Lippes Mathias is pleased to share that John J. Flynn and Ian A. Shavitz, the respective leaders of the firm’s municipal and environment & energy practice teams, presented at the County Attorneys’ Association of the State of New York's (CAASNY) 2024 Annual Meeting. The event was held from Monday, May 20, to Tuesday, May 21, in Cooperstown, New York.

The presentation, Brownfields: County Considerations and Opportunities, outlined the topic of Brownfields and intergovernmental relations between district attorneys’ offices and county attorneys’ offices.

John Flynn, the leader of Lippes Mathias’ municipal law practice team, has occupied a multitude of public service roles that directly translate to his knowledge of municipal law and the representation of clients. Before joining Lippes Mathias, Flynn served nearly two terms as Erie County district attorney, prosecuting virtually every crime committed in Erie County, including the prosecution of misdemeanor cases in the city, town, and village courts; the prosecution of felony cases in State Supreme Court and Erie County Court; and the prosecution of cases in several specialty courts. Before being elected as Erie County district attorney, Flynn also served as an assistant district attorney, acting Buffalo City Court judge, town justice in the Town of Tonawanda, Tonawanda town attorney, and as a member of the Tonawanda Town Board. Flynn’s record as a public servant, in which he forged many lasting relationships, is emblematic of his ability to counsel clients of the firm on nearly all matters that fall within the sphere of municipal law.

Ian A. Shavitz is the team leader of the firm’s environment and energy practice team, and has more than 20 years of experience counseling and advocating for clients on environmental and land use issues associated with developing large-scale infrastructure, energy, and commercial projects; securing federal, state and local governmental permits and approvals; advising sellers, purchasers, lenders, and investors on environmental issues associated with corporate, real estate and energy transactions; and advocating for favorable policy decisions and legislation before Congress. Shavitz’s clients have included corporations, municipalities, developers, investors, state and local governments, private equity funds, and Indian tribes. While Shavitz’s practice is national in scope, he has particular expertise advising clients on projects, transactions, and legal issues in New York State, where he has practiced for his entire career, and on federal issues in Washington, D.C. Before joining Lippes Mathias, Shavitz practiced law at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Washington, D.C., in the environmental and public law and policy practice groups.

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with nearly 200 attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Clarence, Albany, Long Island, New York, Rochester and Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla. and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately-owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, independent sponsors, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals.