Peter J. McGrath, Jr.

Peter McGrath has dedicated his life’s work to understanding the intricacies and complexities of environmental law. As one of North Carolina’s most seasoned practitioners in this space, Peter is a distinguished and trusted voice for businesses working to navigate the maze of environmental regulations that intersect with their growth objectives. For more than 30 years, he has counseled clients on a broad spectrum of environmental issues, providing advice and advocacy in litigation and on brownfields, climate change, PFAS, permitting, and transactional issues in diverse industries and businesses.

Peter is the former leader of MVA’s esteemed Environmental team and a veteran practitioner who has ranked in Chambers USA every year for nearly two decades. In his day-to-day practice, he advises lenders, real estate developers, property managers, manufacturers, landfill operators, renewable energy developers, lenders, investors, and life sciences companies on long held and newly developing aspects of environmental law in North Carolina and across the Southeast. He frequently provides sophisticated compliance counsel and litigation representation related to:

• CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, and Clean Air Act
• Brownfield redevelopment
• Regulatory developments involving PFAS and other chemicals
• Climate change and ESG
• Solid and hazardous waste
• Coal ash management and disposal
• Stormwater and wastewater water discharges
• Air emissions
• Wetlands
• Environmental remediation
• Occupational safety and health

Peter has successfully managed the environmental aspects of hundreds of corporate, financing, and real estate transactions, working in conjunction with other practice areas within the firm. That management includes conducting and coordinating environmental due diligence for target companies and properties, retaining and managing environmental consultants to investigate and quantify known and potential liabilities, counseling clients on environmental liabilities and risk allocation, drafting and negotiating the environmental provisions of transaction documents, assisting in the procurement of environmental insurance and other risk-mitigating solutions, and managing the post-closing resolution of environmental issues.

Peter has become a leading brownfields advisor, having played a foundational role in the success of hundreds of high-profile brownfield remediation and reuse projects. He guides real estate developers through all aspects of North Carolina’s brownfields redevelopment program, from application and assessment, through negotiation of the documents required for the program, to public notice and recording, and post-development tax benefits.

In addition, Peter has defended clients on an array of environmental enforcement matters, including negotiation of civil penalties, defense of criminal prosecution, and defense of civil litigation such as citizen suits and toxic tort actions.

Peter is a prolific thought leader who has published widely circulated articles and presented at high-profile industry gatherings over the years. Since 2007, he has served as an appointed member of the Mecklenburg County Air Quality Commission (AQC), which promotes the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the county’s ambient air resources. Peter has chaired the 12-member AQC since 2015.