BUFFALO, N.Y. (Oct. 5, 2023)—Lippes Mathias today announced the addition of Berj K. Parseghian, an accomplished litigator who represents energy, chemical, and manufacturing clients in some of the largest and most complex environmental matters across the country. Parseghian’s arrival signals yet another key expansion of the firm’s environment & energy team, a multidisciplinary group of attorneys and environmental engineers that already includes the team’s leader, partner Ian A. Shavitz, who also leads the firm’s renewable energy practice team, Amy L. Reichhart, partner and leader of the firm’s Brownfield & Superfund cleanup and redevelopment team, and Martin L. Doster, the firm’s senior environmental advisor and 32-year veteran of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Like each of the firm’s other environment and energy team partners, along with senior associate Christina Bonanni, Parseghian joins Lippes Mathias from a large international law firm (Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP) where he spent the better part of his career practicing environmental law.

Parseghian’s practice is uniquely focused on lawsuits brought under federal and state environmental laws related to contaminated sites, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). He has significant experience with sites involving dioxins and furans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), 1, 4-dioxane, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Prior to joining Lippes Mathias LLP, Parseghian gained more than 20 years of experience litigating a broad range of complex matters in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies, including environmental, product liability, toxic tort, and energy regulatory matters. He has represented clients in a wide range of industries, including energy, chemicals, consumer products, refining, banking, government, healthcare, and beauty products.

“We’re excited to welcome Berj to Lippes Mathias,” Kevin J. Cross, Lippes Mathias’ managing partner and chairman, said. “It’s clear Berj’s years of experience will be transformative for our environment & energy team, but his decision to join Lippes Mathias is a particularly significant nod to the magnetic culture and diverse practice teams we’re building at our firm.”

“Since the time I came to Lippes Mathias to build our environmental practice, I have been seeking to add a strong and experienced litigator,” Ian A. Shavitz, leader of the firm’s environment & energy team, said. “Berj fills that spot, and his arrival elevates our capabilities to new heights. His distinct background makes him the perfect complement to the collective and individual strengths of the other members of our team.”

Parseghian received his B.S. in chemistry from the University of Michigan before going on to conduct his graduate studies in chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. He received his J.D. from the UCLA School of Law in 1998. Outside of his practice, Parseghian is a member of the American Chemical Society.

Parseghian will work out of Lippes Mathias’ New York City office located at 260 Madison Ave., 17th Floor. He can be reached at bparseghian@lippes.com or by calling 332.345.4500.

About Lippes Mathias LLP

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with nearly 175 attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Clarence, Albany, Long Island, New York, Rochester and Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla. and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately-owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals.