Riemer & Braunstein Llp

David L. Sterrett

Associate / Real Estate; Litigation: Burlington Office; 617-880-3438; 617-692-3438 fax; dsterrett@riemerlaw.com

Drawing on his past experience as Assistant Corporation Counsel in the City of Boston Law Department, Dave handles all types of zoning and permitting issues including projects relating to subdivision matters, environmental laws, historic preservation, and affordable housing. On these projects, he uses the skills he developed in the public sector working closely with lawyers and planners at the Boston Redevelopment Authority and representing most of the City of Boston Departments involved in real estate development including: the Zoning Board of Appeals, Public Improvement Commission, Public Works Department, Inspectional Services Department, Landmarks Commission, and the Fire Department.

Dave's litigation practice is focused on land use and real estate disputes as well as all types of commercial cases with an emphasis on trial and appellate matters. He regularly represents a wide spectrum of clients both as plaintiff and defendant, including developers, landlords, and lending institutions in cases involving land use, local taxation, environmental contamination, failed acquisitions, foreclosures, and equitable remedies.

Immediately after law school, Dave spent a year as a judicial law clerk for the Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court where he worked for a number of months in the Business Litigation Session.

Representative Cases and Transactions

Advised developer regarding City of Boston zoning restrictions governing potential purchase of residential building
Worked with commercial property owner in greater Boston on environmental permitting process
Represented developer on zoning issues related to parking
Defended developers from neighbor’s suit opposing subdivision
Represented minority member in limited liability company to prevent the extinguishment of his interest by the other members
Represented public company against commercial landlord for breach of lease agreement
Advised developer on title issues affecting feasibility of development
Represented developer in lawsuit regarding failed acquisition of property due to failure of Historic Commission to grant a necessary permit
Defended former owners of a corporation in lawsuit regarding the sale of their business
Represented the City of Boston Zoning Board of Appeals and the Back Bay Architectural Commission in heavily-contested litigation in Suffolk County Superior Court
Advised the City of Boston Public Improvement Commission regarding the granting of licenses, easements, air rights, and subsurface rights for development projects
Represented real estate developer in complex bankruptcy proceedings including related appeals to U.S. District Court and the First Circuit Court of Appeals

Affiliations: American Bar Association; Boston Bar Association, Co-Chair, Land Use and Development Committee; Boston Ward 5 Democratic Committee; Burlington Breakfast Rotary Club; Frank J. Murray Inn of Court; Massachusetts Bar Association; Real Estate Bar Association
Admissions: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2004; U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, 2006
Education: Boston College Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2004; Middlebury College, B.A., magna cum laude, 1999

Publications & Presentations

"Harnessing Wind Energy Potential Can Benefit Community Projects," Banker & Tradesman, April 28, 2008, pp. B7-B8.
Green Buildings: Regulatory Trends and Legal Strategies - February 13, 2008, co-chair of Boston Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Seminar.
The Perils of Being Arbitrary: Equal Protection Claims Against Municipal Boards, Municipal Lawyer, Vol. 48, No. 3, pp. 21-23 (2007)
Chapter 205 of the Acts of 2006 - The Expedited and Streamlined Permitting Law - October 3, 2006, presented at roundtable discussion with Matthew Lawlor, Boston Bar Association’s Land Use and Development Committee