Practice Focus

Johanna W. Schneider advises clients on real estate development permitting and land use and environmental disputes. She represents public and private clients in real estate disputes at all stages of litigation, including trials, mediations and appeals. Her experience includes:

• Zoning, subdivision, wetlands and land use permitting appeals
• Real property disputes, including easement, adverse possession and construction claims
• Environmental contamination disputes

Working on complex real estate development projects, Johanna guides owners, developers and other entities through local, state and federal permitting processes. She frequently represents clients before permitting authorities, such as:

• Boston Planning and Development Agency
• Boston Zoning Commission
• Municipal Zoning Boards of Appeal
• City and Town Planning Boards
• Conservation Commissions
• MEPA

Johanna is active in industry associations and serves on her town’s Zoning Board of Appeals. Prior to practicing law, Johanna was a consultant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Representative Clients

• Represented national life science REIT in securing approvals for 1 million square foot master plan campus in Watertown.
• Represented Boston-based developer in obtaining municipal approvals for development of more than 350 residential units in Brighton (Boston).
• Represent Massachusetts-based office park developer in obtaining state and local permits for commercial campus in Boxborough.
• Represent local developer in obtaining municipal approvals for more than 300 residential units in Dorchester (Boston).
• Represented local developer in obtaining state and municipal approvals for 1.5 million square feet of life sciences space in Somerville.
• Represent Boston-based developer in obtaining approvals for hotel expansion in downtown Boston.
• Assisted MA-based developer in obtaining local approval for more than 600 residential units in Everett.
• Assisted national REIT in obtaining state and municipal approvals for the development of 700+ apartment units in the West End of Boston.
• Assisted national real estate developer in permitting of 85-unit apartment complex in Kendall Square, Cambridge.
• Assisted Cambridge-based candy manufacturer in securing approvals for expansion of facility in Central Square, Cambridge.
• Assisted national REIT in obtaining state and local permits for 440-unit residential development in Chinatown neighborhood of Boston.
• Represent MA-based real estate developer in permitting 230-unit multifamily development in Alewife neighborhood of Cambridge.
• Represented MA-based developer in obtaining approvals for life science building in Alewife district of Cambridge.
• Represented regional land use planning authorities in numerous permit appeals in Land Court and Superior Court.
• Represented financial institution and charitable foundation in mediation to resolve CERCLA liability arising from hazardous waste activities of predecessor entities.
• Served on allocation team for Remedial Design phase of remediation of Gowanus Canal under CERCLA.
• Serve as land use counsel to Fortune 500 telecommunications company in connection with Greater Boston facilities.