Joanne Vos

she/her/hers

Partner

DIRECT DIAL: (973) 912-6801
EMAIL: jvos@mfhenvlaw.com

Practice Areas:

Environmental Law (Contamination and Regulatory Compliance,
Litigation), Redevelopment Law and Transactional Matters

 

Joanne focuses her practice in environmental law, including with regard to contamination and remediation, regulatory compliance, environmental litigation, sustainability, and land use as well as redevelopment and complex transactional work.  She routinely counsels clients in connection with real estate Purchase and Sale Agreements, commercial Lease Agreements, Asset Purchase Agreements, Access Agreements and Redevelopment Agreements. She also counsels clients on various regulatory compliance matters, including with regard to RCRA, contamination and remediation issues including Federal and State due diligence requirements and ISRA compliance. She has successfully litigated numerous environmental matters involving both private and public entities.  She previously served the City of Newark and the Township of North Brunswick as Special Environmental Counsel and currently serves the Township of Millstone in that capacity.  She also represents the City of Asbury Park, City of Hoboken, the City of Summit, and the Township of Neptune in redevelopment transactions, including with regard to related environmental matters. Prior to joining the firm, Joanne practiced environmental law and litigation, including toxic torts and general liability matters, at several large law firms in New Jersey.  From 1998 to 1999, she served as Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Stephen E. Mochary, J.S.C., in Essex County.

 

Special Recognitions:

  • 2021-2024: Joanne has repeatedly been recognized as a Super Lawyer, an accolade that is bestowed upon less than 5% of attorneys in the State of New Jersey and involves a nomination as well as a vetting process including an assessment by peers.

  • 2015: Recipient of the Transactional Lawyer of the Year Award, Middlesex County Bar Association.

  • 2008: Recognized by Real Estate New Jersey as a “Woman of Influence”, Real Estate Forum Magazine.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

  • “Litigation, Regulatory and Statutory Update” 2023 Environmental Law Forum, New Jersey State Bar Association, Wildwood Crest, NJ, June 17, 2023

  • “Planning for a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow: Insights from Master Municipal Attorneys about Current Issues and Future Challenges”, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education Webcast, April 18, 2023
  • “LSRP Ethics,” LSRPA Online Course – December 1, 2022.
  • “LSRP Obligations, Requirements and Use of Professional Judgement”,  CPES-NJ Webinar, August 11, 2022
  • “2022 Civil Case Law Update”, 56th Annual New Jersey Defense Association Convention, Newport, RI, June 25, 2022
  • “LSRP Ethics” LSRPA New Jersey Site Remediation Conference (NJSRC), Hyatt, New Brunswick, NJ, June 14, 2022
  • “COVID 19 Impacts: Back to the City? Back to the Burbs?” Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE), Presentation, November 18, 2021
  • “Aligning Regulatory Climate Change Risk with Development Decision Making” Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE) Webinar, March 9, 2021

  • “Identifying and Solving More Environmental Problems for Municipalities” CPES Webinar, February 15, 2021
  • “Identifying and Solving Environmental Problems for Municipalities”, Montclair State University, NJ, October 2019
  • “Updates in Environmental Law,” Annual New Jersey Defense Association Convention, Brewster, MA, June 2019
  • “Updates in Environmental Law,” Annual New Jersey Defense Association Convention, Hershey, PA, June 2017
  • “Trends in Environmental Law,” Annual New Jersey Defense Association Convention, Newport, RI, June 2016
  • “All About the New Jersey Spill Compensation & Control Act,” Middlesex County Bar Association, Environmental Law Committee, November 2015
  • “Updates in Environmental Law,” Annual New Jersey Defense Association Convention, Bedford Springs, PA, June 2015
  • “Spotting Environmental Issues,” Middlesex County Bar Association, Environmental Law Committee, November 2014 
  • “Redevelopment Law for Environmental Lawyers,” Environmental Law Section, New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Forum, Cape May, NJ, June 2014
  • “Fundamental Environmental Law for Municipalities,” New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Convention, Atlantic City, NJ, May 2014
  • “So Your Client Wants to Buy Property – What If It’s Contaminated?”, MFH Seminar, March 2014

More Speaking Engagements

  • “New Redevelopment Tools,” MFH Seminar, October 2013
  • Updates in Environmental Law,” Annual New Jersey Defense Association Convention, Poconos, PA, June 2013
  • “Site Remediation in a Brave New World,” New Jersey Law Journal, In House Counsel Seminar Services, April 2013
  • “Private CERCLA Actions: §113 Contribution v. §107 Cost Recovery,” National Business Institute, February 2013
  • “Spotting Environmental Issues That Can Impact Your Practice,” Middlesex County Bar Association, Environmental Law Committee, November 2012
  • “Financing Renewable Energy Projects,” Rutgers Continuing Education Program, January 2012
  • “Overview of Federal and State Environmental Liability,” Middlesex County Bar Association, Real Estate Committee, November 2011
  • “Environmental Trends and Office of Dispute Resolution,” Annual Atlantic Builder’s Convention, Atlantic City, NJ, April 2011
  • “Environmental Liability and Bankruptcy,” GRS&D Webinar, April 2011
  • “Licensed Site Remediation Professional Program and Brownfields,” Annual Atlantic Builder’s Convention, Atlantic City, NJ, April 2010
  • “An Overview of Sustainable Jersey’s Municipal Certification Program,” New Jersey Builder’s Association, Virtual Green Build Event, January 2010
  • “Perception is Reality,” Keynote, Annual New Jersey Defense Association Convention, Hershey, PA, June 2009
  • A Summary of New and Pending Green and Green Building Legislation,” Annual Atlantic Builder’s Convention, Atlantic City, NJ, April 2009
  • “Environmental Case Law Update,” Annual New Jersey Defense Association Convention, Cooperstown, NY, June 2008
  • “Environmental Case Law Update,” Annual New Jersey Defense Association Convention, Cambridge, MD, June 2007
  • “Challenges & Considerations for Solo Practitioners and Small Practices,” Institute of Continuing Legal Education, March 2007
  • “Professional Liabilities & Ethics,” Institute of Continuing Legal Education, April 2006
  • “Women – Builders of Communities and Dreams,” Women in the Law Committee, Gloucester County Bar Association, March 2006

 

BAR ADMISSION

  • State of New Jersey, January 1999
  • United States District Court, District of New Jersey, January 1999

EDUCATION

  • J.D., Seton Hall University School of  Law, May 1998
  • B.A., Montclair State University, May 1995

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Master, Justice Stewart G. Pollock Environmental American Inn of Court
  • Member, Legal and Legislative Committee, Licensed Site Remediation Professional Association
  • Member, Continuing Professional Education Services, Inc., (CPES), Board of Directors 
  • Former Member, District X Fee Arbitration Committee (Appointment by the New Jersey Supreme Court) 
  • Past President, Middlesex County Bar Association 
  • Chair/Mentor, Environmental Law Committee, Middlesex County Bar Association 
  • Past President, New Jersey Defense Association 
  • Chair, Environmental Law Committee, New Jersey Defense Association 
  • Member, Environmental Law Section, New Jersey State Bar Association 
  • Member, Commercial Real Estate Women of New Jersey 
  • Member/Former Mentor, New Jersey Women Lawyers Association 
  • Former Adjunct Professor, Introduction to Civil Litigation, Fairleigh Dickenson University, Paralegal Studies Program

Publications

  • “Buyers Beware: Piercing the Corporate Veil in the Environmental Context”, co-authored with Robert Mellinger, Esq., published in The Middlesex Advocate, Middlesex County Bar Association Newsletter -Volume 37, Number 1 – September 2022; and also published in New Jersey Defense, New Jersey Defense Association Magazine/Fall 2022, September 2022.
  • “Prevailing Wage and Dirty Dirt: Who’s Cleaning Up?” co-authored with Paola Toro, Esq., published in the New Jersey Defense, New Jersey Defense Association Magazine/Spring 2022, June 2022.
  • “NJDEP Extends Environmental Remediation Deadlines for Certain Administrative Requirements and Technical Requirements” co-authored with Phoebe Youhanna, Esq., New Jersey Defense, New Jersey Defense Association Magazine/Winter 2020-21, December 2020
  • Redevelopment Tools: Warehousing, Logistical Fulfillment and Distribution Centers,” co-authored with Brent Brad Carney, Esq., New Jersey League of Municipalities Magazine, November 2020
  • “Enhanced Environmental Requirements for Certain Licenses”, The Middlesex Advocate, September 2017

More Publications

  • “NL Industries v. State of New Jersey; MFH Legal Update, July 2017
  • “Proposed Legislation to Protect Municipalities and Sewerage Authorities from Contribution Claims Asserted Under the New Jersey Spill Compensation & Control Act,” MFH Legal Update, January 2016
  • “Proposed Legislation to Protect Local Public Entities”, The Middlesex Advocate, February 2016
  • “Proposed Legislation to Protect Local Public Entities”, New Jersey Defense Association, Spring 2016
  • “New Rules Affect Cost and Risk in Linear Construction Projects”
  • The Authority View, AEA-NJ Fall 2015 Newsletter
  • “New Jersey Supreme Court Decides No Statute of Limitations Applicable to Spill Act Contribution Claims,” Real Estate Issues, Volume 40, Number 1, 2015
  • “Fundamental Environmental Law for the New Jersey Business Lawyer,” New Jersey Lawyer, October 2014
  • Co-Author, New Jersey Environmental Law Handbook, 8th Ed., April 2014
  • “Deadline for Completion of Remedial Investigation Extended,” MFH Legal Update, January 2014
  • “Statute of Limitations Applies to Spill Act Contribution Claims,” MFH Legal Update, October 2013
  • “Deadline Quickly Approaching for Completion of Remedial Investigation,” New Jersey Law Journal, August 12, 2013 and Community Builders and Remodelers Association, On Site, October 2013
  • “Recent Amendment to Local Public Contracts Law: Testing and Disposal of Contaminated Soil,” MFH Client Alert, February 2013 and Community Builders and Remodelers Association, On Site, April 2013
  • “Updates in Environmental Law,” Middlesex County Bar Association, Advocate, October 2012
  • “Turning Brownfields into Suncatchers,” MFH Client Alert, October 2012
  • “New Case Law Impacting Condemnation of Contaminated Property,” MFH Client Alert, July 2012 and New Jersey Builders Association, Dimensions, September 2012
  • “New Waiver Rule Implemented by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,” MFH Client Alert, September 2012
  • “Sewer Service Areas: Where Do New Jersey Property Owners Stand?”, The Cutting Edge, New Jersey Builder’s Association, 2011
  • “Financing Solar Renewable Energy Projects,” The Cutting Edge, New Jersey Builders Association, 2011
  • “In re Passarella: Late Fees,” GRS&D Client Alert, April 2011
  • “Indoor Air Quality: Basis for Constructive Eviction?”, GRS&D Client Alert, September, 2010
  • “Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Program,” GRS&D Client Alert, April, 2010
  • “Status Update:  The New Site Remediation Reform Act,” GRS&D Client Alert, January 2010
  • “The Residential Development Solar Energy Systems Act,” GRS&D Client Alert, July 2009
  • “Franklin Mutual Insurance Company v. Metropolitan Property & Casualty Insurance Company: Application of Continuous Trigger Theory,” GRS&D Client Alert, June 2009
  • “Recent Federal Tax Incentives for Building Green,” GRS&D Client Alert, June 2009
  • “Going Green by Building Green,” Exhibit A, Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP, January 2009 and New Jersey Municipalities, November 2009
  • “Public Outreach for Contaminated Site Cleanups,” GRSD Client Alert, October 2008
  • “The Toxic Mold Protection Act of 2008 – September 2008,” GRS&D Client Alert, September 2008
  • “DiPaolo v. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection: Classification of Freshwater Wetlands based upon the presence of Threatened or Endangered Species,” GRS&D Client Alert, August 2008
  • “Permit Extension Act,” GRS&D Client Alert, July 2008
  • “NJDEP Cannot Waive CAFRA Requirement in Absence of Waiver Provision,” GRS&D Client Alert, June 2008
  • “E-Waste Recycling Law,” GRS&D Client Alert, May 2008
  • “NJDEP’s White Papers Stakeholder Process,” GRS&D Client Alert, April 2008
  • “Deed Notices Required for Naturally Occurring Arsenic,” GRS&D Client Alert, March 2008
  •  “Environmental Stewardship Program,” GRS&D Client Alert, February 2008
  • “2008 Climate Change Bill Package,” GRS&D Client Alert, January 2008
  • “Case Summary: Natural Resource Damages,” New Jersey Defense, Volume 24, Issue 2
  • “New Notification Requirements Onerous,” New Jersey Law Journal, November 12, 2007
  • “From the Diversity Committee,” New Jersey Defense, Volume 24, Issue 1
  • “Strides in Diversity,” New Jersey Defense, Volume 23, Issue 2
  • “Individual Facts Dictate Contamination Coverage,” New Jersey Law Journal, June 26, 2006
  • “Who Is Responsible? Personal Liability of Corporate Officers,” New Jersey Law Journal, October 24, 2005

Contact Us 

Address:

240 Cedar Knolls Road,
Suite 301
Cedar Knolls, New Jersey 07927

Phone

973-912-9008

Fax

973-912-9007 

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