Robert Cox

Biography

Professor Cox is a practicing environmental lawyer with over 35 years of experience counseling the regulated community on water, air, hazardous waste, and solid waste matters. Following graduation from Suffolk University Law School, he joined the law firm of Bowditch & Dewey where he has practiced throughout his career, serving as Managing Partner 2017 - 2021. Mr. Cox’s experience includes administrative hearings and appeals on environmental matters, NPDES permit appeals, and on claims under Chapter 21E and CERCLA. He counsels landowners on brownfields development and risks associated with emerging contaminants. He is a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers and is ranked among the top environmental lawyers in Massachusetts by Chambers USA. He is a frequent speaker on environmental law, and the immediate past Chair of the Environmental Business Council of New England and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Education

• BA, summa cum laude, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• JD, Suffolk University Law School

Publications

• MCLE, Massachusetts Environmental Law, Chapter 28 “Environmental Issues in Real Estate Practice” (2002, supplements 2016, 2019 and 2021)
• Cox & Bachrach, “Damages for Contaminated Property,” 37 Boston Bar Journal 19 (Aug. 1993).
• Cox, “Environmental Liabilities of Fiduciaries,” Boston Bar Journal (March - April 1991)

Articles

• “Water infrastructure funding will provide boost to Mass. water utilities,” Massachusetts Municipal Association, March 24, 2022
• “The Worcester Renaissance,” Worcester Business Journal, December 20, 2021
• “Bowditch and Dewey lawyer Bob Cox addresses legal issues of PFAS contamination,” Worcester Telegram, June 4, 2021
• “PFAS continue to be a concern in 2021,” The Beacon, March 3, 2021
• “What Are We to Do When We Find PFAS in Private Water Supply Wells? (And We Will…),” ACOEL, February 19, 2021

Recent Talks

• “Legal and Regulatory Update,” 13th Annual Water Resources Strategies Symposium, Massachusetts Coalition for Water Resources Stewardship, September 28, 2023
• “Do You Have Your [Regulatory] Bases Covered?” Massachusetts Chemistry & Technology Alliance Members Meeting & Program, Marlborough, MA, June 15, 2023 (Moderator)
• “PFAS Litigation Update: Exploring the Range of Potential PFAS Claims in Massachusetts,” Boston Bar Association, May 18, 2023
• “The MCP for Everyone: A Practical Understanding of the Massachusetts Contingency Plan,” LSP Association, May 9, 2023
• “Construction & Real Estate Roundtable: Brownfields Roundtable,” Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, March 15, 2023 (Moderator)
• “EBC Leadership Program with U.S. EPA Regional Administrator Dr. David Cash,” Environmental Business Council of New England, May 19, 2022 (Moderator)
• “A Review of MassDEP Program & Enforcement Priorities for 2022 with Commissioner Suuberg,” Environmental Business Council of New England webinar, March 16, 2022 (Moderator)
• “Spotlight Series: Central Region Spotlight,” MassEcon, Worcester, Massachusetts, August 4, 2021 (Moderator)
• “EBC Leadership Webinar with Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Martin Suuberg,” Environmental Business Council of New England Webinar, March 17, 2021 (Moderator)

Bar Admittance

• Massachusetts
• United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
• First Circuit Court of Appeals
• D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals
• United States Supreme Court

Education

• BA, summa cum laude, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• JD, Suffolk University Law School

Awards & Honors

• Fellow, American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL) (since 2019)
• Named to Top 10 Powerhouse Environmental Lawyers Shaping Massachusetts’ Future in 2023 by Business Today
• Recipient of the 2022 Joseph J. Superneau Leadership Award from the Massachusetts Coalition for Water Resources Stewardship
• Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, recognized as one of the top environmental lawyers in Massachusetts (since 2004)
• Best Lawyers in America, selected by his peers for inclusion in the fields of Environmental Law (since 2006), Litigation – Environmental (since 2011) and Real Estate Law (since 2022)
• Massachusetts Super Lawyers (since 2004)
• Member, Environmental Business Council of New England
• Member, Massachusetts Coalition for Water Resources Stewardship
• Member, NAIOP Massachusetts Brownfields Redevelopment sub-committee
• Associate Member, Licensed Site Professional Association
• Member, MassDEP Fees Advisory Committee