Michelle N. O'Brien Joins Firm as Partner in Environmental Practice Group

Pierce Atwood LLP is pleased to welcome Michelle N. O’Brien to its Environmental, Land Use, and Litigation Practice Groups. Michelle has more than 25 years of experience in environmental law in legislative, regulatory, and litigation settings. She represents clients such as commercial and residential developers, waterfront property owners, wind turbine operators, solid waste facilities, and municipalities.

Michelle represents private parties in cost recovery and property damage claims involving releases of oil and hazardous materials, and assists clients with real estate transactions involving contaminated properties. She also has considerable experience defending companies in environmental enforcement matters at the federal, state, and local levels.

Before joining Pierce Atwood, Michelle practiced 15 years at the Boston boutique environmental law firm Mackie Shea O’Brien, PC.  Prior to that she was a Massachusetts assistant attorney general in the Environmental Protection Division and in the Trial Division. She was also a law clerk to the Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court and a legislative aide to the Chair of the Massachusetts Legislature's Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture.

Michelle earned her J.D. cum laude from Suffolk University Law School, and graduated magna cum laude from Lesley University.