Jon practices in several areas in which he uses his engineering background and problem solving and project management approaches to serve clients. These areas include complex real estate projects and transactions, permitting, land use including Vermont’s Act 250 and zoning, litigation over technical issues such as contaminated sites liability and clean up, valuation of complex property, defense of environmental enforcement actions, utility regulation, and solid waste disposal.  Jon has been designated by Chambers USA as one of the best lawyers in America in the field of environmental law.  He holds Martindale-Hubbell’s highest ranking and is recommended by Chambers USA as a “Leader” in the fields of Real Estate and Zoning and Land Use.

After graduating from Yale Law School, Jon clerked for the Honorable Caleb M. Wright, a United States District Court Judge for the District of Delaware where he assisted with the preparation of decisions in several complex patent cases.  After serving as Counsel to the Vermont Department of Public Service with Michael Burak, Jon joined Michael in private practice in 1985 and founded Burak & Anderson in 1989.

Jon regularly lectures at seminars on real estate, environmental and land use law issues and publishes widely in this field. With Jon’s leadership, Burak Anderson & Melloni prepared the Planning and Zoning chapter for the Vermont Bar Association’s Environmental Law Practice Manual and Law and Land Use Development in Vermont, which are both available from the Resources section of the firm’s website, or in printed pamphlets on request.

Jon frequently assists in the improvement of environmental law in Vermont.  Jon chaired the State of Vermont Blue Ribbon Task Force on Hazardous Waste, which unanimously recommended the toxics use reduction and environmental assistance programs implemented by Vermont.  Jon authored the first draft of the permit process reform bill, adopted in 2004, establishing the Environmental Court as the arbiter of all environmental and land use permit appeals.  Jon also served as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives in 2006-2008 where he was a leader in improving environmental enforcement and adopting Vermont’s groundwater protection bill.

Bar Admissions:

Vermont, 1980

U.S. District Court, District of Vermont, 1981

Education:

Yale University, J.D. 1978

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, B.S. Ch.E., with highest distinction 1975

Recipient, Salisbury Award (given each year to the top student in each discipline)

Brattleboro Union High School

Designated as one of the 121 Presidential Scholars

Honors and Awards:

·        Designated by Best Lawyers in the field of environmental law

·        Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating

·        Chambers USA Leaders in Their Field (Real Estate and Environmental and Land Use)

·        Vermont Innkeeper of the Year – 2000

·        One of four smartest legislators – 2008

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