John Shea

Shareholder, Mackie Shea P.C.
Mr. Shea has practiced environmental and land use law for over 35 years. He focuses on wetlands, water, wildlife and hazardous waste laws. Mr. Shea is recognized as a master strategist in securing approvals for complex and controversial projects, developing environmental compliance plans for proactive and troubled companies and successfully defending permits in administrative and court appeals. He represents developers, businesses and high net worth individuals in permitting, siting, enforcement defense and litigation. Mr. Shea’s development projects include coastal homes, subdivisions, subsidized housing, hotels, assisted living facilities, hospitals, colleges, banks, coastal erosion protections, docks, marinas, aquaculture farms, radio antennas, industrial plants, office parks and retail complexes. He is recognized as a leader in environmental and land use law by Chambers USA’s America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. The 2013 edition described Mr. Shea as a “Dean of the Environmental Bar;” the 2014 edition reported “there’s nothing he hasn’t seen or done;” and the 2019 edition observed that “he is great at permitting disputes as well as working effectively with regulators to reach a compromise.” He was selected as the 2013 Boston Environmental Law “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America®, and as one of the four best environmental lawyers in New England. Since 2004, he is designated a Massachusetts and New England SuperLawyer by Boston Magazine and Thomson Reuters. Mr. Shea enjoys an AV Preeminent rating for the highest levels of professional excellence from Martindale-Hubbell. He chairs professional programs and lectures to lawyers, engineers and business groups. Mr. Shea is a member of The Planetary Society and The Mars Society and lectures on space law.