John Valeri, Jr. has been named co-chair of the Environmental Law Group at Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC, joining his fellow chair, Dennis Toft, in the group’s leadership.
Valeri, who was practice group leader before his elevation to co-chair, has more than 30 years of experience providing advice regarding state and federal environmental laws and regulations, including obtaining permits and approvals involving multiple environmental media for complex projects.
“I’m proud to join Dennis as Chair of the Environmental Law Group, and I congratulate Michael on his elevation to practice group leader,” he said. “The CSG Law Environmental Group does a lot of great work in the state of New Jersey and regionally, and I’m looking forward to continuing our work with this outstanding group.”
Michael Plumb will now serve as the group’s practice group leader.
Before CSG Law, Valeri served as acting general environmental counsel in PSEG’s office of environmental counsel. He previously served as associate deputy general counsel in the office of general counsel at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and also served as counselor to the administrator under former EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman, the former governor of N.J.
Valeri also served as senior assistant counsel for Whitman, where he was responsible for advising the governor on significant environmental and public utility legislation and regulations, including negotiating the passage of the Brownfield and Contaminated Sites Act and the Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act. He also served as chief of staff to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, where he had responsibility for overseeing the implementation of energy deregulation, as well as aspects of the transition of the telephone and cable television industries into competition. In addition, John has been a member of the New Jersey Clean Air Council since 2015, and he served as its chair from 2018-21.
Toft applauded the promotion.
“I had the opportunity to work with John in many of his prior positions and was thrilled when he joined our environmental team,” he said. “John’s abilities are well known throughout the State and having him serve with me as chair of our group further strengthens our ability to serve our clients while ensuring our group’s future.”
Toft has been practicing environmental law for more than 30 years and is highly regarded as one of New Jersey’s leading environmental attorneys. (Toft was the No. 1 selection in the inaugural ROI-NJ Influencers: Environment list.)
Toft is well known and highly regarded as a Brownfields redevelopment practitioner and for assisting clients in solving difficult regulatory issues.
Plumb is the former chair of the Environmental Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association and is an active member of both the American Bar Association Natural Resources & Environment Editorial Board, and the Justice Stewart G. Pollock Environmental Inn of Court.
Plumb, who has previous experience working as an environmental consultant, primarily focuses on litigating environmental disputes. He represents a diverse array of clients in litigation related to environmental permitting and enforcement, and responsibility for discharges of hazardous substances, through all stages of litigation, including mediation, arbitration, trial and appeal.
“I appreciate the opportunity to help lead the Environmental Law Group,” Plumb said. “John, Dennis and I have worked together for years, and I’m looking forward to growing our group strategically to meet clients’ needs, mitigate risks and seize opportunities.”
