Diane W. Whitney

Diane W. Whitney practices in the areas of environmental, toxic torts and land use law.

Diane represents businesses, individuals and municipalities in all areas of environmental and land use planning and permitting. Her litigation experience includes trial and appellate work in environmental matters, toxic torts and land use, and representation before administrative agencies including siting of utilities and Superfund matters. She is involved in the defense of toxic tort claims throughout the country. Diane frequently counsels clients regarding the purchase, sale, remediation and development of brownfields properties.  She is a contributing author to Connecticut Civil Complaints for Business Litigation, Vol. 1, published in 2010, and Connecticut Civil Discovery Forms, published in 2011.

Office

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association - Litigation Section; Environment, Energy and Resources Section; Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section

Connecticut Bar Association - Litigation Section; Environmental Section; Planning and Zoning Section

Connecticut Bar Foundation - James W. Cooper Fellow

Community Involvement

Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame - board of trustees, chair 2014-2017

1892 Club

Connecticut Law Tribune - editorial board member 2012-2021

University of Connecticut Law School Foundation, Inc. - board member, 2001-2010; president, 2007-2008

Hartford Symphony Orchestra - board of directors, vice-chair

University of St. Joseph Women's Leadership Center - Steering Committee

The Hartford Club - board of governors 2013-2016

Greater Hartford Legal Aid -  board president 2009-2012

Honors & Recognitions

Named Hartford "Lawyer of the Year" in the Environmental Law category for 2024 by The Best Lawyers in America 

Named the 2020 Individual Leader Honoree by the Greater Hartford Legal Aid Foundation

Recipient of the Connecticut Bar Association's Women In The Law 2015 Ladder Award

Named a 2015 Woman of FIRE (Finance, Insurance and Real Estate) by The Commercial Record

Charles J. Parker Legal Services Award - Connecticut Bar Association, 2014

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of commercial litigation and environmental law since 2013

Listed in Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers to Businesses, 2007-2019 in the area of environmental law

Selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list since 2006 in the areas of environmental law and land use/zoning; recognized as one of the Top 25 women attorneys in the State of Connecticut by Super Lawyers, 2010 - 2019; named a "Top Ten" attorney in Connecticut, 2010 - 2016; and the highest-ranked Connecticut woman attorney in 2014.

Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell

• Environmental and land use representation for major new urbanist development on 600+ acre brownfield site
• Toxic torts defense for an international manufacturer in matters in six different states
• Common counsel for five Vermont businesses in the defense of a Superfund action
• Special environmental counsel for regional wastewater treatment facility
• Successful litigation to recover from a prior owner the costs of remediating contaminated property for a major supermarket company
• Successful representation of group opposed to inappropriate industrial development in special zoning district
• Litigation concerning the interpretation of the Connecticut Transfer Act
• Tower siting, land use issues and related litigation for a major telecommunications company
• Defense of a municipality in stigma and personal injury cases arising from proximity to a landfill
• Defense of toxic tort matters involving solvents, mine waste, silica, lead and heavy metals
• Defense of a utility regarding the management of mercury issues
• Defense of a Connecticut manufacturer in a case alleging TCE contamination
• Land use approvals and appeals for developers and recreational facilities
• Successful defense of addiction services facility originally denied zoning approval
• Litigation regarding historic roads in Connecticut 

News

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Press Releases