Matthew G. Parisi, Esq.
Partner
Mr. Parisi joined the Firm as a Partner in 2025. Mr. Parisi is a seasoned trial and litigation attorney with extensive trial experience in both state and federal courts in environmental, construction and general civil matters. He is also experienced in mediation and alternate dispute resolution.
Prior Experience
During his career, Mr. Parisi represented several major national companies in complex commercial, toxic tort, products liability, and environmental contamination actions filed throughout the United States. He represented a multi-state petroleum distributor in a mass tort, product liability multi-district litigation pending in the Southern District of New York. Mr. Parisi has represented numerous municipal agencies and entities in State and Federal Court in litigations involving First Amendment, Fourteenth Amendment, and federal discrimination claims, disputes with neighboring municipalities, and adverse employment allegations. Mr. Parisi also represented area municipalities, corporations, and individuals in environmental and zoning disputes, including CERCLA “Superfund” cost recovery actions, RCRA, Clean Water Act, and Safe Drinking Water Act lawsuits, and cases involving other local, state, and federal environmental laws and regulations. Mr. Parisi also represented national retail stores, area businesses, municipalities, and individuals in commercial business disputes in state and federal court. In addition, Mr. Parisi represented several area cemeteries and individuals with respect to burial and other cemetery issues.
Mr. Parisi is also the President, Chief Executive Officer, and Counsel to The Kensico Cemetery, a 460-acre non-sectarian cemetery located in Valhalla, New York.
On the personal front, Mr. Parisi is the devoted husband of 25 years of Laura Parisi and the proud father of three student-athletes.
Admissions
New York
U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Experience
Bleakley Platt & Shmidt, LLP, White Plains, New York
Partner and Member of Executive Committee
The Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, New York
President, Chief Executive Officer and Counsel
The Parisi Law Firm, Schenectady, New York
Associate
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Intern
Education
J.D., Pace University School of Law, Certificate in Environmental Law, 1993
Honors: Environmental Law Review
B.S., Union College, Electrical Engineering, 1990
Professional Recognition and Community Involvement
New York Super Lawyers, 2010-2011, 2013-2025
YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester
Board of Governors, 2022
New York State Association of Cemeteries
Board of Directors, 2022
Recognized as a “Rising Star,” one of Westchester County’s “Forty under Forty”
by the Business Council of Westchester
Somers (NY) Library Foundation
President, 2015-2018
Vice President, 2012-2015, 2018-2025
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Shrub Oak, New York
Parish Council
CYO Basketball Coordinator, 2014-2020
Mount Hope Cemetery Association
Board of Trustees, 2018-2020
Co-author: First Things First: Addressing Burial and Cemetery Issues
NYSBA Trusts and Estates Law Section Newsletter – Winter 2017, Vol 50, No. 4.
Author, Cancerphobia: the Fear and the Decision
New York State Bar Association Journal – March/April, 1995, Vol 67, No. 3.
Litigation and Trial Experience
Represented gasoline distributor and supplier in a multi-state mass tort, product liability multidistrict litigation in the Southern District of New York (In re: MTBE Multi District Litigation).
Obtained a defense verdict for a municipal client dismissing an adverse employment action claim asserting a violation of the plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights to Freedom of Speech in federal district court.
Obtained injunctive relief precluding neighboring municipality from adversely impacting citizens outside its borders.
Obtained dismissal of class action alleging violations of Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the U.S. Constitution, along with violations of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 1981 Discrimination claims, and state law.
Represented regional gasoline real estate company in multiple litigations in federal and state court involving allegations of discharges of gasoline.
Represented municipal clients in litigation matters, including the prosecution of a mass tort claim, as well as eminent domain, condemnation, and litigation matters.
Represented area not-for-profit and religious cemeteries with respect to regulatory compliance, environmental, and land use issues.
Represented major national petroleum company and regional gasoline distributor and supplier in multiple litigations throughout New York state in actions involving allegations of discharges of petroleum and other contaminants.
Represented defendants/global leaders in the development of process solutions for the semiconductor and life science industries in toxic tort “clean room” birth defect litigation pending in Delaware State Court.
Represented plaintiffs and defendants in cost recovery actions pending in federal and state court brought pursuant to CERCLA, RCRA, and other federal environmental statutes.