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Professionals The Team Behind the Results

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Robin L. Main

Partner Providence, Boston, Hartford

Robin L. Main is a partner in the Litigation group, co-chair of the Environmental and Energy group, and serves on the Executive Committee at Hinckley Allen. She is a seasoned environmental and energy attorney with over 40 years of experience. Robin has handled some of New England’s and New York’s most complex and significant environmental and energy matters. Robin handled the permitting for the first offshore wind farm in the United States before the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.  Using her depth of experience in offshore wind and other energy projects, Robin navigated permitting in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York for the Revolution Wind, South Fork and Sunrise offshore wind farms including for federal consistency reviews.

For decades, Robin has represented clients facing environmental compliance issues, and she routinely navigates high-stakes enforcement actions by state and federal environmental agencies. Robin brings her comprehensive knowledge of environmental matters and the laws governing them to what can be tangled legal cases involving releases of oil and hazardous materials, air discharges of asbestos, brownfield agreements, and environmental insurance. Robin has extensive experience in the area of emerging contaminants and is handling numerous matters for clients in the evolving area of PFAS regulations, and she currently represents clients in PFAS litigation. She is tenacious in representation, resulting in numerous wins at appeal, at the state Supreme Court level, and before government agencies.

Robin’s reputation in environmental law includes the successful litigation of the largest tort suit for groundwater contamination in Rhode Island. In addition, she routinely represents companies in cleanup cases across the country. She holds the distinction of being nominated and elected as a fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers — a testament to her exceptional achievements in the field.

Robin is a member of the Energy Bar Association and New England Women in Energy and the Environment. She is a certified mediator and has been named on numerous occasions as one of the Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year, Go-To-Lawyer for Environmental, and a Super Lawyer in Rhode Island.

She volunteers numerous hours for civic and charitable organizations. Robin also served as a Commissioner of the Rhode Island State Ethics Commission for four years. In addition to her civic service, Robin was Chair of the Providence Animal Rescue League, and a board member of The Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, Jamestown Education Association, the Rhode Island Chapter of U.S. Green Building Council, and the Rhode Island Society of Environmental Professionals.

Experience

Representative Transactions

  • Represented South Fork offshore wind farm in its federal consistency reviews before the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, and the New York Department of State.
  • Represented Revolution Wind offshore wind farm in its federal consistency reviews before the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management and before for Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board for licensing.
  • Represented Sunrise Wind offshore wind farm in its federal consistency reviews before the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, and the New York Department of State.
  • Represented the first offshore wind farm in the United States in a complicated permitting process before the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council under the Council’s then newly adopted Ocean Special Area Management Plan. Also successfully represented the wind farm before the Rhode Island Superior and Supreme Court in cases challenging the permitting process.
  • Won a motion to dismiss under the statute of repose for a Massachusetts contractor improperly accused of transporting hazardous waste at a school site.
  • Routinely represents utilities in Rhode Island and Massachusetts before federal and state environmental agencies on permitting and the cleanup of legacy sites including former manufactured gas plant and holder sites.
  • Defense of a large construction company in a wetlands enforcement action involving the Army Corps of Engineers, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and numerous stakeholders on the rehabilitation of a river bed in western Massachusetts.
  • Helps construction companies in navigating environmental compliance issues and regularly represents construction companies in federal and state environmental enforcement actions under water, wetlands and remediation laws.
  • Successfully represented a large utility company at the trial court and on appeal to the state supreme court in a challenge to the scope of a 26 mile utility easement in central and southern Rhode Island.
  • Routinely advises businesses in defending against and in negotiating penalties in enforcement actions brought by federal and state environmental agencies involving releases of oil and hazardous materials, air discharges including asbestos, and water discharges.
  • Regularly counsels real property and financial institutions on handling and mitigating environmental risks associated with transactions including with the use of brownfields agreements and environmental insurance.

Reported Cases

  • Shields v. Deepwater Wind et al., (Rhode Island Supreme) 2015
  • Chandler v. Nantucket Electric Company et al., (Mass Superior) 2013
  • Ives v. Deepwater Wind et al, (RI Superior) 2013
  • Corvello v. New Eng. Gas Co., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 102678 (2008)
  • Narragansett Elec. Co. v. Constellation Energy Commodities Group, Inc., 563 F.Supp.2d 325 (2008)
  • Charter Int’l Oil Co. v. Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co., 558 F.Supp.2d 209 (2008)
  • Bond Opportunity Fund II, LLC v. Heffernan, 340 F.Supp.2d 146 (2004)
  • A.T. Cross Co. v. Royal Selangor(s) PTE, Ltd., 217 F.Supp.2d 229 (2002)
  • Aldridge v. A.T. Cross Corp., 284 F.3d 72 (2002)
  • United States v. Davis, 31 F.Supp.2d 45 (1998)
  • URI Cogeneration Partners L.P. v. Board of Governors for Higher Educ., 915 F.Supp. 1267 (1996)
  • Nguyen v. Lewis/Boyle, Inc., 899 F.Supp. 58 (1995)
  • Grady v. Narragansett Elec. Co., 962 A.2d 34 (2009)
  • Graziano v. R.I. State Lottery Comm’n, 810 A.2d 215 (2002)
  • Truk Away v. Macera Bros., 643 A.2d 811 (1994)
  • Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. v. Black & Decker Corp., 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 659 (2005)
  • Bath Iron Works Corp. v. Certain Member Cos. of the Inst. of London Underwriters, 870 F.Supp. 3 (1994)
  • In re Napp Technologies, Inc. Litigation, 338 N.J. Super. 176 (2000)
  • Hotel Associates LLC v. HMS Associated Ltd. Partnership, 2004 WL 422812, R.I. Super. (2004)

Credentials

Work Experience

  • Hinckley Allen
    • Executive Committee Member
    • Co-Chair, Environmental and Energy Law Groups
    • Partner (2006-Present)
    • Associate (1989-1992)
  • Holland & Knight, LLP
    • Partner (2001-2006)
    • National Chair of Women's Initiative (2004-2006)
    • Professional Development and Recruitment Committee (2004-2006)
  • McGovern, Noel & Benik (merged into Holland & Knight)
    • Partner (1995-2001)
    • Associate (1992-1995)

Honors & Awards

  • Best Lawyers in America® (2007-2024)
    • Lawyer of the Year (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023)
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Energy Law
    • Environmental Law
    • Litigation – Environmental
  • Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly, Go To Lawyer for Environmental (2021)
  • Rhode Island Monthly, Professional Excellence in Law (2019, 2020, 2022)
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rating, Recipient (2022)
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV Peer Review Rating, Recipient
  • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly 2010 Top Women in Law Award
  • Providence Animal Rescue League, Stanley Mason Award (2009) for efforts made on behalf of animals
  • Super Lawyers, Rhode Island (2008-2023)

Certifications

  • Certified Mediator, Mediation Works, 2011

Charitable & Civic Involvement

  • Environmental Business Council of New England, Rhode Island Chapter
    • Member (2020-Present)
    • Strategic Planning Committee Member (2022-Present)
  • Jamestown Education Foundation, Board of Directors (2013-2019)
  • New England Environmental Business Council, Former Director
  • Providence Animal Rescue League
    • Director (1994-2011)
    • Chair of Board of Directors (2007-2010)
  • Rhode Island State Properties Committee (2015-Present)
  • Rhode Island Chapter of U.S. Green Building Council, Past Director
  • Rhode Island State Ethics Commission, Commissioner (1999-2004)
  • Rhode Island Society of Environmental Professionals, Former Director
  • Roger Williams Family Association, Member
  • The Women's Fund of Rhode Island, Board Member (2011-Present)

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association; Women in Products Liability Committee
  • American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
  • American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL)
    • Education Committee, Co-Chair (2023-Present)
    • Fellow
  • Energy Bar Association (EBA)
  • Federal Bar Association
  • New England Business Association (formerly known as SBANE) (2016-2020)
    • Chair
    • Board of Directors Member
    • Executive Committee Member
  • New England Women in Energy and the Environment (NEWIEE)
  • Rhode Island Bar Association
  • Rhode Island Society of Environmental Professionals (RISEP)

Bar Memberships

  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts
  • New York
  • Rhode Island

Newsroom

Publication

4 Takeaways from the 2024 Offshore Wind Conference

The Environmental Business Council recently hosted its 11th Annual Offshore Wind Conference, where clean energy leaders including developers, consultants, and permitting attorneys from around the Northeast convened to celebrate the accomplishments of offsh…

Publication

The Next Big Area of Environmental Regulation: PFAS & the Evolving Federal Regulations

This is Part II of a three part series.  Check out Part I, where our attorneys explain what PFAS is, and stay tuned for Part III, where our attorneys delve further into certain state regulations on PFAS.Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) co…

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Firm News

57 Hinckley Allen Lawyers Included in 2023 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists

A total of 57 Hinckley Allen attorneys were named to the Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars lists in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Upstate New York for 2023, including those newly recognized as well as featured in Top Lists.Ger…

Firm News

Hinckley Allen Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers in America® 2024

A multitude of Hinckley Allen attorneys are recognized in their respective practice areas in Best Lawyers® 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. In addition, 11 Hinckley Allen attorneys were named in the “Lawyers of the Year” category, as wel…

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Case Study

Overcoming Zoning Hurdles for Renewable, Clean Energy

Hinckley Allen represented a commercial-scale solar energy provider as it sought to build a solar farm in Rhode Island.Town regulations required the energy provider to obtain a zoning special use permit. Hinckley Allen helped the client manage the zoning p…

Case Study

Building for the Better: Amazon's new Facility in Johnston, RI

Hinckley Allen client Bluewater Property Group (“BPG”) is a dynamic investment, development and operating platform serving customers across the Northeastern United States, with a deliberate focus on identifying and capitalizing on unique investment opp…

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Events

Past Event

Environmental Rhode Island Leadership Briefing from U.S. EPA and RI DEM

November 2, 2023

Partner, Robin L. Main will moderate a discussion featuring U.S. EPA Region 1 Administrator Dr. David Cash and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Director Terry Gray about their respective agency’s environmental and energy program develo…

Past Event

CONFERENCE: Offshore Windpower 2022

October 17, 2022

Join Partner Robin L. Main as she discusses federal consistency reviews under the coastal zone management act at the upcoming American Clean Power Association's Offshore Windpower 2022.ACP’s Offshore WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition has cultivated a…

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