BOSTON– Sullivan & Worcester announced that Gregory Sampson has joined the firm as a partner in the Permitting & Land Use Practice Group.
Sampson brings over two decades of experience in commercial real estate development, including in the planning, design, permitting and development of brownfields and similarly challenging sites, as well as renewable energy and infrastructure projects. He represents clients on the full life cycle of development deals including acquisitions/dispositions, financing and permitting at all levels.
“Greg’s broad real estate transactional, permitting and environmental experience adds to the range of services we can provide to our clients,” said Jennifer Schultz, leader of Sullivan’s Permitting & Land Use practice. “Further, his focus on Massachusetts-based projects with a specialty in the suburbs and exurbs in and around Greater Boston adds great synergy to our existing practice that already specializes in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and other inner core locations; Greg is an ideal fit for our team, and we are thrilled to have him on board.”
Sullivan’s Permitting & Land Use practice is one element of the firm’s growing Energy, Infrastructure & Climate Change practice, an interdisciplinary group handling all aspects of energy and infrastructure development projects, including financing – public and private – or tax structures, permitting and zoning, negotiation and drafting of industry project contracts, loan agreements or credit enhancements, regulatory obstacles and risk allocation among project participants.
“Sullivan’s Real Estate practice generally, and its Permitting & Land Use and Energy teams are really impressive,” Sampson said. “They have terrific talent and have handled some of the region’s most significant and transformative projects. I’m looking forward to contributing to the team on both transactional and permitting efforts, while having the opportunity to provide additional support to clients through the depth, breadth and innovation of Sullivan’s real estate group. Sullivan is the right fit with the right culture and the right team for me and my clients.”
The Energy, Infrastructure and Climate Change team is representing some ground-breaking clients. From sustainable building regulations and the politics surrounding the ongoing roll-out of additional policies, rules, and regulations, in addition to the increased regulatory and business challenges with building life sciences developments in colder climates, the team is poised to represent the future. The firm also represents clients who develop infrastructure and renewable energy projects as real estate: battery farms, wind farms, solar farms and canopies, and EV-fleet hubs. These developments blend the firm’s attorneys’ expertise in real estate development with administrative and regulatory law, as well as government relations.
Sampson notes that the energy sector is a particular area where he sees growth opportunities. “Massachusetts has had a great solar incentive program for the past decade. But opposition is starting to challenge projects, and developers need counsel to navigate the potential obstacles,” he said. “Energy storage and the infrastructure needed to enhance the electrical grid and facilitate the transition to cleaner sources of energy are also areas where I’m focusing.”
Greg joins Sullivan from Womble Bond Dickinson where he was a partner. Prior to his law practice, he was a Project Manager/Senior Environmental Planner for BSC Group, Inc. in Boston. He is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional with Neighborhood Development specialty and was formerly certified as a Professional Wetland Scientist by the Society of Wetland Scientists. Greg currently serves as chair of the City of Melrose Planning Board and has served on the board since 2016. An active member of NAIOP, he was awarded the NAIOP Massachusetts Government Affairs Champion Award in 2022. Greg earned his J.D. at Suffolk University Law School and his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame.
