Lowenstein Sandler announced today that Thomas C. Pearce has joined its Environmental Law & Litigation group as a partner in its New York City office.
Joining from Latham & Watkins, Pearce provides strategic guidance to clients facing high stakes challenges involving environmental litigation, environmental regulation, product liability, and toxic torts. He has successfully represented clients in some of the most significant Superfund (CERCLA) and contaminated site litigation and regulatory matters in the country, including Centredale Manor, BKK Landfill, Diamond Alkali, Gowanus Canal, Hudson River, and Berry's Creek. He has been recognized for his work as an environmental litigator by both Chambers USA in the Environment - New York category and The Legal 500 United States Guide in the Environment: litigation category.
Working with companies across a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, chemicals, paint and coatings, and oil and gas, Pearce advises on regulatory issues relating to state and federal environmental laws and transactional issues, such as due diligence and ESG. This includes counseling sponsors, lenders and tax equity investors on brownfield tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act for dozens of solar, battery energy storage, and onshore and offshore wind projects nationwide. He also counsels investors, sellers, buyers and underwriters on the environmental, health, and safety challenges that can impact their transactions.
Michael D. Lichtenstein, Chair of Lowenstein’s Environmental Law & Litigation practice, says: “Thomas’ experience in environmental litigation and regulatory matters enhances the already formidable strength of our national environmental practice.” He continues, “Lawyers like Thomas, joining his former Latham colleague and now Lowenstein partner Kegan Brown, and former New Jersey Deputy Attorney General and now Lowenstein partner Mark S. Heinzelmann, represent the next generation of leaders in environmental law; we are proud that they are continuing and building upon the distinguished legacy established by Lowenstein in this field over the last four decades.”
Brown says: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Thomas for almost ten years. His environmental, regulatory, and litigation experience across a large number of jurisdictions, as well as his strong worth ethic, make him a great fit for both our practice group and our firm.”
“It’s an exciting time to join Lowenstein,” says Pearce. “The firm is growing strategically, and its long-standing environmental practice is highly regarded in the field. I’ve also had the pleasure of working with many Lowenstein lawyers over the years, and I have always been impressed by both their skill and by the firm’s dynamic platform for supporting its clients.”
Jonathan C. Wishnia, the firm’s Managing Partner, says: “A key component to Lowenstein’s Vision 2030 Strategic Plan is deepening our bench in the firm’s key practice areas. The addition of Thomas to our partnership further strengthens a practice that has long been a cornerstone of the firm and which is widely recognized as one of the preeminent environmental law practices in the country.”
Pearce received his J.D. from New York University School of Law and his B.A. from University of North Carolina. He is the third partner to join Lowenstein’s New York City office in recent months, following Scott D. Fisher and Ivan Presant, who joined the firm’s Transactions & Advisory Group in May.
Pearce's arrival is the latest chapter in a long story of excellence for Lowenstein's Environmental Law & Litigation group. Since its founding, the group has grown into a nationally recognized practice at the cutting edge of environmental law, consistently earning top-tier rankings in Chambers USA and The Legal 500. The team regularly handles the environmental dimensions of complex business transactions, including due diligence investigations, allocation and insurance of environmental liabilities, and permit transfers. They also counsel clients on permitting, regulatory compliance, and environmental audits, and have successfully tried or otherwise resolved a wide range of environmental matters, including cost-recovery claims under CERCLA, cancer-cluster toxic tort cases, and permit challenges. The group also serves as common counsel and holds leadership roles in numerous complex multi-party site remediation matters.
About Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Lowenstein Sandler LLP is a national law firm with over 400 lawyers based in New York, Palo Alto, Roseland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Wilmington. The firm represents leaders in virtually every sector of the global economy, with particular emphasis on investment funds, life sciences, and technology. Recognized for its entrepreneurial spirit and high standard of client service, the firm is committed to the interests of its clients, colleagues, and communities.
