Mike, chair of the Environmental Law Practice Area, handles all aspects of New Jersey and federal environmental law, including permitting and litigation, CAFRA, sewage disposal and water supply, wetlands, riparian (tidelands) law, solid waste, flood hazard areas, siting of energy and other industrial facilities, site remediation, Pinelands, Highlands, cultural resources, stormwater, wastewater planning, water and air pollution. He also appears before planning and zoning boards and has handled complex construction litigation matters.
Mike is environmental counsel to the New Jersey Builders Association and general counsel to the Shore Builders Association of Central New Jersey. The Environmental Law Department authored the environmental law section of The New Jersey Land Use and Environmental Law Treatise and Mike co-authors the New Jersey Water Law Survey updates to the Waters and Water Rights Treatise.
He has been involved in major litigation both before the New Jersey courts and the Office of Administrative Law and has argued before the New Jersey Supreme Court and Appellate Division. Mike has served as an expert witness in cases before the New Jersey Superior Court and the U.S. District Court.
More Legal and Business Bylines From Michael J. Gross
- Appellate Division Reaffirms Position that Pinelands Protection Act Supersedes the Municipal Land Use Law - (Posted On Thursday, October 19, 2017)
- Applying Equitable Principles, New Jersey Appellate Division Expands Spill Act Liability - (Posted On Thursday, March 23, 2017)
- Extension of New Jersey Freshwater Wetlands, Waterfront Development, and Coastal Areas Facilities Act (CAFRA) Approvals after June 30, 2016 - (Posted On Thursday, March 24, 2016)
- Fish and Wildlife Finalizes Long-Eared Bat Rule - (Posted On Wednesday, January 27, 2016)
- New Jersey Appellate Division Upends Public Access Rules (Again) - (Posted On Thursday, December 24, 2015)
- New Jersey State’s New Construction Code Provides for Stricter Building Requirements in Coastal Areas - (Posted On Tuesday, October 27, 2015)
- New Jersey Permit Extension Act Signed Into Law - (Posted On Tuesday, December 30, 2014)
- Permit Extension Act (PEA) Extension Bill Introduced in New Jersey - (Posted On Saturday, October 11, 2014)
- Toms River, New Jersey Wal-Mart Hits A Snag re: Zoning Permits - (Posted On Friday, June 13, 2014)
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Stormwater Rules – NSPS Thrown Out - (Posted On Thursday, September 26, 2013)
The National Law Review names Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P.C. and authors Michael J. Gross, Marc D. Policastro, Paul H. Schneider, Steven M. Dalton, David J. Miller, and Afiyfa H. Ellington as Go-To Thought Leaders in the field of State and Local Law. The firm’s May 2022 article, “NJDEP Announces FHA Emergency Rulemaking,” gained considerable traction for its coverage of the latest developments in New Jersey flood hazard rulemaking, demonstrating the firm’s impressive depth of knowledge with their timely and relevant thought leadership.
Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla’s New Jersey Environmental Law & Land Use practice group is recognized as a Go-To Thought Leader for their coverage and analysis of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“NJDEP”) permit extensions, including extensions for remediation activities, environmental compliance updates due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, amendments to surface water quality and other environmental standards and statutory and common law environmental cleanup claims. Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla's Environmental and Land Use team provides timely regulatory and litigation updates which are invaluable to construction, real estate professionals and other parties interested in New Jersey environmental standard. Giordano Environmental and Land Use Practice Group legal editors include Michael J. Gross, Marc D. Policastro, Paul H. Schneider, Steven M. Dalton, David J. Miller and Afiyfa H. Ellington.