Atty. William S. Hatfield
Mr. Hatfield focuses his practice on environmental counseling in complex regulatory and litigation matters, strategic planning, permitting and compliance, defense of state and federal enforcement matters, environmental health and safety audits, and due diligence in acquisitions and divestitures.
Profile Summary
About William S. Hatfield at a glance
William S. Hatfield is a litigation and environmental attorney based in Newark, New Jersey, practicing at FBT Gibbons LLP. Admitted to practice in New York, State of New York and New Jersey, State of New Jersey. Educated at Vermont Law School (J.D., 1993) and Vermont Law School (—, 1993). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Environmental Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Environmental (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus: (2026). Serands clients in Newark, NJ and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Mr. Hatfield focuses his practice on environmental counseling in complex regulatory and litigation matters, strategic planning, permitting and compliance, defense of state and federal enforcement matters, environmental health and safety audits, and due diligence in acquisitions and divestitures
- He represents clients in an array of environmental matters involving the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and the New Jersey Spill and Landfill Closure Acts
- He works with environmental consultants and technical experts on the investigation and remediation of sediment sites and contaminated properties and has extensive experience helping clients navigate through complex disputes and transactions related to allocation of responsibility for cleanup and remedial activities
- Mr. Hatfield has represented multiple parties in complicated hazardous waste site matters, and he sets strategy and leads the efforts in a number of joint defense groups
- He has also represented clients in matters related to brownfields sites and redevelopment of underutilized and contaminated properties in several states
- In addition, Mr. Hatfield has extensive experience in environmental/permitting due diligence investigations for facilities and assists clients in determining the risks associated with acquiring assets and real property in New Jersey and New York
- He has negotiated developer agreements and has assisted and advised clients in connection with environmental issues in contracts and leases related to remediation and permitting compliance issues
- As a lawyer with a master’s degree in the study of environmental law, Mr. Hatfield has considerable educational training and experience with environmental matters from both the technical and policy perspectives
- He has significant litigation experience on complex environmental matters involving multiple parties and sites that have been impacted by different sources of contamination
- He has trial experience in both the state and federal courts in New Jersey and has significant experience in alternative dispute resolution and negotiation of environmental liabilities among potentially responsible parties (PRPs)
Practice Areas Explained
William S. Hatfield's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases William S. Hatfield handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
William S. Hatfield is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in New Jersey →
Environmental attorneys for regulatory compliance, contamination, land use, and natural resource law.
William S. Hatfield is one of 56,434 environmental attorneys indexed nationally. Browse environmental attorneys in New Jersey →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in New Jersey
Practicing law in New Jersey. Legal matters in New Jersey are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Newark are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate New Jersey state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in New Jersey 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 Jersey courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional New Jersey attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Newark or all attorneys in New Jersey.
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