Linda Shaw, a Partner at Knauf Shaw, with over 30 years of experience in environmental, energy, and land use law, focuses her practice on brownfield redevelopment and associated land use, zoning, permitting and environmental review to facilitate the ultimate remediation and redevelopment of contaminated property.
From 1998 to the present, Linda has been a managing partner at Knauf Shaw, LLP, becoming one of the first females in New York to be a named partner in a law firm. She is recognized as the preeminent authority in the state on the New York Brownfield Cleanup Program. She participates in a number of legislative and state policy advisory groups which led to creation of the Brownfield Cleanup Program of 2003, and the 2008 and 2015 program amendments and is actively working on the 2022 amendments to the Brownfield Cleanup Law. Linda handles compliance issues related to hazardous waste, chemicals and petroleum handling, and cost recovery litigation to recoup costs incurred from responsible parties.
Linda spends her free time on home renovation projects and enjoys cultivating extensive gardens on her property.
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Linda has successfully represented clients on brownfield redevelopment and environmental remediation projects throughout New York State including those featured on the Case Studies page.
Some of the notable legal precedents she helped establish include:
- Volunteers of America v. Heinrich, 90 F.Supp.2d 252 (W.D.N.Y. 2000) (sufficient facts were pleaded to support innocent purchaser defense and defeat motion to dismiss)
- Syms v. Olin Corp. , 408 F.3d 95 (2d Cir. 2005)(costs at a site contaminated by the federal government and Olin Chemical to monitor contractors and provide maintenance to facilitate clean–up efforts were upheld as National Contingency Plan valid response costs)
- Dominic Cotroneo v. Shaw Environmental, 639 F.3d 186 (5th Cir. 2011) (exposure to radioactive Americium was established such that parties exposed can commence future personal injury actions upon manifestation of future radiation exposure caused illnesses)
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- Looking Ahead to 2022: Environmental & Energy Law Section’s Proposal to Extend and Amend the Brownfield Cleanup Program, NYSBA, December 8, 2021
- Who’s on the Hook? Addressing Environmental Liability Concerns, Center for Creative Land Recycling, October 2021
- Combined Heat & Power Implementation on Brownfield Project Sites, Northeast CHP Initiative (NECHPI) Greening CHP, May 12, 2021
- Mitigating Liability for Counties During Tax Foreclosure on Brownfields, County Planning Directors Collaboration Discussion, April 16, 2021
- Where are We Headed with PFAS Remediation Standards in New York?, October 2020
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- New York State Bar Association
- Environmental and Energy Law Section
- Chair 2021-2022
- Cabinet Member 2019-2021
- House of Delegates Representative 2017-2019
- Environmental and Energy Law Section
- New York Environmental Business Association (Past Vice-President),
- National Brownfield Association,
- Business Council of New York State, (Former Board Member)
- New York State Bar Association
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- Recognized in “Best Lawyers in America” for Environmental Law and Environmental Litigation
- Selected to “Super Lawyers” in the areas of Environmental Law and Energy & Natural Resources Law
- “Building a Better New York” Award, Business Council of New York State
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- Associate, Harris Beach PLLC, Rochester NY
- Law Clerk, New York City Corporation Counsel, New York, NY
- Legal Intern, New York Power Authority, New York, NY
- Senior Analyst, Office of the New York City Mayor, New York, NY
- Management Analyst, NYC Department of Sanitation, New York, NY