The Law offices of Alan S. Ashkinaze is a boutique law firm with offices in Hackensack, New Jersey and in Nyack, New York. The firm is led by Alan S. Ashkinaze, a recognized expert in environmental law. Mr. Ashkinaze’s experience, reputation, and standing in the legal community earned him admission into the prestigious International Network of Boutique Law Firms (INBLF.) Currently, Mr. Ashkinaze serves as the President of the New Jersey chapter of the INBLF.
Mr. Ashkinaze specializes in environmental law, land use, and municipal law. In this capacity, he advises clients on a broad range of regulatory and land use issues, including environmental compliance, permitting, redevelopment and litigation matters (with a particular expertise in solid and hazardous waste management and “Brownfields” redevelopment). Additionally, Mr. Ashkinaze advises clients on corporate issues, including incorporation and business counseling for not-for-profit corporations, start-up and emerging businesses, and family owned and operated businesses.
Mr. Ashkinaze has more than 20 years of experience in environmental law and in land use matters. Continuously on the cutting edge in environmental law, Mr. Ashkinaze has assisted his clients in the purchase and redevelopment of contaminated properties, in obtaining solid waste facility permits, and in securing land use approvals. Mr. Ashkinaze routinely represents clients before the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in a broad range of enforcement, permitting, and litigation matters.
From 1993- 2001, Mr. Ashkinaze served as Assistant Corporation Counsel and Environmental Counsel for the City of Jersey City. In this capacity, he advised former Mayor Bret Schundler and the City Council on environmental compliance and enforcement, public utility (telecom and energy), solid waste planning, "Brownfields" development and litigation matters. He played an instrumental role in Jersey City obtaining a two (2) year “Brownfields” planning grant from the USEPA. He also assisted the City in the formulation of a Municipal Utilities Authority, negotiated water purveyor agreements and analyzed the feasibility of electricity and telecommunications aggregation.
Long recognized as an expert in environmental law (particularly in matters involving solid and hazardous waste management) Governor Christine Todd Whitman designated Mr. Ashkinaze as Chairman of the New Jersey Advisory Council on Solid Waste Management in 1995 and he served as the Council's chairman until May 22, 1997. When NJDEP began adopting policies relating to “Brownfields” redevelopment, Mr. Ashkinaze was invited to serve on the NJDEP "Brownfields" working group, an ad-hoc committee of environmental attorneys and corporate officers who assisted the NJDEP in developing policy towards the remediation and development of contaminated sites.
Mr. Ashkinaze also has significant experience in the area of land use. He previously served as Board Attorney to the Jersey City Board of Adjustment and was a member of a municipal planning board.
In addition to his expertise in environmental and land use matters, Mr. Ashkinaze also has extensive experience in forming and counseling nonprofit (not-for profit) organizations. In the last year, Mr. Ashkinaze has assisted in the formation of literally dozens of 501(c) 3 and 501(c) 4 nonprofit organizations throughout the state.
Mr. Ashkinaze was also an adjunct professor of International Relations at Bergen County Community College, Paramus, New Jersey from 2000-2003.
Mr. Ashkinaze received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1982. He received his J.D. from Seton Hall School of Law in 1986 and an M.P.A. from Columbia University's School of Public and International Affairs in 1987. |
