William Demarest III

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Partner

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Albany

Phone: 518.432.4100 x 452

Fax: 518.734.0075

Email: demarest@rupppfalzgraf.com

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Practice Areas

Business Litigation

Environmental Planning and Sustainability

Environmental

Land Conservation

Project Development, Land Use & Energy

Real Estate

about me

credentials & achievements

professional Focus

affiliations

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significant matters

media

insights

About Me

William has been licensed in New York since 2015, focusing his practice on environmental litigation, land use, municipal and administrative law. Prior to beginning practice in New York, he practiced general litigation in Virginia. He represents a broad range of clients in litigation before state and federal courts, appellate advocacy, administrative proceedings, and before local municipal boards. William’s clients include not-for-profit environmental organizations, land trusts, project developers, community organizations, and businesses. William’s litigation experience includes Article 78 proceedings, real property litigation, CERCLA and Navigation Law litigation.

William is an avid skier and camper and currently serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster to his local Scouts BSA Troop.

Credentials & Achievements

Education:

University of Richmond, J.D.

University of Mary Washington, B.A.

Admissions:

Virginia

United States District Court for the Northern District of New York

United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia

Achievements:

New York Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2016-2023

Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2015

Professional Focus

Capabilities:

Trial practice
Appellate practice and advocacy
Land conservation and environmental litigation, including conservation easement enforcement and property damage claims
Real Property actions relating to Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law matters, boundary disputes, nuisance, trespass, easement enforcement, and timber theft matters
Representing applicants and community organizations in relation to State Environmental Quality Review Act review of projects before municipal boards
Representing applicants and community members before Zoning Board of Appeals proceedings for area and use variances, appeals, and code interpretation
Representing applicants and community organizations before municipal planning boards
Representing municipalities in relation to drafting and adopting local laws on real property matters

Industries Served:

Energy, Environment & Sustainability
Construction & Real Estate
Consumer Products & Retail/Hospitality

Affiliations

Albany County Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
Troop 3034, Twin Rivers Council, Scouts BSA

Significant Matters

Represented collection of property owners neighboring a mine in challenge to expanded Mining Permit in Article 78 proceeding that resulted in significant Court of Appeals determination in client’s favor.
Represented property developer before multiple municipal boards for approval of housing development including approval of sewer permit using first of its kind procedure under local sewer board regulations.
Represented community organization in relation to proposed development leading to board decision narrowing the scope of the project.
Challenged State Agency denial of records under Freedom of Information Law resulting in multiple appellate division rulings and recovery of legal fees from agency.
Represented property owner in a bench trial in a boundary line dispute.
Represented school division in challenge to SEQRA negative declaration of project that presented safety concerns to school buildings and students resulting in decision annulling the negative declaration and ultimately project was abandoned.