Michael G. Luchkiw

Michael Luchkiw is an Equity Partner at DeCotiis. He is a member of the Executive Committee, and Chair of the firm’s Environmental Law and Green practice groups. He joined the firm in 1987.

For over 30 years, Mr. Luchkiw’s practice has focused on counseling clients in environmental and land use matters. He provides advice and counsel in the applicability of, and strategies for, obtaining nearly every form of state and Federal environmental permit for large, complex projects. He has counseled proponents of manufacturing facilities, energy facilities, wastewater treatment plants, residential, commercial and industrial facilities in identifying and obtaining environmental permits necessary to ensure successful project completion. In particular, Mr. Luchkiw has extensive experience with environmental land use regulation issues relating to development in environmentally sensitive areas. He has coupled this experience with his knowledge of New Jersey’s Land Use laws at the municipal, as well as State (Hackensack Meadowlands District; New Jersey Highlands; New Jersey Pinelands) levels to counsel clients on matters relating to property development and preservation.

Mr. Luchkiw is versed in all aspects of the site remediation process and counsels clients regarding industrial site property transfer and clean-up, underground storage tank matters, hazardous waste handling and, in general, remediation requirements associated with contaminated properties. Mr. Luchkiw also counsels clients on air emission standards and requirements.

Representative Projects:

Spectra Energy NJ/NY Expansion Project - Mr. Luchkiw served as New Jersey counsel to Spectra Energy with respect to the procurement of all New Jersey permits and approvals necessary to construct and operate a major natural gas pipeline and associated equipment and facilities from New Jersey to Manhattan. Mr. Luchkiw also participated in the acquisition of property rights for the project. This project was the first major natural gas pipeline into Manhattan in over 60 years.

Meadowlands Xanadu a/k/a Meadowlands American Dream - Mr. Luchkiw served as counsel to the developers with respect to procurement of permits and approvals necessary to construct and operate Xanadu, a $4 plus-billion mixed-use development (retail/entertainment, office and hotel) of over 5 million sq. ft. on the New Jersey Sports Complex site. He also authored the article Xanadu in New Jersey: A Vision Becomes Reality in Real Estate Weekly.

Borgata Hotel and Casino - Mr. Luchkiw served as counsel to Mirage Corporation with respect to permit procurement, site remediation and landfill closure issues associated with construction of the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.

Westfield Garden State Plaza Mall Expansion - Mr. Luchkiw served as counsel to Westfield, Inc. with respect to the procurement of permits and approvals to enable an 800,000 square foot expansion of the Garden State Plaza Mall in Paramus, New Jersey.

Riverside Square Mall Expansion - Mr. Luchkiw represented the Mills Corporation in land use and environmental matters with respect to procurement of permits and approvals for the expansion of the Riverside Square Mall in Hackensack, New Jersey. The expansion resulted in a doubling of the size of the facility.

Meadowlands Racetrack - Mr. Luchkiw represented New Meadowlands Racetrack, LLC with respect to assisting with the procurement of permits and approvals necessary to construct a new grandstand and ancillary facilities at the horse racetrack at the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority site in the New Jersey Meadowlands.

Mr. Luchkiw received his B.A. cum laude from St. John’s University in 1983. He received his J.D. from Syracuse University in 1986. He has been a New Jersey resident for 30 years.

Published Works

•Author, Article Xanadu in New Jersey: A Vision Becomes Reality in Real Estate Weekly