Overview

Dianne R. Phillips is an attorney in Holland & Knight's Boston office who concentrates her practice in litigation, environmental, regulatory and energy law.

Ms. Phillips' practice focuses on brownfields redevelopment and remediation, including former military installations, former manufactured gas plants (MGPs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) sites, and vapor intrusion sites. She regularly advises developers, lenders and investors in real estate transactions involving contaminated property, enforcement defense, citizen suits, regulatory compliance, due diligence, Massachusetts Brownfields Tax Credits, and complex project development and permitting matters, including those under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), among others. Ms. Phillips regularly advises clients – including municipalities, industry and construction contractors – subject to federal and state environmental regulation, including the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), as well as many state law counterparts.

Ms. Phillips brings her vast subject matter knowledge and broad experience to dispute resolution involving hazardous waste remediation, civil and administrative enforcement defense under federal and state environmental regulatory programs, defense of citizen suits under the CWA and RCRA, as well as construction, land use, permitting, utilities, regulatory, toxic tort and contract matters.

As former assistant general counsel for Suez LNG North America LLC and its wholly owned subsidiary, Distrigas of Massachusetts LLC on Sept. 11, 2001, Ms. Phillips understands the pressures confronting in-house counsel when faced with unprecedented crises. She is a strategic thinker with broad, practical experience.

Representative Experience

Environmental Engagements

  • Successfully resolved Massachusetts Brownfields Tax Credit appeal which led, in part, to reform of Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) procedures
  • Successfully prosecuted property damage claims involving unprecedented stormwater flooding damage arising from adjacent construction site
  • Advised clients with respect to regulations dealing with novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
  • Provided environmental permitting advice in connection with multiple interstate natural gas pipeline projects
  • Represented municipalities in connection with permitting disputes with project developers
  • Advised industrial dischargers in connection with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit renewals
  • Provided environmental due diligence in connection with multiple historic property redevelopments, multiple brownfields redevelopment projects and multiple tax credit investments
  • Provided representation of multiple construction contractors in connection with stormwater management, air pollution control, asbestos abatement and related regulatory compliance requirements
  • Represented multiple owners and operators in connection with state and federal hazardous waste requirements
  • Representation of colleges and universities in connection with environmental compliance
  • Represented condominium associations in connection with remediation requirements
  • Handled multiple Superfund engagements, including advising a company in a dispute over the interpretation of a consent decree, representing the current owner in connection with the project development of a delisted Superfund site undergoing a Five-Year Review, and representing multiple buyers and sellers of delisted Superfund sites
  • Defended clients against Clean Water Act (CWA) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) citizen lawsuits

Credentials

Education
  • Albany Law School, J.D., summa cum laude
  • Cornell University, B.S.
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • Massachusetts
  • New York
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • All State Courts in New York
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • All State Courts in Massachusetts
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Memberships
  • Boston Bar Association, Environmental and Energy Law Section Co-Chair September 2023-June 2025; Litigation Subcommittee Co-Chair, September 2022-June 2023
  • Risk Management Association, Professional Member
  • National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL), Women in Environmental & Energy Law Affinity Group
  • Environmental Facilities Management Roundtable
  • Environmental Bankers Association
  • ASTM International, E50 Committee (Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action)
  • NAIOP Massachusetts, Associate Member
  • Massachusetts LSP Association, Associate Member
  • Boston Bar Association
  • Albany Law School National Alumni Council, Past President
  • Albany Law School Board of Directors, 1995-2000, 2017-2027; Vice Chair 2023-2024; Committee on Academic Affairs, Chair, 2020-2024
  • GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, Inc. (GLAD), formerly known as Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, President, 2012-2016; Vice President, 2009-2011; Board Member, 2006-2019
  • Annual Spirit of Justice Awards Dinner, Co-Chair, 2007-2008
Honors & Awards
  • Go To Lawyer, Environmental/Energy Law, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, 2023
  • Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide, Environment, 2022, 2023
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Environmental Law, 2020-2024; Litigation – Environmental, 2022-2024; Energy Law, 2023, 2024
  • Lawyers in Real Estate Award, Boston & New England, Connect Media, 2021
  • Martha H. Ziegler Founders Award, Federation for Children with Special Needs, 2020
  • Holland & Knight Pro Bono All-Star, 2020
  • YW Boston's Academy of Women Achievers, 2014
  • Holland & Knight Public and Charitable Service All-Star, 2014
  • Massachusetts Super Lawyers magazine, 2012-2014
  • Top Woman of Law, Lawyers Weekly, 2011
  • Great Egret Leadership Award, Save Bristol Harbor, 2011
  • Kate Stoneman Award, Albany Law School, 2004
  • Law Student Award, Bureau of National Affairs, 1988
  • Trustees Award, Albany Law School, 1988
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated

Publications

Speaking Engagements

News