Neil J. Alexander
“[P]erfection is...attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away...” –Yvon Chouinard
Neil is a Partner in the Land Use, Zoning & Development group and Chairman of the Energy & Environmental group at the firm. His clients move communities forward by introducing economic development, jobs, energy infrastructure and place-making. Neil’s daily practice focuses on real estate transactions, land use, affordable housing, permitting, energy projects, economic incentive packages and sustainability measures. He routinely represents business entities, non-profit organizations and individuals throughout Westchester County, the Hudson Valley and the State of Connecticut in obtaining the necessary local- and state-level approvals and inducements for their projects, which range in scale from retail stores and wireless telecommunication facilities to large, mixed commercial and residential communities, as well as independent power infrastructure.
As a U.S. Green Building Council LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) and a New York State Certified Real Estate Instructor, Neil frequently lectures at law schools, universities and continuing legal education seminars on topics related to his practice areas, including Workforce Housing, Climate Change, Agriculture/Food Production, High Performance Buildings, and Responsible Property Investment.
Education
- Boston University School of Law, J.D., with Environmental Law concentration; 1995
– 1994 National Environmental Law Moot Court
– Paul J. Liacos Scholar - Tufts University, B.A. in History, magna cum laude; 1992
Admissions/Courts
- New York
- Connecticut
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
Awards + Recognitions
- New York Metropolitan Area Super Lawyers® in Environmental Law; 2019-2023
- New York State Association for Affordable Housing, Member Spotlight in the fall 2015 newsletter
- Urban Land Institute (ULI), Chair of the District Council for Westchester, Fairfield, and Rockland Counties, June 2011 – July 2015
- Energy Improvement Corporation for New York State, July 2011 – April 2015: Board Member of NYS Local Development Corporation and Co-Chair of the Board, the Finance Committee and the Nominating Committee
Professional Associations
- Community Capital New York, Board Member
- Orange County Partnership, Board Member
- New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH), Member & Upstate Policy Committee Member
- Urban Land Institute (ULI), Chair of the District Council for Westchester, Fairfield & Rockland Counties
- U.S. Green Building Council LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP)
- International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Member
- New York State Certified Real Estate Instructor
Presentations + Publications
“Addressing Emerging Contaminants in Due Diligence”
Langan Remediation Summit
September 18-19, 2019
Co-Presenter
“Local Planning: Building Community Support”
NYSAFAH Annual Conference
May 10, 2017
Speaker
“New York State’s Energy Marketplace Heading Into 2016 Q4”
Law360, October 7, 2016
“Here Comes the Sun: Barriers and Opportunities in Solar Power”
Moderator of Panel at the December 2013 Pace Law School Land Use and Sustainable Development Conference
“Land Use and Planning: Preventing Flight of Millennials”
New York Law Journal, Nov. 3, 2015
Selected Matters
Case Studies
Cuddy & Feder assisted an industry-leading international manufacturer seeking to acquire an appropriate site to build a new manufacturing plant in the United States and help them troubleshoot a web of complex issues and create a structure for advancing the transaction to closing.
By teaming up with Cuddy & Feder’s Energy & Environment practice, TruStar Energy is developing a nationwide CNG fueling infrastructure that’s mobilizing transportation fleets to shift away from diesel to cleaner energy sources.
Community Service
- Energy Improvement Corporation for New York State, Member of NYS Local Development Corporation and its Finance Committee
- Apropos Housing Opportunities and Management Enterprises (A-HOME), formerly Audit Committee Chair and Member of Board of Directors
- Table Local Market for Farm Produce and Artisanal Goods (TABLE), formerly on Advisory Board
- Active Living Over Fifty (A-LOFT), formerly Chair of the Livable Communities Council
Extracurricular
- Neil resides in northern Westchester County, NY. He enjoys spending time with his wife and sons.
- In spare moments, he is often found running and skiing on the trails in the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.
Related Updates
Client Successes • Feb 16, 2024
LotusWorks Wellness, Inc. Secures Microbusiness License for Cannabis Retail and Cultivation
Successfully assisted our client with securing a cannabis microbusiness license from the NY Office of Cannabis Management for a retail store in Beacon, New York.
READ MORE
Publications • Nov 13, 2023