Albert I. Telsey

Partner
Newark, New Jersey
Phone: 973-602-3439
Fax: 973-624-0356
atelsey@meyner.com

Albert Telsey has been an environmental lawyer since the 1980s and a partner at Meyner and Landis since 2012.  In 1985, Al’s father, Norman, a judge, told him, “You’ve always liked tropical fish, specialize in environmental law.”  So that is what he did.

After working at the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, Environmental Prosecutions Task Force in the 1980s, Al built a private practice focused on environmental law, which has been flourishing for over 30-years.

Since 2014, Al has authored and revised the New Jersey Environmental Law Handbook (Bernan Press 9th ed. 2021) and the ABCs of Environmental Regulations (Bernan Press 4th ed. 2022).  Al handles all environmental matters including the following:

Compliance and permits

Remediation. Remediating contaminated property quickly, efficiently, and cost effectively (ISRA, Spill Act, underground storage tanks, brownfields, CERCLA, RCRA).  Al is familiar with pre-purchase due diligence, cost effective remediation options, leave-in-place remediation options, fixed price cleanup contracts and environmental insurance, including cost cap coverage.

Remediation funding.  Al is also familiar with low-cost state loans and grants and development agreements with the Department of Treasury that refund cleanup costs from state taxes obtained from the project development during construction and once it is operational.

Development permits/licenses. Getting permits and licenses to install and operate environmental infrastructure (remediation systems, septic, sewage, and utilities) and permits for discharging to the environment (air, water, solid waste, hazardous waste, sewage service permits).

Sensitive and special lands.  Operating on or dealing with sensitive or special lands and wildlife/endangered species for redevelopment and/or protection (wetlands, farmlands, meadowlands, flood lands, Highlands, Pinelands, historic lands, riparian, coastal/waterfront, and Green Acres).

Transactions  

Environmental law impacts the purchase, sale, lease, mortgage, foreclosure, condemnation, redevelopment, and cleanup of contaminated property in New Jersey; as well as the sale of stock and corporate mergers and acquisitions.  It is critical that agreements address these risks and responsibilities to the advantage of the client.

Litigation

There is a solution for every plaintiff and defendant.  Al knows the environmental terrain so well he usually finds that solution sooner rather than later.  Al has experience with environmental matters before federal and start courts (trial and appellate), administrative courts, tax court and private mediation, arbitration, and dispute resolution panels regarding transactional controversies, especially cleanup cost recovery, compliance and enforcement, insurance coverage, bankruptcy, tax appeals, and criminal.

Personal injury/toxic tort (contingency).  Al is also an expert in matters (individual, mass tort, and class action) involving chemical exposure causing personal injuries, especially regarding PFAS and other emerging contaminants of concern.

Natural resource damages.  Al is an expert in NRD litigation; in particular, representing municipalities and environmental groups to make sure local communities receive the NRD funds they are entitled to receive.

Al has been named a Super Lawyer in environmental law by New Jersey Monthly Magazine for the past few years.  He has also been an adjunct professor of environmental law at NJIT and an instructor for Rutgers University and the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority. He also hosts his own popular seminar entitled, “10 Clever Ways to Buy/Sell Contaminated Property in NJ,” which is approved for 2.4 CLE credits. He has also been an expert witness in NJ litigation matters involving contaminated property.

Al is a Master with the New Jersey Environmental Inns of Court and is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Newark Regional Business Partnership and the New Jersey Commerce and Industry Association. He writes and speaks extensively on environmental matters and is the author of the Environmental Law Handbook for the State of Delaware.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Education

  • Oklahoma City University School of Law, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
    • J.D.
  • Rutgers University, Camden, New Jersey
    • B.A.
    • Major: Philosophy

Past Employment Positions

  • Maraziti, Falcon & Healey, LLP, Short Hills, NJ, Partner, 2005 – 2011
  • Maraziti, Falcon & Healey, LLP, Short Hills, NJ, Of Counsel, 2000 – 2005
  • Methfessel & Werbel, Edison, NJ, Of Counsel, 1999 – 2000
  • Podvey, Sachs, Meanor, Catenacci, Hildner & Cocoziello, Newark, NJ, Of Counsel, 1993 – 1999
  • Cole Schotz, Hackensack, NJ, Associate, 1990 – 1993
  • Margolis Chase, Verona, NJ, Associate, 1989 – 1990
  • Environmental Task Force, Division of Criminal Justice , Deputy Attorney General, 1986 – 1989
  • Cape May County, NJ, Assistant Prosecutor, 1983 – 1986
  • Honorable Norman Telsey, J.S.C., Salem County, NJ, Judicial Law Clerk, 1982 – 1983

Published Works

  • LSRP Power Broker and Punching Bag, Albert I. Telsey, New Jersey Lawyer , October, 2016

Classes/Seminars

  • Basics of Redevelopment , Rutgers University, 2010
  • Rutgers University, CLE, 2009
  • New Jersey Redevelopment Authority , Redevelopment Institute, 2006 – 2016
  • Redevelopment Workshop, New Jersey State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Program, 2005
  • Environmental Law Basics, New Jersey State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Program, 2003
  • Expert Witnesses in Environmental Litigation, Rutgers – Cook College Continuing Education Program, 2003

Honors and Awards*

  • Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers©, 2015-2024, Environmental Law

*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. For information  about honors and awards methodology click here.

Go to Top