Hartford-based Shipman & Goodwin LLP said Monday it has added Brendan Schain, the former legal office director for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to its Hartford office as a partner in its Environmental Practice Group.
Schain will focus on providing environmental regulatory compliance guidance to clients, including with the release-based cleanup regulations that go into effect in 2026.
The transition from the Connecticut Transfer Act, which has been in effect for 40 years, to a release-based cleanup program will affect a wide range of stakeholders, including industrial and commercial real estate owners and developers, manufacturers, multifamily housing developers, banks and other lenders, and healthcare providers, as well as institutional landowners such as independent schools, colleges and universities.
The new regulations take effect on March 1.
Schain will counsel clients on the investigation and remediation of pollution releases, including advising on reporting requirements, the state’s cleanup standards, and filing and administrative requirements, the firm said.
Andrew Davis, chair of Shipman’s Environmental Practice, said Schain has a reputation as a leader in his field.
“His work to draft Connecticut’s new release-based cleanup regulations — replacing the Transfer Act which has been in effect since 1985 and has been the subject of much criticism — is a game-changer for transactions in Connecticut and the state’s economic development,” he said.
Schain previously served as legal office director for DEEP’s environmental quality branch, where he provided counsel on Connecticut’s environmental laws and administrative processes and advised the commissioner, deputy commissioner, and senior leadership.
During his tenure, he led the team responsible for delivering legal support across the agency’s air, waste, water, remediation, emergency response, coastal and wetlands programs.
Schain also handled a broad range of permitting, enforcement and site-remediation matters and served as a hearing officer in the Office of Adjudications, presiding over numerous enforcement actions and contested case hearings.
Schain’s arrival follows the announcement of Shipman’s recent expansion in the Northeast.
In November, the firm opened a Boston office with 17 lawyers from Tarlow Breed Hart & Rodgers, and earlier this year added depth to its Finance Practice group across its Connecticut offices.
Schain is licensed to practice in Connecticut and holds a law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from American University.
