Richard A. “Chip” Nylen is a founding partner of Lynch, DeSimone & Nylen, LLP, Boston, MA specializing in practice of land use; local, state and federal environmental and regulatory law including: Wetlands Protection Act, the Solid Waste Act; M.G.L., c. 21E; Chapter 91 (tidelands); Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA); Clean Water Act; Clean Air Act; Water Quality Certifications; Coastal Zone Management, Designated Port Areas, Endangered Species Act and local wetland bylaws.
He represents private and municipal clients in areas of public and administrative law including litigation, bylaw appeals and adjudicatory hearings. He advises clients on environmental regulations and has extensive knowledge of and experience with the Wetlands Protection Act including Riverfront Areas, vernal pools, wetland crossings and enforcement cases. His clients include real estate developers, homeowners, landfill owners, golf course owners, waterfront property owners and commercial real estate owners.
Chip was the lead environmental counsel to the MBTA on their $400 million dollar rehabilitation of the Greenbush Commuter Rail Line appearing before the local Conservation Commissions and prevailing in cases before the DEP, Superior Court, the Appeals Court and the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts.
Chip is also regulatory counsel in environmental regulations and land use matters on behalf of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), the largest commercial real estate trade association in Massachusetts. He is a frequent lecturer before Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. (MCLE) and the Boston Bar Association. He is a member of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Fees and Program Improvement Advisory Board. He is the former chief counsel to the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and a former Commissioner of the MDC.
He has been listed in Chambers USA list of leading environmental lawyers and has a pre-eminent professional rating from his peers as listed in Martindale-Hubbell, the national lawyer reference service. He and his wife Micki live in Ipswich where Chip is a former School Committee Member and a present or past member of local boards and committees. They have three children and three grandchildren.
