Mary E. Costigan
Environmental Law
Environmental Law
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Calm under pressure, dependable, and a true advocate for her clients, Mary is an experienced municipal and environmental law counselor. Having worked in the public sector for years before joining Bernstein Shur, she has a firsthand understanding of the issues faced by municipal and state employees and boards—and how to help her clients confront them. Her most recent public sector position was associate corporation counsel to the City of Portland, where she advised the city staff and council on waterfront redevelopment and rezoning, among other projects, and was a resource for numerous committees—Energy and Environmental Sustainability and Community Development Committees, to name a few. Outside of the office, she teaches a Municipal Law Course at the University of Maine School of Law.Mary is also very experienced in:The ins and outs of land use permitting, including subdivision and site plan reviewZoning compliance, zoning amendments, and conditional rezoningRepresentation before local and state boards, such as planning boards, zoning boards, town councils, and the Maine Board of Environmental ProtectionGeneral municipal lawAdministrative and judicial appealsEnforcement actionsWind power developmentStormwater managementNatural resource protection Calm under pressure, dependable, and a true advocate for her clients, Mary is an experienced municipal and environmental law counselor. Having worked in the public sector for years before joining Bernstein Shur, she has a firsthand understanding of the issues faced by municipal and state employees and boards—and how to help her clients confront them. Her most recent public sector position was associate corporation counsel to the City of Portland, where she advised the city staff and council on waterfront redevelopment and rezoning, among other projects, and was a resource for numerous committees—Energy and Environmental Sustainability and Community Development Committees, to name a few. Outside of the office, she teaches a Municipal Law Course at the University of Maine School of Law.
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2016
Raymond Young
Our small town council faced a daunting, high-stakes challenge involving a proposed development that threatened critical wetlands and strained our zoning ordinances. The pressure from developers and residents was immense. We turned to Mary Costigan based on her recognized expertise in municipal and environmental law, and it was the best decision we could have made. From our first meeting, her 28 years of experience, particularly her background in the public sector, were evident. She possesses a rare combination of deep legal knowledge in land use and a genuine understanding of how municipal governments operate. Mary remained exceptionally calm and strategic under pressure, guiding us through complex negotiations and regulatory hearings with absolute dependability. She wasn't just our lawyer; she was a true advocate for our community's long-term interests. Her counsel was instrumental in achieving a resolution that protected our environmental resources while addressing legitimate development needs, all within the framework of the law. Her recognition in environmental, land use, and municipal law is clearly well-deserved. For any municipality or entity navigating the intersection of development and environmental stewardship, Mary E. Costigan at Bernstein Shur is an invaluable asset.