Carmella M. Seslar

Carmella M. Seslar (“Carmi”) is an Associate in the firm’s Environmental Law Group.

Carmi’s practice encompasses a broad scope of environmental matters, including site remediation, litigation, redevelopment, permitting and compliance, and real estate transactions.

She guides clients through all aspects of site remediation projects and regulatory compliance under state and federal law, including the Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA), Spill Compensation and Control Act (Spill Act), Site Remediation Reform Act (SRRA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), and many other federal and state statutes.

Carmi’s litigation experience includes state and federal environmental matters, with a focus on representing clients’ interests in resolving liability at complex Superfund sites, including representation of potentially responsible parties (PRPs) at the Gowanus Canal, Passaic River, and Berry’s Creek sites. Carmi’s Superfund work includes representation of clients in negotiations with government agencies, allocations of liability among PRPs, negotiation of settlement agreements, and prosecution and defense of cost recovery actions.

In addition to counseling clients on remediation and regulatory compliance, Carmi assists clients in obtaining and defending state and federal environmental permits. Carmi is knowledgeable about approval needs for wetlands, flood hazard areas, stormwater discharge, CAFRA, tidelands, wastewater management, among other matters.

Carmi works closely with developers, municipalities, and agencies to assess and redevelop contaminated sites into safe, functional spaces. Carmi provides counsel on land acquisition and development matters, including due diligence investigations, brownfields redevelopment and funding, contract negotiations, drafting, title review, and closings. Carmi has extensive transactional experience, negotiating and drafting environmental contractual provisions in a variety of corporate and real property transactions.

Carmella earned her J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and her B.A. from King’s College.

Honors

• Included in The Best Lawyers in America® “Ones to Watch,” Environmental Law; Litigation – Environmental (2024)

Award Methodology
*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Involvement

• Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (January 2019 – Present)
• New Jersey State Bar Association
• New York State Bar Association
• Professional Women in Building of the Garden State (May 2018 – Present)

Education

• St. John’s University School of Law (J.D., 2016)
• King’s College (B.A., 2012)

Admissions

• New Jersey
• New York
• U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey