David B Farer

Professional Memberships

American College of Environmental Lawyers: Fellow and Past President, Co-Chair, International Pro Bono Committee, Chair, Cuba Working Group

American Bar Foundation Fellow

Publications

‘ISRA Compliance: Environmental Issues in Transactions and Brownfields Redevelopment’ (ICLE 2013, 8th Ed.); ‘Contractual Allocation of Environmental Risks in Transactions’ (ALI CLE 2013)

Personal

Jazz musician, performing on alto and soprano saxophone

Released his first album – Netanya's Dream – in June 2017 on CD Baby and iTunes

Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival Board President

Work Highlights

Representing L’Oréal USA in a national real estate and environmental engagement supporting acquisitions, leasing, development, and operation of manufacturing and research facilities, including Industrial Site Recovery Act (IRSA) compliance, renewable energy and power off-take agreements, sustainability initiatives, and tax assessment matters. The firm’s recent work includes advising L’Oréal on the development and opening of its flagship New Jersey Research & Innovation facility, featuring an onsite solar microgrid, battery storage, EV charging infrastructure, and peak-shaving controls.

Representing two multinational manufacturers in connection with federal Superfund sites in western New Jersey, advising on remediation strategy, redevelopment planning, negotiations with U.S. DOJ and EPA cost-recovery litigation, institutional controls, and emerging contaminants.

Served as environmental counsel on the remediation and redevelopment of the former General Motors assembly plant in Linden, including regulatory strategy, brownfield remediation, and state incentive negotiations. Secured a multi-million-dollar redevelopment grant and obtained full reimbursement approval from state authorities as the project generated significant tax revenue through national retail tenancy.

Representing Avery Dennison in addressing legacy environmental liabilities at a New Jersey manufacturing site, including multi-property groundwater contamination, allocation among potentially responsible parties, and emerging contaminants.

Career

David focuses his practice on the impact of environmental laws on transactions and real property matters in New Jersey and nationally. He advises clients on the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties and brownfields, environmental compliance, institutional and engineering controls, environmental insurance issues, liability under federal and state Superfund laws, environmental issues arising in bankruptcy proceedings, related litigation and dispute resolution, and sustainable building initiatives.

He counsels clients on environmental due diligence, contractual risk allocation, transaction-triggered environmental laws, brownfields redevelopment funding, environmental disclosures, deed notices and use restrictions, and state and federal cleanup liabilities. David also has substantial experience serving as special environmental counsel in bankruptcy matters involving environmental liabilities and regulatory agencies.

David regularly serves as a mediator in environmental disputes and has been appointed as a Special Master in environmental litigation in New Jersey. He is a qualified mediator under New Jersey court rules and has served on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey’s Panel of Mediators for successive terms.

He is a past President of the American College of Environmental Lawyers and currently co-chairs its International Pro Bono Committee. David has participated in environmental law and policy presentations and symposia in the United States and internationally, including programs focused on U.S.-Cuba environmental cooperation.

Prior to joining the firm, David established and chaired the environmental practice at Farer Fersko in 1984. He has written and lectured extensively on environmental law topics and developed longstanding environmental law educational programs and publications for continuing legal education organizations.

Education

Awards