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Areas of Practice & Representative Cases

Mr. Renton represents businesses, trusts, and individuals in a broad range of civil matters involving environmental laws and regulations, contractual and other business practices (including Chapter 93A), employment matters (including ERISA), governmental investigations, and personal injury/product liability. In addition, Mr. Renton is a Massachusetts-certified Conciliator and Mediator offering private mediation services.

Environmental Counseling and Litigation

Throughout his career, Mr. Renton has practiced environmental law. Working for public agencies and in private practice, Mr. Renton has handled a broad range of environmental matters, including defense against enforcement actions, professional liability matters on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants, a diverse array of civil litigation cases, pursuit of insurance coverage, and representation before public entities in connection with permitting and other regulatory proceedings.

Representative Cases
  • Represented Fortune 500 company that had purchased a company operating under a long-term lease at a commercial property impacted by residual PCE contamination. Perfected multimillion dollar claim against environmental escrow fund established at the closing. After litigation commenced, prevailed at summary judgment establishing the validity of the claim and proceeded to trial involving environmental experts and a broad range of scientific and legal issues under the MCP and Chapter 21E. A post-trial resolution was amicably achieved.
  • Represented real estate ‘Brownfields’ developer who secured complete liability protection in connection with converting two former fuel oil depots to residential use. The groundbreaking project involved issuance of the first Massachusetts Covenant Not to Sue. 
  • Represented private high school impacted by caulking and other building materials containing PCBs, including by negotiating, securing, and implementing a risk-based cleanup plan with the U.S. EPA.
  • Represented an international chemical company involved in remediating its former Massachusetts facility impacted by residual contamination, including in completing the closure and selling portions of the former facility to public and private parties.
  • Represented citizen’s group (as Clean Air Act special counsel) in opposing the new source review permitting of a new ‘greenfields’ 540 MW gas-fired, dual-turbine electricity plant on the Merrimack River. 
  • Represented a New England real estate developer in administrative proceedings and private negotiations concerning illegal dumping of contaminated fill from a Superfund site. Successfully obtained (i) an expedited cleanup and permitting process to enable the real estate development to proceed on schedule, and (ii) cost recovery on behalf of his client from the responsible parties as well as the client’s insurance company. 
  • Multiple successful representations of private homeowners in securing insurance proceeds and contributions from home heating oil companies to address fuel oil spills. 
  • Multiple representations of clients involved in buying or selling contaminated properties, including negotiations over environmental indemnity provisions.
  • Multiple representations of private parties and licensed site professionals (“LSPs”) in proceedings before the Massachusetts LSP Board and/or the Massachusetts DEP.

Business Disputes and Governmental Investigations

Mr. Renton has presented, defended, and resolved a wide range of business disputes, including matters involving licenses, contracts, unfair and deceptive business practices (Chapter 93A, etc.), federal, state, and local investigations, disputes involving ERISA, and insurance coverage.

Representative Cases
  • Represented closely held Massachusetts corporation in pursuing copyright and trademark claims arising out of the unauthorized use and re-publication of website content; settlement received through mediation. 
  • Represented several former partners of a national accounting firm whose partnerships were unilaterally terminated by the firm without their being paid their partnership shares; settlement received after prevailing in trial court.
  • Represented major investors in a real estate joint venture to gain control of the venture and secure its rightful equity interest. 
  • Represented closely held corporation whose trade secrets were allegedly misappropriated for the purpose of unlawful competition; settlement secured. 
  • Represented a country club in connection with OSHA investigations and retaliation claims by an employee; claim dismissed.
  • Successful representation of numerous companies, institutions, and individuals in connection with government investigations, including prior and current representation of company involved in federal and state investigations and claims under the Medicare and Medicaid statutes and programs. 
  • Successful representation of a Fortune 500 company in securing insurance and private party indemnity coverage in multiple matters involving environmental contamination and exposure to asbestos fibers and/or silica dust. 
  • Successful representation of a law firm in defense of ERISA breach of fiduciary claims. 
  • Successful representation of an individual in prosecuting ERISA claims to secure rights under an ESOP. 
  • Successful representation of numerous individuals in connection with their discrimination claims under federal and state law, including a trial victory against the United States. 
  • Representation of clients appealing adverse arbitration ruling involved the alleged breach of franchise agreement; favorable settlement secured.

Personal Injury and Product Liability

Mr. Renton has prosecuted and defended complex personal injury and product liability cases, recovering tens of millions of dollars on behalf of injured persons and their families.

Representative Cases
  • Represented a plaintiff surviving husband and children in pursuing wrongful death and unfair business practice lawsuit against a range of defendants (manufacturers, distributors, and installers) involved with allegedly defective home heating boiler; multiple favorable settlements secured, totaling millions of dollars.
  • Represented grievously injured plaintiffs in pursuing personal injury product liability lawsuit against a major international manufacturer of electricity transmission components and the utility that employed those components; multi-million dollar settlements secured. 
  • Successful defense of a country club in bringing about the dismissal of wrongful death claims brought by the estate of a former employee.

Mediation Services

Mr. Renton is a Massachusetts-certified Conciliator and Mediator offering private mediation services. Mr. Renton focuses on environmental, business, and personal injury/product liability disputes. Mr. Renton brings to this service over 30 years of legal experience that has included representing clients in over 40 successful mediations.

Jeffrey B. Renton

Has resolved a wide range of civil matters involving environmental laws and regulations, contractual and other business disputes (including Chapter 93A), ERISA and other employment matters, governmental investigations, and personal injury and product liability cases. Mr. Renton has represented clients in trial and appellate courts at both the federal and state levels.  

Court and Bar Admissions
  • Massachusetts
  • California
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. First and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeal
  • U.S. District Courts (multiple) 
Representative Clients
  • Companies, Trusts, and Individuals with Environmental, Product Liability, and Personal Injury Matters
  • Raytheon Company
  • Valley Design Corporation 
  • Reichhold, Inc. 
  • Invensys Systems, Inc. 
  • The Stop & Shop Supermarket Companies 
  • Central Catholic High School 
  • Merrimack Valley Residents for the Environment 
  • Clinical Science Laboratory, Inc. 
  • Cell-Tek, LLC
Publications and Legal Instruction
  • Continuing Legal Education: Dirty, Defective, and Problematic Properties and Buildings, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Boston, Massachusetts, October 2012
  • “Rule Making and Judicial Review under the Clean Air Act,” The Clean Air Act Handbook (Jeffrey B. Renton and Kathleen M. McFadden), ABA, 1998
  • Welcome to Chapter 93A, LSPA News, Vol. 4, No. 3, March 1997 
  • RCRA: A Chink in U.S. Sovereign Immunity Armor (Co-Authored with David Broughel), Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, September. 30, 1996 
  • Seminar: Massachusetts Contaminated Property: LSPs, Brownfields, and Related Initiatives Lead the Way in the 1990’s: Recent Developments in Contaminated Property Liability, Day, Berry & Howard, Framingham, Massachusetts, May 1996
  • Courts Take Different Course in Applying Ch.21E in Petroleum Cases (Co-Authored with Thomas Harrison), Massachusetts Environment, March, 1996 
  • Trial Courts Tackle Ch.21E’s ‘Petroleum Exclusion’, Massachusetts Lawyer Weekly, February 26, 1996 
  • Economic Incentives Under the Clean Air Act: Spotlight on the Massachusetts Emissions Trading Program (Co-Authored with Kenneth A. Reich), Massachusetts’ Environment, June 1995 
  • State Developments: Licensed Site Professional Legislation in Massachusetts, 2 Journal of Environmental Law Practice, Vol. 4, No.54, January/February 1995 
  • Seminar: Emerging Roles, Responsibilities, and Liabilities of Massachusetts Licensed Site Professionals: Enforcement and Liability Issues for LSP, Day, Berry & Howard, Framingham, Massachusetts, November 1994
  • The Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Board, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, September 19, 1994 

Biography

Education

  • Boston College Law School, Boston, Massachusetts, 1987; Doctor of Jurisprudence; Magna Cum Laude; Order of the Coif 1987 
  • Law Review: Articles Editor, Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review 
  • University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 1984; Bachelor of Arts; With High Honors
Honors and Awards

  • 2018 New England Super Lawyers–Business Litigation (and many previous years)
  • 2019 AV Preeminent Rating Martindale Hubbell (and many previous years)
  • Bronze Medal, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1993 
Professional Associations/Memberships
  • American Bar Association, Member
  • Boston Bar Association, Environmental Law Committee, Past Member 
  • Lawrence Bar Association, Past President, Secretary, and Executive Committee Member 
  • Essex County Bar Association, Member
  • Lawrence Boys and Girls Club, Director
Prior Employment
  • Gilbert & Renton, LLC, Andover, Massachusetts, Partner, 1996-2018
  • Day, Berry & Howard (now, Day Pitney) Boston, Massachusetts, Associate, 1994—1996 
  • Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, LSP Board, Legal Counsel, 1993—1994 
  • United States Attorney’s Office, Special Assistant United States Attorney, Washington, D.C., 1992
  • United States Environmental Protection Agency, General Counsel Office, Washington, District of Columbia, Attorney, 1989—1993 
  • Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Los Angeles, California, Associate, 1987-1989
Representative Pro Bono Work
  • Department of Employment/Training, Unemployment Compensation Hearings 
  • Merrimack Valley Residents for the Environment
  • Representation of Individuals
Languages

  • French 

Mr. Renton has litigated and practiced environmental and business law for over 30 years. Mr. Renton served in the Office of General Counsel for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, and as the first General Counsel to the Massachusetts Board of Registration for Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Professionals (a/k/a the LSP Board), where he helped to establish the core regulatory and enforcement schemes used today. In private practice, Mr. Renton has handled a broad spectrum of environmental, business (including Chapter 93A), employment (including ERISA), personal injury/product liability, and insurance coverage matters. He has tried cases and argued appeals in state and federal courts, and he has participated in a wide range of administrative proceedings involving environmental and other governmental investigations, proceedings, and regulatory compliance matters.

Mr. Renton’s environmental law experience includes representing individuals and entities (trusts, businesses, condominium associations, etc.) confronted with environmental contamination from fuel oil, solvents (including dry cleaning wastes), and other hazardous materials (e.g., asbestos, metals), and facing enforcement and compliance obligations under CERCLA and Chapter 21E. These representations have involved negotiations with or litigation against insurers, other potentially responsible parties, and regulatory agencies such as the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and have resulted in the collection of millions of dollars in coverage, reimbursements, and settlements. Mr. Renton has worked closely with Licensed Site Professionals (LSPs), some of whom he has also represented when they faced liability or licensure issues. In addition, Mr. Renton has represented clients in connection with wetlands permitting and enforcement, solid waste matters, Brownfields redevelopments, and issues arising under the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. Mr. Renton has assisted clients in securing Covenants Not to Sue from the Office of the Attorney General and otherwise navigating the regulatory shoals.

Mr. Renton’s business law experience includes presenting, defending, and resolving a wide range of disputes, including matters involving licenses, contracts, unfair and deceptive business practices (Chapter 93A, etc.), federal, state, and local investigations, disputes involving ERISA, and insurance coverage.

Mr. Renton has prosecuted and defended complex personal injury and product liability cases, recovering tens of millions of dollars on behalf of injured persons and their families.

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The right attorney can make all the difference in any legal matter, especially one involving complex civil litigation. Renton Legal PLLC has the expertise and experience necessary to resolve legal issues efficiently. Call us at 978.809.0129 or complete the form below to ask a question or schedule an appointment.

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