Atty. Thomas A. Shepardson
Mr. Shepardson is a member of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna’s Land Use and Development, Municipal, and Environmental Practice Groups.
Profile Summary
About Thomas A. Shepardson at a glance
Thomas A. Shepardson is a Senior Counsel based in Albany, New York, practicing at Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP. They have 37+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1989. Their practice focuses on real estate, zoning, and environmental. Admitted to practice in New York (1989), U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York (1992), and U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit (1996). Educated at Western New England (J.D., 1988) and Siena College (B.A., 1984). Recognitions include BV Distinguished. Active member of Affiliations New York State Bar, Northern District of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, He is a member of the New York State and Albany County Bar Associations, and He is a frequent lecturer on SEQRA and planning issues. Serands clients in Albany, NY and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Mr. Shepardson is a member of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna’s Land Use and Development, Municipal, and Environmental Practice Groups
- His areas of expertise include Environmental Law, Zoning, Planning and Land Use Permitting, and Compliance and Litigation
- Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Shepardson was an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Albany from 1989 to 1997 and an associate at Shanley, Sweeney, Reilly & Allen from 1997 to 2005
- Mr. Shepardson concentrates his practice on issues involving environmental law, land use law, municipal law, SEQRA and real estate development
- His practice involves numerous large and small scale projects, including representing municipalities, developers, and land owners
- His work, from project inception through successful litigation, includes some of the largest shopping centers in various regions of the state
- A primary part of Mr. Shepardson’s work focuses on the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) review and compliance with federal and state environmental statutes and regulations
- His work includes detailed environmental assessments (DEIS, FEIS and Findings Statements) for large-scale projects
- He coordinates responses among federal and state agencies as part of required federal and state environmental assessments
- Mr. Shepardson has drafted legislation for municipalities on issues ranging from SEQRA approval resolutions to complex regulations under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, including deployment of 5G infrastructure within municipal rights-of-way
- He is well versed in the requirements of SEQRA and has guided many communities through the environmental review process
- Background/Education Mr. Shepardson is a local product, having graduated from Christian Brothers Academy, Siena College, where he lettered in varsity baseball for four years (Division I NYS All-Star), and Western New England School of Law
- Representative Accomplishments •Represents major shopping center developers through all phases of the environmental (SEQRA) and local land use permitting process for numerous developments, their expansion projects and other development projects throughout the State
- Many of these projects have involved controversy, and responsibilities involve creation of a solid litigation record before the administrative agency that withstands lawsuits by organized neighborhood groups and competitors
- Mr. Shepardson’s practice also involves litigation defense of the administrative permits, land use approvals received, and the environmental review performed. •Represents public and private clients before federal, state and local agencies to obtain permits and resolve enforcement actions. •Special Environmental Counsel to the City of Albany in connection with several matters including: the Park South Urban Renewal Project, seeking to substantially redevelop a blighted mixed-use nine block area of the city
- defense of EPA administrative enforcement proceedings involving the city’s landfill
- assisting the City and Water Board with the Beaver Creek Clean River Project, and agreements to monetize carbon credits with The Nature Conservancy and associated conservation easement. •As Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Albany, represented the Planning Board, Common Council and Board of Zoning Appeals and prosecuted building code violations
- Publications Author, “Federal Communications Commission - Shot Clocks” 20 New York Zoning Law and Practice Report, September/October 2019, at 1-11
- Author, “FCC Limits Local Control for Deployment of 5G Network” 33 Association of Towns, Talk of the Towns & Topics, January/February, at 16-22
- Author, “Application of Town Law 282 ’Automatic Stay’” 32 Association of Towns, Talk of the Towns & Topics, January/February, at 16-22, at 1-4
Practice Areas Explained
Thomas A. Shepardson's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Thomas A. Shepardson handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.
Thomas A. Shepardson is one of 316,149 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in New York →
Thomas A. Shepardson 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.
Thomas A. Shepardson 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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