Franca L. DeRosa

Franca DeRosa advises corporations, manufacturers, developers and utility companies on environmental and energy matters. Her work includes counseling on investigations, remediation, enforcement and compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations. She also addresses environmental issues arising in financing, corporate and real estate transactions, helping clients assess the implications of proposed deals and projects.

A significant part of Franca’s practice concerns the use and redevelopment of property. She has represented clients in remediating industrial and commercial sites and redeveloping them into productive, marketable properties. She also advises contractors and construction companies on environmental issues associated with residential, commercial and industrial developments. Her work spans the regulatory questions that arise before development as well as those involved in addressing conditions at existing sites.

In the energy sector, Franca has advised on the acquisition, restructuring and development of electric generating facilities. She regularly handles renewable energy matters, including solar and offshore wind projects, as well as matters involving storage and fuel cells. Her work in these areas draws together environmental counseling and the regulatory considerations associated with energy facilities and development.

Franca serves on a Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection working group developing release-based regulations for the state as required by Public Act 20-9. Chambers USA recognizes her as a leading environment lawyer; clients quoted by the publication have described her as “incredibly organized, incredibly diligent” and “incredibly knowledgeable on a wide range of environmental law-related issues.” She served on Brown Rudnick’s Management Committee from 2008 to 2022.

• Cruise Terminals International (CTI), in a ground lease with the Virgin Islands Port Authority for the long-term lease and redevelopment of the Port of Crown Bay in St. Thomas.
• ProFrac Holding, a Nasdaq-listed energy services company, in a $105 million deal to sell the mobile power generation assets and related intellectual property of its subsidiary, ProFrac GDM, to Flotek Industries.
• Whistle Express, a leading brand in the car wash industry, in its acquisition of Driven Brands’ U.S. car wash business for $385 million. The combined company is the largest express car wash company in the United States.
• PSEG, one of the ten largest U.S. electric utilities, in regulatory, permitting, and compliance matters for its New Haven Harbor and Bridgeport Harbor electric generating stations. Previously represented Wisvest, a subsidiary of Wisconsin Electric, on its acquisition of these assets from United Illuminating, and then represented Wisvest on the sale of these assets to PSEG.
• Competitive Power Ventures, a leading electric power development and asset management company, in development, operational, financing and compliance matters various electric generation facilities in Connecticut. Instrumental in obtaining regulatory approvals and permit transfers to facilitate the purchase and sale of the facilities.
• International Paper, the largest pulp and paper company in the world, on environmental, remediation, and contractual matters related to several of its facilities.
• Cruise Terminals International (CTI) in developing environmental strategies to understand full extent of environmental conditions on Crown Bay port redevelopment project in St. Thomas. Also, drafting environmental provisions in various contractual documents to properly allocate environmental obligations between parties and reduce potential environmental liabilities.
• The Davis Companies and Marcus Partners on environmental matters related to the redevelopments of numerous commercial properties in Connecticut and New Jersey.
• Park City Wind, an off-shore wind project owned by Avangrid Renewables, as state and federal regulatory, environment and real estate counsel.
• 698 South Main Street, the brownfield redevelopment group for Waterbury City, Connecticut, in its environmental investigation program and in the sale auction process for a former Anamet site.
• Wide World of Indoor Sports, a premier destination for state-of-the-art training facilities in New England, on environmental matters.
• DLC Management, a national leader in commercial retail real estate, on complex environmental issues.
• Scale MicroGrid, a vertically integrated distributed energy company, on its renewable energy projects in Connecticut, including three AC battery storage facilities and a fuel cell and thermal loop facility.
• Generation Bridge, owner of electric power generation facilities in New York and Connecticut, on environmental matters for the power plants.
• Borough of Naugatuck on environment issues relating to the subdivision and sale of an 86-acre industrial property.
• ProFrac, a Texas-based fracking company, as corporate environmental and compliance counsel for various acquisitions across the U.S.

• American University, J.D. (Editor, American University Journal of International Law and Policy)
• Trinity College, B.A.

• The Best Lawyers in America, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Litigation - Environmental, Real Estate Law

• Lawdragon 500, Leading Environmental Lawyers, 2026

• American College of Environmental Lawyers, Fellow

• Chambers USA, Environment, Connecticut

• Best Lawyers 2026, “Lawyer of the Year” in Litigation - Environmental in Hartford

• The Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law Lawyer of the Year, 2025

• The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Environmental Lawyer of the Year, 2012, 2020, 2024

• The Best Lawyers in America, Energy Law Lawyer of the Year, 2019

• Hartford Business Journal, Top 25 Women in Business

• New York Magazine, Women Leaders in the Law, Specialty: Energy, Utilities & Environmental Law

• Connecticut Law Tribune, Attorney of the Year Finalist, 2020

• Connecticut Secretary of State Public Service Award, Service on the State of Connecticut Natural Heritage, Open Space & Watershed Land Acquisition Review Board, 2003

• Fellow, The American College of Environmental Lawyers (2021)
• Member, Connecticut Bar Association
  • Executive Committee of CBA Environmental Law Section
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, The Connecticut Society for Women Environmental Professionals

• EPA Announces it Will Enforce Lead-Based Paint Safety Requirements Against Property Managers, Brown Rudnick Alert (November 2021)
• The Forever Chemicals: The Ever-Evolving Regulatory Climate of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), Chambers and Partners (July 2021)
• EPA’s Temporary Policy Regarding Enforcement During COVID-19 and Tips to Remain in Environmental Compliance, Brown Rudnick Alert (March 2020)
• Regulatory Guidance, Brown Rudnick Alert (March 2020)FDA Guidance, Brown Rudnick Alert (March 2020)