Ann M. Sobolewski

Partner

O 617-456-8167 F 617-456-8100 asobolewski@princelobel.com

Practice Areas

Ann is a member of Prince Lobel’s Real Estate practice and concentrates on land use (zoning, subdivision an environmental permitting and appeals); general real estate (leasing, transactions and lending); and litigation with a specialization in easement disputes and adverse possession claims.

Ann represents property owners and purchasers in commercial real estate transactions, including the negotiation of financing agreements and subsequent amendments, and commercial landlords and tenants in lease negotiations, extensions, amendments and renewals. Her leasing practice covers a broad range of tenant uses from retail and office to lab and manufacturing. She has experience drafting and reviewing agreements, including purchase and sale, leases, indemnification, conservation restrictions, easements, contracts, and settlement agreements. She has particular expertise in the creation of condominiums and provides counsel to condominium associations in updating and enforcing condominium documents. Additionally, Ann performs zoning, environmental, survey, permitting and title due diligence reviews.

Ann has represented parties in legal proceedings arising out of federal and state hazardous waste sites, including private cost recovery actions, as well as in claims for insurance coverage for environmental contamination and remediation. She has also represented clients in the local permitting of retail, residential, office, and mixed-use development projects, including comprehensive permit developments. Her experience includes securing and challenging project approvals under the state Wetlands Protection Act, local wetlands bylaws, the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, and waterways regulations. Her permitting and permit appeal experience includes access for the disabled, asbestos, clean air, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and clean water issues, among others.

Successfully obtained title to a property in Brookline, MA, under an adverse possession claim and defeated a claim to extinguish easement rights.
Represented parties for conversion of an industrial property into residential apartments, including MEPA.
Represented parties in large commercial developments regarding Chapter 40B and MEPA.
Defended MEPA certificates on client appeal such as a certificate issued for a condominium conversion to a hotel and retail facilities on the North Shore.
Represented parties in Adjudicatory hearings and Administrative Penalty Negotiations concerning asbestos violations, wetlands violations, Clean Water Act compliance and environmental contamination.
Successfully defended the issuance of Chapter 91 licenses and Superseding Orders of Conditions for residential developments.
Resolved commercial litigation to enforce a guaranty.
Represented commercial landlords and tenants in various proceedings.
Appealed conservation commission denials to the Department of Environmental Protection, the Superior Court, and the Appeals Court.
Defended commercial property owners in lawsuits brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Represented parties in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 21E litigation.
Defended appeals brought based on the issuance of permits for commercial developments.
Represented property owners in disputes over easements, access, stormwater, and groundwater management.
AM Properties, LLC v. J&W Summit Ave., 91 Mass. App. Ct 150 (2017), successfully obtained title to property in Brookline under an adverse possession claim and defeated a claim to extinguish easement rights.
Fieldstone Meadows Development Corp. v. Conservation Commission of Andover, 62 Mass. App. Ct. 265 (2004) – Landmark case limiting authority of local conservation commissions to impose restrictions under local wetlands bylaws.
Becker v. Federal Railroad Administration, 999 F. Supp. 240 (D.Ct.1996) – Represented a group of individuals in a challenge to the Federal Railroad Administration’s compliance with the national Environmental Policy Act, as it pertained to the electrification o the northeast corridor train line between Boston and New York City.

Education

University of Massachusetts, B.A., summa cum laude, Commonwealth Scholar
Boston College Law School, J.D.

Bar Admissions

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Memberships & Affiliations

Plympton, Massachusetts Bylaw Review Committee member, 2017 – present
Plympton, Massachusetts Zoning Board of Appeals member and Chair, 2007 – 2012
Plympton, Massachusetts Planning Board member, 2002 – 2007
Member, CREW Boston

News & Events

CLIENT ALERTS

Client Alert: Is It Time to Revise Your Tenant Rules and Regulations?

March 22, 2021

Last year, commercial landlords were forced to take quick and dramatic action to curb the…

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