparation of grant applications.
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We have drafted and negotiated contracts for deployment of electric vehicle charging stations.
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MGKF has assisted clients with gap assessments that compare costs of moving from traditional construction practices to green building construction standards.
Press Releases
- January 6, 2020
- December 10, 20182018 Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA) Convention & Annual Meeting November 2, 2018
- February 22, 2018Cross-Country Law Practice is the Way of the Future
- April 14 and May 3, 20162016 Temple Real Estate Institute
- February 15, 2016Tri-State Sustainability Symposium - March 4, 2016
- November 23, 2015
- July 28, 2015
- April 27, 2015
- March 23, 2015
- September 30, 2014
- May 28, 2014
- May 7, 2014
- March 25, 2014
- December 9, 2013
- November 1, 2012
- August 21, 2012
- May 3, 2012
- April 18, 2012
Seminars & Speaking Engagements
- September 27, 2016a program of the Urban Land Institute Philadelphia
- April 14 and May 3, 20162016 Temple Real Estate Institute
- November 17, 2015for the Greater Philadelphia Delaware Valley of the Association of Corporate Counsel
- September 9, 2015CO-HOSTED BY MANKO, GOLD, KATCHER & FOX AND BL COMPANIES
- March 6, 2015Tri-State Sustainability Symposium
- September 9, 2014Co-Hosted by Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox and BL Companies
- April 24, 2014City Avenue Special Services District Lunch & Learn
- November 20-22, 2013
- October 12, 2012
- November 8, 2010How to Get Green Projects Funded
- August 5, 2010
- March 26, 2010
- March 9, 2010
Media Coverage
- March 19, 2018The Philadelphia Inquirer/Philly.com
- February 5, 2018Think Tech Hawaii
- September 12, 2017Key Insights from ALISS ReportPress release
- July 12, 2016The Pennsylvania Lawyer
Special Alerts
- January 12, 2021
- January 11, 2021
- April 16, 2020COVID-19 Update
- June 15, 2015
- October 25, 2013
- October 10, 2013
- October 23, 2012
- June 8, 2009
- November 16, 2008
Articles
- September 18, 2014ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources Newsletter
- August 26, 2014Litigation Commentary & Review
- October 8, 2013Law 360
- November 19, 2012Association of Corporate Counsel's "Green-house Counsel"
- April 13, 2012The Legal Intelligencer
- November 15, 2011Association of Corporate Counsel's "Green-house Counsel"
- August 1, 2011Buildings