Peter F. Durning

Peter is a seasoned environmental attorney with a focus on water and wetlands-related matters, including litigation, enforcement defense, land use, and permitting.

Peter has extensive experience in adjudicatory appeals under the Wetlands Protection Act and Chapter 91; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforcement actions; solid waste site assignment hearings; citizen suits regarding stormwater discharges; zoning disputes; and business and transactional consulting, as well as local, state, and federal permit proceedings and appeals. Additionally, Peter performs environmental due diligence for real estate transactions, development contracts, and corporate transactions.

Public water suppliers are a core element of Peter’s client base in the environmental practice. He also works with renewable energy facility investors, high-net-worth individuals, small businesses, and municipalities. No matter the client, Peter is committed to understanding their goals and translating scientific analysis into practical applications of the law to serve their interests.

Peter draws upon his seven years of pre-law experience as a history teacher to deliver legal arguments. He uses these skills to set the arc of a deposition outline or deliver a closing argument at trial. Notably, he delivered the winning oral argument before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in the case of Town of Concord v. Water Department of Littleton, 487 Mass. 56 (2021), which involved the statutory interpretation of the Water Management Act.

Having addressed many hazardous waste cleanups and litigated issues of responsibility for site contamination, Peter’s skills complement those of our transactional and real estate attorneys to craft agreements and covenants that help clients evaluate risk and execute deals.

Services/Industries

• Environmental & Land Use
• Real Estate
• Water and Wastewater Systems
• Development

Education

• Boston College Law School (J.D.)
• University of Notre Dame (B.A.)

Bar Admissions

• Massachusetts

Memberships

• Boston Bar Association: Energy & Environmental Co-Chair (2016-2018); Environmental Litigation Committee Co-Chair (2012-2014)
• Environmental Business Council: Member, Solid Waste Management Committee; Former Chair, Water Resources Committee
• Massachusetts Water Works Association
• Boston Bar Association: Chair of the Wetlands and Waterways Committee of the Energy & Environmental Law Section

Honors

• Recognized in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business under Massachusetts Environmental Law (2017-2025)
• Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law (2023–2026)
• Name The Best Lawyers in America^® Water Law “Lawyer of the Year” (2024)
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America^® under Environmental Law and Water Law (2022–2026)
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America^® under Litigation – Environmental (2026)
• Selected by peers for inclusion in Massachusetts Super Lawyers under Environmental Litigation (2015–2025)

Learn more about the third-party ratings, rankings, and selection processes used for inclusion.