For Dawn, becoming a lawyer was the plan all along. From her earliest years, she showed a knack for negotiation—a talent that has evolved into a lifelong practice of helping clients navigate complex challenges with clarity and purpose.

When Dawn set out to become an environmental lawyer, she deliberately charted a non-traditional path to get there. Believing the strongest advocates are those who understand both the science and the law, she pursued a master’s degree in environmental studies then worked as an environmental scientist at a consulting engineering firm while earning her law degree at night. That combination of technical expertise and legal training gives her a rare perspective that continues to define her practice today.

Dawn advises a diverse mix of clients—including technology innovators, renewable energy companies, developers, lenders, large and small business owners, nonprofits, and high-net-worth individuals—on the environmental issues that often define or derail their goals. Her practice spans regulatory compliance, governmental enforcement actions, and the environmental aspects of complex business transactions. She is known for her work with brownfield properties, where she helps clients address legacy contamination and reimagine sites once seen as liabilities into viable, thriving assets.

What distinguishes Dawn is her ability to translate complexity into clarity. Clients turn to her for her technical and legal skills and for her creativity and pragmatism in finding paths forward where others see only obstacles. Whether guiding an entrepreneur from idea to implementation, defending a company under regulatory scrutiny, or structuring a transaction to account for environmental risks, she is a steady advocate and a strategic thinker.

Environmental law is anything but static, and Dawn thrives in its constant evolution. To remain sharp, she stays on top of rapidly changing science that directly informs the application of the law. Each time a new contaminant is discovered, hazardous waste regulations shift, new assessment and remediation methods emerge, and the legal landscape is reshaped. These developments can fundamentally alter the strategies available to clients, and Dawn is known for adapting quickly and creatively to keep them ahead of the curve. Just as her clients must remain nimble in business, she brings that same agility to her practice, ensuring her advice is as current and effective as the challenges at hand.

CREDENTIALS

Education

  • JD, cum laude, Suffolk University Law School
  • MA, Simmons College
  • BA, Merrimack College

Bar Admissions

  • Massachusetts
AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Experience recognized

  • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Top Women of Law, 2023
  • Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions, Director

  • Needham Land Trust, Inc., Director

  • Licensed Site Professionals Association, Regulations Committee Member

  • Boston Bar Association, Environment and Energy Section, Wetlands and Waterways Committee, Co-Chair

  • NAIOP (Commercial Real Estate Development Association), Massachusetts Chapter

  • Needham Conservation Commission, Commissioner (2008–2013)