Catherine Ward has spent much of her practice helping clients understand the complexities of regulations at the intersection of science and law. With experience as a chemist and environmental consultant, Cathy is uniquely situated to assist companies — that are navigating often conflicting legal scenarios — in identifying opportunities and advantages.
Cathy also has more than a decade of experience in owning and operating industrial real estate, which gives her an understanding of and appreciation for the practical implications of legal issues. She focuses on simplifying complex issues and multidisciplinary projects into workable components, and then creating the necessary framework to accomplish her clients’ goals.
Cathy is co-chair of the firm’s environment and land use practice. She has represented clients in both the public and private sectors, serving as counsel across an array of energy, environmental and real estate matters on behalf of regional and global energy companies, municipalities, universities, nonprofit organizations and religious institutions.
Featured Representative Matters
Represented a women’s religious organization with the development of a new retreat center and the subdivision of 13 building lots in a Cape May County, New Jersey municipality.
Assisted a Philadelphia-area refiner in preparing public comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s denial of request for rulemaking concerning the renewable fuel standards (RFS) and renewable identification numbers (RINs) impacts.
Represented a New Jersey municipality in the acquisition, investigation and remediation of 17 contiguous parcels and assisted in the procurement of over $3 million in grants for the redevelopment of the site.
Represented a national energy company in the acquisition of a natural-gas-fueled 163-megawatt co-generation facility.
Assisted a developer in the conversion of two blocks of abandoned and contaminated industrial real estate into a multiuse development in a suburb of Philadelphia.
Represented a seller of industrial real estate involving 11 Industrial Site Recovery Act cases in a transaction valued at over $1 billion.
Worked with a Philadelphia excavation business to convert an abandoned landfill into its corporate headquarters.
Acted as environmental and energy counsel to a New Jersey municipality involving the investigation and remediation of over 20 brownfields sites, drafting and negotiating redevelopment agreements, working with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to address Green Acres diversions, and negotiating agreements for an offshore wind project.
Represented a regional waste management company in obtaining land use approvals to expand a transfer station in New Jersey.
Worked with a scrap metal company to obtain expedited permitting to allow an auto shredder/automated material separator in New Jersey to begin operations.
Represented a food manufacturer in relocating and constructing a manufacturing facility and through two expansions.
Represented a private Catholic Philadelphia university in general corporate and real estate matters.
Assisting a nonprofit organization redeveloping a historic golf course in Philadelphia.
Represented the sale of land owned by a women’s religious organization to a large Catholic university in the Philadelphia suburbs.
Negotiated the satisfactory resolution of an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) claim on behalf of a religious institution operating numerous cemeteries in New York.
Community Impact
Cathy has served on the boards of several nonprofits, including her current position as chair of the board of trustees of the Wynnefield Overbrook Revitalization Corp., a civic organization affiliated with Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
Notably, Cathy is a founding member and was the first chair of Sustainable Moorestown, which received a Silver certification through the Sustainable Jersey program within its first two years of existence. She was also a township-appointed member of the Moorestown Environmental Advisory Committee.
For her extensive involvement in community activities, Cathy received an official proclamation from the Moorestown Township Council declaring February 9, 2015, a day to honor Cathy’s contributions to the town.
Memberships
Chair, Board of Trustees, Wynnefield Overbrook Revitalization Corp.
Former Co-Chair, Stradley Ronon Technology Committee
Past Chair, Environmental Section, New Jersey Bar Association
Past President, Women’s Energy Network, Greater Philadelphia Chapter
First Chairperson and Co-Founder, Sustainable Moorestown (2012-16)
Recognitions
Chambers USA (New Jersey: Environment) (2021-26)
The Best Lawyers in America (Environmental Law) (2020-26)
Touchstone Award, The Society of Women Environmental Professionals of Greater Philadelphia (2019)
Top Attorney in Brownfields Law, SJ Magazine (2018)
Best Attorneys in Business, South Jersey Biz (2015)
Pro Bono Award, Camden Area Health Education Center Inc.
Featured Speaking Engagements
Speaker, “South Jersey Brownfields Redevelopment,” PSEG Workshop
Panelist, “Creative Uses of Real Estate,” Annual Meeting of the National Diocesan Attorneys Association
Panelist, “Ethical Implications of ESG,” New Jersey State Bar Association’s Environmental Law Forum
Moderator, “Social Governance and Green Investing,” New Jersey State Bar Association’s Environmental Law Forum
Panelist, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Brownfields Roundtable
Panelist, “Women in Environmental Justice,” Society of Women Environmental Professionals’ New Jersey Chapter, New Jersey Licensed Site Remediation Professionals Association, and Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast
Moderator, “Innovate South Jersey: Gaming and Hospitality,” Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey
Moderator, “Innovate South Jersey: Breweries and Wineries,” Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey
Presenter, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Education Environmental Law Webinar
Panelist, “Real Estate 201: Planning for the Future,” Resource Center for Religious Institutes’ National Conference
Moderator, “South Jersey Real Estate Market, Business Climate and More!” 6th Annual Future of South Jersey Conference
