The Greening Of Law Offices | Bowditch & Dewey launch energy practice. Will others do the same?
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John Ziemba, Bowditch & Dewey.
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John Ziemba, Bowditch & Dewey.
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Tom Polich, Bowditch & Dewey.
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Tom Polich, Bowditch & Dewey.
With fuel prices higher than ever and new public support for environmentally friendly energy cropping up all the time, Worcester-based Bowditch & Dewey LLP has launched a new practice focused on renewable energy.
But other big firms in the area say they have no intention of following suit.
Bowditch & Dewey has already hired two new lawyers with expertise in the field, and it anticipates adding more.
The firm's lawyers say the practice will help clients, including start-up energy companies, large utilities, municipalities and others navigate issues like tax credits for renewable power, carbon offsets and the permitting of wind turbines.
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John S. Ziemba, an attorney at the firm's Framingham office, said the new practice represents a way to package the firm's existing areas of expertise like environmental and real estate law to reach an emerging market.
"Part of our strategy is to organize ourselves to better meet the needs of the businesses we're dealing with," he said.
But other firms say they see no need to create a special practice to handle those issues.
"We don't have a specific practice area like that and I don't think a lot of firms do," said Dennis F. Gorman of Fletcher, Tilton & Whipple PC in Worcester. "That's not to say that firms that don't have those practice areas don't also have that expertise. The firms that tend to add more and more practice areas, I think they're trying to highlight to the public that they do have them."
Margaret D. Anderson, director of marketing and business development at Mirick O'Connell in Worcester, agreed.
"You don't want to be one of the firms that's adding a green practice just because everyone's adding a green practice," she said.
But the lawyers at Bowditch & Dewey said the new practice is more than just a marketing ploy. Thomas A. Polich, one of the new hires in the energy group, said Bowditch will be able to take an in-depth look at potential clients' needs and propose cost-effective environmental improvements ranging from switching energy suppliers to changing employees' shifts to minimize commuting time. Then, firm lawyers with specialties including employment law, land permitting and taxes can figure out the best way to implement whatever changes a company wants to make.
Todd K. Helwig, an associate in the land use department at Mirick O'Connell, said his firm responds to clients' questions about issues concerning renewable energy, but he was surprised at the notion that lawyers would take a more active role in determining a client's environmental needs.
"That's not what I would think a law firm would do," he said. "I imagine there would be people out there who would be more suited."
But Polich said there are so many legal issues involved in many renewable energy decisions - and such frequent changes in the law - that it makes sense to have lawyers pointing the way. He said many clients don't have much time or resources to spend researching the options that fit them best.
Besides, Polich said, he and his colleagues really believe in the importance of the work they are doing.
"We're trying to do our part too," he said. "I mean the people here are passionate about a renewable energy future."
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