Nicholas M. Ward-Willis

Environmental Law
Land Development & Zoning
Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution
Municipal Law
Real Estate
Insurance Defense and Civil Rights

Nicholas Ward-Willis represents businesses, developers, individuals, property managers and public bodies in a variety of land use, real estate and environmental issues, ranging from commercial and real estate transactions to state and federal environmental litigation.  Mr. Ward-Willis has extensive experience in negotiating orders on consent with state and federal agencies in a variety of matters, including hazardous waste sites and oil spill sites. In the course of representation of his clients, Mr. Ward-Willis interacts with consultants on oil spills, mold and hazardous waste remediations. He represents private clients before various land use boards and assists the firm’s public and private sector clients in complying with the State Environmental Quality Review Act, the New York City Watershed Regulations and other environmental laws.

In addition to processing land use applications on behalf of clients, Mr. Ward-Willis has prosecuted and argued Article 78 cases before trial and appellate courts. He counsels property managers, cooperatives, condominiums, homeowners’ associations and municipalities.  Mr. Ward-Willis manages the firm’s role as City Attorney for the City of Beacon, Dutchess County and, on behalf of the firm, serves as counsel to several planning Boards in Westchester County, including the Village of Rye Brook.

Mr. Ward-Willis joined Keane & Beane following his graduation from law school.

• State and Federal Courts of New York
• State and Federal Courts of Connecticut

• Dutchess County Bar Association
• New York State Bar Association (Chair, Environmental & Energy Law Section; Co-Chair, Real Property Law Section Committee on Green Real Estate; Member, Executive Council of the Conference of Bar Leaders; Member, Environmental Law Section)
• Westchester County Bar Association
• White Plains Bar Association (Past President 2016/2017; Past Vice President)
•  New York State Bar Association, Environmental Law Section (Secretary)

Mr. Ward-Willis is a frequent lecturer on land use and environmental issues, including SEQRA, RLUIPA, toxic torts, brownfields and environmental issues for residential real estate attorneys.  These seminars have included “The Greening of America’s Favorite Pastime – A Discussion of Green Building Techniques Applied to the New York Mets’ Construction of Citi Field”; “Federal Stormwater Regulations Under the Clean Water Act” and “Encouraging Sustainable Development Through SEQRA and Land Use Regulations.”  He also frequently lectures on the laws and regulations of oil storage tanks.

Mr. Ward-Willis coaches baseball, soccer and softball in the Town of Somers.

• 1993, J.D., cum laude, Pace University School of Law (Member of the Environmental Law Review)
• 1993, Environmental Law Certificate, Pace University School of Law
• 1990, B.A., State University of New York at Albany