McGregor Legere Stevens PC is now McGregor Law Group PC. Our new name took effect January 1, 2026. With the New Year came that new moniker, more services, and great people still with the same sympathy and understanding of your situation, appreciation and assessment of your need, application of our wisdom and expertise, and clear and solid legal advice and representation.
We are a small, established law firm in Boston, the oldest such boutique firm in Massachusetts, with a close-knit staff with many years of experience, seeking to add a new attorney to our team.
We seek an experienced lawyer admitted in Massachusetts with 2-8 years of environmental law, land use, real estate, energy, or climate related litigation experience in the Massachusetts courts. Trial, discovery, and motion practice in the Massachusetts courts are essential qualifications. Experience in federal courts or agency adjudicatory hearings is a plus.
As this is a litigation position, a candidate must like litigation, be good at it, and be able to handle all types and stages of litigation. For the right candidate, this is a potential partnership track position or a lateral partner move.
Any interested candidate should be familiar with our website and submit an email or letter of interest and resume. We will keep these strictly confidential.
On May 29, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court significantly impacted how agencies comply with NEPA, and how courts review compliance, in its decision Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County et al, 605 U.S. (No. 23-975, May 29, 2025).
A. National Environmental Policy Act
Congress enacted the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to declare a national policy “to use all practicable means and measures, including financial and technical assistance, in a manner calculated to foster and promote the general welfare, to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and [to] fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans.” 42 U.S.C. 4331(a).
In 2024, Governor Maura Healey signed the Affordable Homes Act. It authorized $5.16 billion in spending over the next five years to counter rising housing costs caused by high demand and limited supply.
For the 30th CPTC Annual Conference for Massachusetts citizen and professional planners, held at Holy Cross College in Worcester in spring 2025, firm founder Gregor McGregor prepared a new presentation covering the procedures, principles, and practical tips for projects, lawyers and consultants before local Conservation Commissions. It is now available on our firm website in Archives under Slide Shows.
We are proud and pleased to announce that Taylor Donahoe has joined the firm. Her background in business finance and investment law already has benefitted clients with complex, interrelated land use, real estate, environmental, and litigation issues.
Perhaps surprisingly, only after the fourth time Massachusetts enacted legislation extending the life of most land use and environmental permits, there is now an appellate-level court decision ruling that such extensions are added onto, rather than run concurrently with, the time period set by the law under which the permit was granted.
REPOSTED: MAY 21, 2025 — On November 20, 2024, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed the “Act relative to strengthening Massachusetts’ economic leadership.” Also known as the “Mass Leads Act”, this comprehensive economic development bill includes provisions to again extend the life of many types of land use permits issued by municipal, regional, and state government.
The addition of Sheetz v. County of El Dorado, California expands SCOTUS’ Nollan-Dolan-Koontz trilogy to four regulatory taking cases. In this April 2024 impact fee decision, the Court ruled that monetary exactions are subject to the regulatory taking tests, whether imposed as permit conditions or legislative enactments.
Firm founder and senior partner Gregor McGregor this year has prepared his annual survey of environmental law developments in PowerPoint form. It will be further updated throughout the current year. It covers federal, Massachusetts, and municipal court cases, laws, regulations, policies, and enforcement.
Mr. McGregor’s keynote address to the Annual Environmental Conference (AEC) of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) at Holy Cross College on March 1, 2025, marked his retirement from the MACC Board after 50 years.
The Town of Brookline smoking ban case has favorable implications for local environmental laws.
Section 8 of the Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act (Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024) amended Section 3 of the Massachusetts Zoning Act. This took effect on February 2, 2025, requiring municipalities to allow ADUs (900 or fewer square feet) as of right in most single-family residential zoning districts, with some important limitations.
Firm senior partner Gregor I. McGregor will deliver the keynote address at the Annual Environmental Conference (AEC) of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC). This is to mark his retirement from the MACC Board of Directors after 50 years.
UPDATED: MAY 21, 2025 — On November 20, 2024, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed the “Act relative to strengthening Massachusetts’ economic leadership.” Also known as the “Mass Leads Act”, this comprehensive economic development bill includes provisions to again extend the life of many types of land use permits issued by municipal, regional, and state government.
Massachusetts recently enacted a new housing statute that makes it easier for homeowners to create accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their residential properties. These commonly were called “in-law apartments” but the new law allows much more.
A commonly asked question and a conundrum for many is whether and how a conservation commission can approve a project under the state Wetlands Protection Act, G.L. c. 131, § 40 (the “WPA” or “Act”), while at the same time disapprove the project under a local wetlands protection bylaw or ordinance.
Firm senior partner Gregor I. McGregor and firm associate Caroline E. Smith this fall presented our Environmental Law Update 2024 to the Real Estate Bar Association (REBA) and Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association (MMLA) at their annual meetings.
On June 28, 2024, the United States Supreme Court overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, 467 U.S. 837, 104 S. Ct. 2778 (1984). The case is Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, 144 S. Ct. 2244 (2024)
Firm principal Gregor I. McGregor on May 22, 2024 presented his PowerPoint survey of important legal developments at the Annual Municipal Law Conference co-hosted by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. (MCLE) and Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association (MMLA).
This year's program of the MMLA - "Stay Out of the Trenches - Avoiding Traps at Every Phase of Your Public Construction Project,” is designed for municipal and state legal counsel involved in any and all aspects of public works projects.
Calculate When Your Permits Expire If Issued Before or During the Covid Emergency: 462 Extra Days?
What the Lifting of the COVID-19 State of Emergency in Massachusetts Will Mean for Boards and Commissions
Legislature Revises Local and Regional Permitting Deadlines as COVID-19 Pandemic Continues
MassDEP and EPA Guidance on Waste Site Cleanups and Compliance during COVID-19 Emergency: Some Flexibility but Important Deadlines and On-Site Obligations Still Apply
Across the spectrum of environmental law we offer advice and representation
with practical, results-oriented lawyering.
