Daniel F. Leary

Dan is a Partner of the firm. He has 25 years of experience getting projects approved and built for clients, with a current focus on warehouse/distribution, film studios, data centers, light industrial, retail, single and multifamily residential, mixed use, adaptive reuse, brownfield redevelopment, telecommunications, public utilities, renewable energy, redevelopment of historic properties, transit- oriented development (“TOD”), traditional neighborhood development (“TND), agricultural uses, senior housing, affordable housing, assisted living and resort development. His advocacy achieves results for clients with local land use approvals, permitting from federal/state agencies and compliance with the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act, or “SEQRA”. He also helps clients throughout the New York City Watershed area (both East of Hudson and West of Hudson Watersheds) with NYC DEP regulatory matters.

Over the course of his long career, Dan has successfully secured permits and approvals for a wide variety of projects. The expansive geographic area of Dan’s practice covers the New York City area, the greater Hudson Valley region and areas north and west of Albany. He has also practiced throughout the State of Connecticut. When necessary, he has successfully challenged and defended governmental determinations by CPLR Article 78 and other legal actions.

Dan has been a First Deputy County Attorney, Town Attorney and Special Counsel to several municipalities. He now represents clients in an array of public-private initiatives, including sewer, water and other infrastructural projects, economic development/incentive programs, public contracts/ procurement and public financing (including IDA matters). Dan also has extensive experience negotiating and preparing municipal franchise agreements, public right-of-way agreements, PILOT agreements, offers of dedication and other public-private instruments, as well as negotiating and drafting easement and license agreements, examining title and handling disputes involving adverse possession and prescriptive easement rights.

Selected Publications/Presentations

• Speaker/Panelist: “Economic Development in Your Community and How it Relates to Land Use and Zoning”, Dutchess County Planning Federation, 2014;
• “Special Use Permits”, Municipal Lawyer, Vol. 12, No. 3;

• Co-Author Orange County Planning Federation Training Program, Lecturer, 2008
• Speaker/Panelist: Seminar on NYS DEC Part 360 Regulations, 2018

Community Service

• Member, Economic and Community Affairs Committee of the Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation; 2012-2015
• Kennedy Catholic High School, Somers, NY, Board of Trustees; 2010–2016
• Great Hollow Wilderness School, Regional Y of Western Connecticut and Eastern Putnam, Board of Directors; 2004-2008
• Naromi Land Trust, Board of Directors; 2006-2012
• Sherman Historical Society, Board of Directors; 2000-2006
• Sherman Library, Building Committee; 2001-2004
• Board of Directors, Putnam County Economic Development Corporation; 2017-Present