Adam S. Walters

• Agribusiness
• Cannabis
• Cryptocurrency & Bitcoin Mining
• Education
• Energy Law
• Environmental Law
  • Environment Litigation
  • Land Use & Zoning
  • Regulatory
  • SEQRA/Environmental Impact Review
• Government Operations
• Project Development
• Real Estate
  • Commercial Leasing
  • Opportunity Zones
  • Real Estate Development
• Telecommunications Law

• New York
• U.S. District Court, Western District of New York

• The Daily Record, Power 20 List – Real Estate Law, 2022-2023
• Listed in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2017-2022
  • Top Ranked, 2019-2021
• Selected for the Upstate New York Super Lawyers^® list, 2012-2022
• Listed in Who’s Who In Law, Business First of Buffalo and Buffalo Law Journal

• Vermont Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 1994
• State University of New York at Buffalo, B.A., 1990

• American Bar Association
  • Business Law Section
  • Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER)
• Bar Association of Erie County
  • Environmental Law Committee
• New York State Bar Association
  • Environmental & Energy Law Section
• Urban Land Institute
  • WNY Chapter Chair

Land Use Planning & Zoning

Assist clients in analyzing zoning requirements for commercial developments and residential subdivisions. Prepare letters of intent and applications to obtain necessary approvals, such as special permits, use variances and architectural review approvals from Town Boards, Planning Boards and Zoning Boards of Appeal. Assist clients in seeking all required and relevant New York State Department of Environmental Conservation permits. Assist client in resolving zoning-related litigation and related to subdivision approvals and use variances.

Real Estate Development

Assist clients in all aspects of real estate development, from initial project planning and entity formation to project approvals and permitting, to construction, occupancy and stabilization, and withdrawal of project equity.

SEQR Act

Conduct environmental impact assessments for residential subdivisions, industrial, and commercial projects, including drafting environmental impact statements, negative declarations, public notice and hearing documents and general project coordination and development. Assist clients in defending and/or challenging SEQR decisions pursuant to Article 78 of the Civil Practice Laws and Rules.

NEPA

Conduct environmental impact assessments for federal transportation projects, including drafting environmental impact statements and assisting in the preparation of environmental studies to analyze impacts. Counsel clients with regard to federal agency- and project-specific requirements, such as compliance with Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 and National Historic Preservation Act, among others.

Clean Air Act

Assist clients in determining Clean Air Act permit requirements for industrial facilities and counsel clients on compliance and enforcement issues.

Greenhouse Gas Regulation

Counsel clients on compliance issues related to RGGI and proposed greenhouse gas regulations, including EPA’s greenhouse gas emissions monitoring program and proposed tailoring rule, and legislation related to a federal cap-and-trade program.

Wetlands

Assist clients in seeking and obtaining both state and federal wetland permits. Assist clients in defending against enforcement actions related to wetland violations and negotiating Consent Orders.

Stormwater

Assist clients in all aspects of stormwater permitting. Assist clients in identifying permit requirements. Complete the required notice and permit documentation for State Pollution Discharge Eliminations System permits. Assist clients in preparing Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans. Provide clients with assistance in identifying alternatives in the stormwater control plan to build consensus with neighboring property owners that object to proposed project and the stormwater control measures.

Other Areas of Expertise

Telecommunications – Assist clients in analyzing zoning requirements for telecommunications facilities. Prepare letters of intent and applications to obtain necessary approvals, such as special permits, use variances and architectural review approvals from Town Boards, Planning Boards and Zoning Boards of Appeal. Assist clients with general project coordination and development. Review leases and lease amendments for telecommunications facilities, including new construction, collocations on existing towers, and structure agreements to locate on rooftops or other existing structures. Assist clients in resolving permit fee and zoning-related disputes arising from the unlawful application of zoning requirements to telecommunications facilities.

• Campaign for Buffalo History, Architecture & Culture, Inc. v. Buffalo & Ft. Erie Pub. Bridge Auth., No. 12-cv-00605(M), 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25390 (W.D.N.Y. Feb. 22, 2013)
• Matter of Rizzo v. Verizon CCC LLC, 31 Misc. 3d 1206(A), 2011 WL 1238823, 2011 N.Y. Slip Op. 50505(U) (Sup. Ct. Niagara Cnty. 2011)
• Scott v. City of Buffalo 16 Misc. 3d 259, 835 N.Y.S.2d 803 (Sup. Ct. Erie County 2006), aff’d, 38 A.D.3d 1287, 834 N.Y.S.2d 910 (4th Dep’t 2007)

• Buffalo Niagara River Land Trust, Founding Member, President
• New York State Wireless Association, Founding Member, Board of Directors
  • Former Secretary
• State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, Adjunct Professor: Environmental Law

• Air & Waste Management Association
• Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation, Board of Directors
• Buffalo Niagara Partnership – Brownfields Taskforce
• Hilbert College, Adjunct Professor – As an adjunct, Mr. Walters taught an overview course in environmental law.
• New Millennium Group of Western New York, Former Member – Board of Directors – Mr. Walters was a founding member and served as the first President of the Board of Directors of the New Millennium Group of Western New York, Inc., a community action group dedicated to implementing positive change in the Buffalo-Niagara Region.