Thomas A. Mackie
Counsel
Thomas is one of the preeminent attorneys in the field of environmental law, having spent more than four decades representing clients facing complex environmental issues. His work has focused on permitting and siting of solid waste, recycling, and renewable energy facilities; cleaning up hazardous waste; acquiring brownfields properties; drafting and contracting for private and public environmental projects; recovering costs under CERCLA and M.G.L. c. 21E; pursuing insurance claims for environmental damages; and litigating permit appeals.
Tom helps clients develop strategies to address regulators’ and the public’s concerns about the siting or expansion of controversial facilities. Purchasers and developers of renewable energy facilities, such as solar, landfill gas, biomass, anaerobic digestion, and biofuel manufacturers, rely on Tom to advise on required permits and approvals. In addition to handling the state and local permitting required for these and other projects, he assists clients with renewable energy credits, contracting, financing, and public procurement issues.
For national clients, he has led environmental due diligence for several major corporate acquisitions and divestitures in the environmental industry. Recently, Tom and colleague Gail Hire spearheaded environmental due diligence for a client’s acquisition of the tax equity interest in over $100M of solar projects in Massachusetts. Together with Peter Durning and Peter Vetere, Tom assisted a national solid waste client in expanding its operations through a series of acquisitions in Massachusetts. Tom also assisted a major client in evaluating its Superfund liabilities prior to its $1.25 billion acquisition of a national hazardous waste and oil re-refining business. In another transaction, he led his former firm’s participation in environmental due diligence and permit transfers for more than 50 licensed hazardous waste facilities across 31 states and Canada.
Many of Tom’s clients are sophisticated national players in their respective industries. In those cases, Tom’s role is to advise the client on the specifics of Massachusetts law and policy, as well as the regulatory agencies with which the client will interact. He also represents smaller local clients, unfamiliar with the lay of the land in environmental law. Tom begins his client engagements by understanding the client’s legal and business needs. He helps clients understand both the broader dynamics and the more granular details of their situations. Together, Tom and his client will identify a range of options and solutions, timelines, potentialities, and realistic outcomes – including end dates, risks, and costs. After a course has been set, Tom tenaciously pursues his client’s goals.
Tom serves on the Commonwealth’s MassDEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee. As part of his pro-bono work, he serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Keep Massachusetts Beautiful. He has also done pro bono work for Greenwood Memorial United Methodist Church and won an award for his work on the Boston Marathon Victim Assistance Project.
Services/Industries
Education
- Suffolk University Law School (J.D., cum laude)
- Hobart College (B.S.)
Public Service
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts MassDEP, Solid Waste Advisory Committee
- Keep Massachusetts Beautiful, President of the Board of Directors
Bar Admissions
- Massachusetts
- New York
Memberships
- Solid Waste Association of North America (Southern New England)
- MassRecycle
Honors
- Recognized in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business under Massachusetts Environmental Law
- Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law (2023–2026)
- Steven G. Lewis Award for Service to the Environmental Industry, Environmental Business Council
- The Best Lawyers in America® Best Lawyer, Environmental Law, Litigation — Environmental (2006-2026)
- Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2004-2023)
Learn more about the third-party ratings, rankings, and selection processes used for inclusion.
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