Atty. Paul Van Cott
Paul Van Cott has over thirty years of New York State government experience as a land use and environmental attorney for the Adirondack Park Agency, Department of Environmental Conservation and Office of the Attorney General. After retiring from public service, Paul joined the firm in 2019 and has primarily focused on obtaining land use approvals for large-scale and other commercial development projects, as well as representing local planning and zoning boards.
Profile Summary
About Paul Van Cott at a glance
Paul Van Cott is an Of Counsel based in Albany, New York, practicing at Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP. Their practice focuses on zoning and environmental. Educated at Albany Law School Juris Doctor (—) and Stetson University Bachelor of Science International Relations (—). Serands clients in Albany, NY and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Paul Van Cott has over thirty years of New York State government experience as a land use and environmental attorney for the Adirondack Park Agency, Department of Environmental Conservation and Office of the Attorney General
- After retiring from public service, Paul joined the firm in 2019 and has primarily focused on obtaining land use approvals for large-scale and other commercial development projects, as well as representing local planning and zoning boards
- More recently, Paul, who is based in the Adirondack Park, has begun actively assisting clients with matters involving the Adirondack Park Agency, where he served as a managing attorney for over 15 years
- Paul offers strong analytical, strategic, and communication skills, and an unmatched commitment to achieving desired and timely outcomes for clients
- REPRESENTATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS For the Firm: • Assisted multiple clients in obtaining SEQRA Negative Declarations and land use approvals for large-scale warehouses and distribution centers. • Assisted nationally recognized restaurant and travel center clients in obtaining SEQRA Negative Declarations, land use approvals and variances. • Represented municipal planning boards in the zoning and environmental review and decision process for several major residential and commercial projects
- For the Adirondack Park Agency: • Provided permitting and enforcement advice and represented agency in negotiations, litigation, adjudicatory hearings, and other regulatory proceedings. • Reformed the agency’s enforcement program to be more effective and productive. • Led staff in a multi-party adjudicatory hearing on the largest development project ever proposed in the Adirondack Park, negotiated a critical conservation easement with the applicant, and assisted in successfully defending agency approval of the project
- For the Department of Environmental Conservation: • Represented agency in environmental quality and natural resource permitting and enforcement matters, including negotiations and adjudicatory hearings
Practice Areas Explained
Paul Van Cott's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Paul Van Cott handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Paul Van Cott is one of 40,226 zoning attorneys indexed nationally. Browse zoning attorneys in New York →
Environmental attorneys for regulatory compliance, contamination, land use, and natural resource law.
Paul Van Cott is one of 56,434 environmental attorneys indexed nationally. Browse environmental attorneys in New York →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in New York
Practicing law in New York. Legal matters in New York are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Albany are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate New York state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in New York brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in New York courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional New York attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Albany or all attorneys in New York.
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