Practice Areas: Environmental, Administrative Law, Land Use & Zoning; view more
Licensed in Massachusetts since: 1985
Education: Boston University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2012 - 2024 Details
Attorney Matthew Watsky is the founder and owner of WatskyLaw in Dedham, Massachusetts. Nationally ranked as among the preeminent lawyers in the country, Mr. Watsky has more than 35 years of total legal experience, and he provides exceptional counsel and support to clients throughout the state who have legal needs involving any of the following:
· Environmental law, hazardous and solid waste, wetlands regulations, environmental permitting
· Land use and zoning
· Administration law
· Aviation law
· Real estate development
· OSHA matters
Widely regarded as a leader in his field, Mr. Watsky has achieved remarkable success helping his clients with all of the environmental and land use issues pertaining to their large and complex real estate developments and other commercial matters. Over the course of his legal career, he has achieved a long record of helping his clients obtain their goals and the favorable outcomes they seek for their legal challenges as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
Honored for his impeccable professionalism and unwavering commitment to his clients, Mr. Watsky has earned an AV-Preeminent peer review rating* from Martindale-Hubbell along with consistent top rankings among the leading lawyers in his region for energy, environmental and national resources. He has also received numerous testimonials and referrals from his satisfied clients, who have praised him for the highly personalized attention he provides to their legal needs.
A 1979 graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton, Mr. Watsky obtained his Juris Doctor cum laude from Boston University School of Law in 1985. He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and New York as well as before the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
He once served as deputy general counsel for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection as well as member of the Westwood Zoning Board of Appeals. He is also former member of the Massachusetts Bar Association's Property Law Section Council, and he is heavily involved with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Environmental, Administrative Law, Land Use/Zoning, Aviation and Aerospace, Real Estate: BusinessFocus areas
Aviation, Environmental Law
- 40% Environmental
- 20% Administrative Law
- 20% Land Use/Zoning
- 10% Aviation and Aerospace
- 10% Real Estate: Business
First Admitted: 1985, Massachusetts
Professional Webpage: https://www.watskylaw.com/attorneys/
- State University of New York at Binghamton, B.A., 1979
- Super Lawyers for consecutive years, Super Lawyers
- Environmental and Natural Resources, 2013, Top Rated Lawyer for Energy
- AV Rated, Martindale Hubbell
- Temple Beth David - Board of Trustees, 2004-2016; President, 2008-2010; Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce, Norwood, MA: Chairman of the Board of Directors, 1995 - 1996; Member of the Board of Directors, 1992 - 1999; Neponset River Watershed Association: Member of the Board of Directors, 1994 - 2003; President, 1999 - 2000; Town of Westwood Zoning Board of Appeals, 1990 - 1992
- PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS Panelist/Speaker on Wetlands, Waterways and Riverfront Issues in Course entitled “Environmental Law Basics”, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education program, January 2000. Panelist, Speaker on Environmental Regulatory Aspects in Course entitled “Boundary Law & Landowner Disputes”, Professional Education Systems, Inc. program, April and May, 2000. Contributing Columnist on Environmental Law Issues, “Ask an Attorney,” Banker and Tradesman Newspaper, 1995 - 1998. “The Rivers Protection Act,” Massachusetts Bar Association Property Law News, December 1996. “An Analysis of the Rivers Bill,” Massachusetts Bar Association Property Law Section News, June 1996. "Contractors Must Be Aware Of Environmental Requirements," New England Construction News (September 1993). "Financial Responsibility Insurance For USTs - Buy Carefully," Yankee Oilman (August 1991). "Unpleasant Surprises: Successor Liability, Under CERCLA, Is The 'Ticking Time Bomb' You Can't Ignore," Industry Magazine (June 1991). Panelist on The Rivers Protection Act and Other Environmental Issues, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education program, December 1996. Moderator/Chair of Special Forum on the Rivers Protection Act, Massachusetts Bar Association Property Law Section, December 1996. Moderator/Chair of “Practice and Procedure Before State Environmental Agencies, Massachusetts Bar Association Continuing Education, October 1995. Moderator/Speaker on Panel of Environmental Regulators at the Massachusetts Bar Association Annual Meeting, June 1995. Speaker on Wetlands Regulation at the Massachusetts Conveyancers Association Annual Meeting, May 1995. Speaker on Title 5 Subsurface Sewage Disposal Regulations at an educational seminar co-sponsored by Old Republic Title Insurance Company and the Massachusetts Conveyancers Association, April 1995. Speaker on "NAFTA and Environmental Regulatory Issues" at Navigating Beyond '94, the Canada/U.S. Marine Technology Business Development Conference sponsored by the Economic Innovation Center and the Canadian Consulate General, Newport, RI (February 1994). Speaker on "Environmental Regulation and the Problems/Opportunities Created for Marine Technology Companies" at Navigating Beyond '93, the Canada/U.S. Marine Technology Business Development Conference sponsored by the Economic Innovation Center and the Canadian Consulate General, Newport, RI (March 1993). Speaker on "Corporate Officer Liability for Environmental Violations" at the monthly meeting of the Institute of Management Accounting (February 1993). Panelist on "Current Issues at DEP" at the Land law Winter 1990 Massachusetts Land Use Conference (February 1990). Speaker on "Regulation of and Access to the Coastal Shoreline," sponsored by the Vineyard Environmental Research Institute (July 1988). Speaker on "Current Issues in Wetlands Enforcement" at the 1987 and 1988 Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions Annual Meetings., List of scholarly publications
- Serve as a commentator on all Land Law Mass-DEP adjudicatory hearing decisions, 2018, Serve as commentator on all Land Law Mass-DEP adjudicatory hearing decisions., Land Law DEP-Environmental Reporter
- Serve as a commentator on all Land Law Mass-DEP adjudicatory hearing decisions., Serve as commentator on all Land Law Mass-DEP adjudicatory hearing decisions., 2017
- Provide commentary on all Mass-DEP adjudicatory hearing decisions., Serve as commentator on all Mass-DEP adjudicatory hearing decisions., 2016
- Serve as a commentator on all Mass-DEP adjudicatory hearing decisions., Land Law - DEP Environmental Reporter, 2015
- Commentator, Land Law - DEP Environmental Reporter, 2014
- Massachusetts Bar Association, Member, Property Law Section Council 1995 - 1998 (Vice Chair, 1996 - 1997); Co-Chair, Environmental Law Committee, 1994 - 1996
- U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, 1994
- New York, 1989
- Massachusetts, 1985
- Reported Decisions Pollard v Norfolk, 73 Mass. App. Ct. 340 (2008) (Upholding Superior Court ruling against Conservation Commission due to disregard of expert testimony, the decision not supported by substantial evidence.) Garrity v. Hingham Conservation Commission: Plymouth CA-2009-763; Commission lost jurisdiction for failure to act within statutory timelines; rev. pending SJC decision, oral argument March 6, 2012. Boston Air Charter v. Norwood Airport Commission, Final Decision, FAA Docket 16-07-03, (2008) - FAA ruling that local sponsor improperly denied FBO operator rights to self fuel in violation of FAA "grant assurances."(See attached resume for a partial list of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection decisions)
- Capital Group Properties; Central Buick; Lynch Construction; Northland Residential Corporation; DAI Property Management/Fern Property, LLC; Carolyn-Florence, LLC; P. Gioioso & Sons, Inc.; The Bank of Canton; Dedham-Westwood Water District; Renaissance Golf Club; Grandis Homes; South Shore Country Club; Winchester Country Club; North Attleboro Conservation Commission; Harbourside Condominium Association; The Landing Condominiums; Industrial Metal Recycling, Inc. (IMR); Mid-City Scrap Iron and Salvage, Co., Inc.; Boston Air Charter
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2012 - 2024
