People
Kristie A. Beahm

Kristie A. Beahm

she/her/hers

Associate

Kristie specializes in environmental regulatory compliance and transactional matters. She counsels clients on complex brownfield and contaminated site redevelopments and environmental aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.

Throughout her career, Kristie has worked on many aspects of brownfield redevelopment of properties under the various state and federal programs, including the Connecticut Transfer Act. Kristie advises clients on due diligence investigation, structuring and negotiating property transactions, environmental consulting and remediation service procurement and oversight, environmental insurance, and regulatory compliance.

Kristie has worked with corporate and financial institution clients on environmental aspects of mergers and acquisitions. With respect to energy clients, she often advises on the environmental aspects of power generation assets.

Her diverse environmental experience also includes counseling clients with respect to environmental permitting, environmental use restrictions, hazardous building materials, emerging contaminants (including PFAS), and negotiating manuscript environmental insurance policies.

In addition to environmental regulatory compliance and transactional matters, Kristie practices in the area of criminal defense and children’s advocacy. While at the University of Connecticut School of Law, Kristie represented persons charged with crimes through the University of Connecticut Criminal Clinic. During this time, Kristie also served as a legal intern at the Connecticut Green Bank, for Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr. at the Connecticut General Assembly Environment Committee, and for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Credentials

Education

University of Connecticut School of Law, J.D., 2017, with honors; Certificate in Energy and Environmental Law
West Chester University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 2013, magna cum laude

Bar Admissions

Connecticut

Distinctions

Listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America: Environmental Law (2024-2025)
Listed as a Connecticut Super Lawyer Rising Star®: Environmental (2021-2024)
2017 American Bar Association Section of State & Local Government Law for Student Excellence
Oliver Ellsworth American Inn of Court: Pupil
Connecticut Public Interest Law Journal, Administrative Editor
Connecticut Moot Court Board: National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition (NELMCC) Finalist; William H. Hastie Competition Finalist

Teaching Positions

Connecticut College, Law, Science and the Environment: Guest Lecturer

Community Involvement

Lawyers for Children America: Pro Bono Attorney
Fred D. Wish School Volunteer Tutor Program
University of Connecticut Criminal Legal Clinic
University of Connecticut School of Law Moot Court Board and Mock Trial Society: Volunteer Judge

Experience

Environmental

Assist Multi-Family Residential Developer Client in Connection with Agency-Requested PFAS Sampling

We represent a real estate development company in connection with the financing, environmental due diligence and remediation and redevelopment of various multi-family residential development projects in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Our representation includes negotiating the environmental provisions of the Purchase and Sale Agreements, advising on the application for a Flood Management Certificate, managing the design and implementation of dedicated environmental insurance coverage as well as navigating RCRA, state brownfield program and CT Transfer Act environmental investigation/remediation obligations. We also counsel the client in connection with its response to a multi-agency request to perform PFAS sampling in connection with the private and public financing of a development. We work closely with the client’s environmental consultant to prepare and implement an investigation and sampling plan and coordinate with the private/public lenders and DEEP to address PFAS concerns.

Advised Commercial Property Owner in Connection with Response to Release of PFAS-containing Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) From Exterior Fire Suppression System

We counseled a commercial property owner in connection with its response to a PFAS-containing release of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) from a helipad fire suppression system due to a mechanical malfunction. As part of our involvement, we advised the client with respect to applicable (and evolving) state and federal environmental reporting and remediation requirements, insurance coverage issues and forward-looking risk management strategies. Our engagement involved coordinating with the client’s third-party spill response/cleanup team, state regulators and the client’s inhouse environmental, legal and engineering departments.

Guided an International Manufacturing Client Design and Perform Environmental Due Diligence (including for PFAS risks)

Assisted a large manufacturing client evaluate a potential asset purchase acquisition in New Hampshire, where the target facility was affected by significant PFAS releases from a nearby/upgradient industrial property. Given the extent of contamination and disputes among various operators in the affected area, the client decided the PFAS risks (among other business factors) were potentially too substantial and terminated its pursuit of the target.

Provide comprehensive support to renewable energy storage developer, including facilitating processes of permitting, leasing arrangements and engagement with governmental bodies.

We provide energy, environmental and permitting counsel to a national renewable energy and battery energy storage developer in connection with site control and leasing, liability risk management for brownfield sites, as well as regulatory representation before the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority regarding Energy Storage System (ESS) and procurement and permitting matters.

Industrial and specialty chemical compliance

Advised Manufacturer on Domestic and International Specialty Chemical Compliance Matters

Represented an international metalworking fluid developer, manufacturer and service provider. Assisted with registrations and compliance for new products and ingredients under applicable state and federal laws, including the recent substantive amendments to the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Also advised on federal and state hazard warning/labeling requirements and on the regulatory/compliance aspects of potential formula and manufacturing process changes.

General

$16M Tax Credit Financing Construction to Permanent Loan

$16M Tax Credit Financing Construction to Permanent Loan secured by leasehold mortgage in certain real property in Connecticut. The transaction also involved Low Income Housing Tax Credits (state and federal), a Department of Housing Loan, Section 8 Housing, an Affordable Housing Loan and a Subsidized Advance from Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston. Additionally, our environmental team advised on environmental and remediation requirements.

October 9, 2024