Overview
Ryan Clemens is an associate in the firm's Commercial Real Estate Group, representing clients on the full spectrum of development with a focus on coastal and environmental compliance. He guides developers and businesses through purchases and leasing, financing, permitting and regulatory regimes, litigation, selling, and more to achieve their project goals. With experience representing all sides of transactions, regulations, litigation, and lending, Ryan’s insight into transactions and disputes boosts his appearance before opposing parties, local and state boards, and courts. His focus on coastal and environmental law incorporates and lends skill in presenting intersecting local, state, and federal legal frameworks to those multiple audiences.
Ryan’s practice also includes advising a wide range of restaurant and hospitality clients, from individual chef-owners to multi-unit restaurant groups, on alcoholic beverage licensing matters, real estate and corporate transactions, financing, and general business. He represents restaurant clients before state and municipal boards across Massachusetts as well.
Before entering private practice, Ryan interned at the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Land Court, the Conservation Law Foundation, the Environmental Law Institute, and NOAA's Office of General Counsel, gaining experience in land use and real estate litigation, Massachusetts General Law Chapters 91 and 93A, industrial regulation, natural resource management, and restoration, both within and beyond Massachusetts and across local, state, federal, and international law.
He received a Juris Doctor/Master of Environmental Management from Vermont Law & Graduate School and the Yale School of the Environment and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colby College in Environmental Studies with a Policy Concentration.
Publications
- Massachusetts Zoning Reform: Key Changes to Special Permit and Zoning Variance Standards, (August 2026)
- Client Alert: Two Updates on Alcohol License Applications and Modernized Regulations, (March 2026)
- Client Alert Update: Boston’s New Upgrade Rules Safeguard Beer and Wine License Value, (December 2025)
- SJC Clarifies Distinction Between Contract and Tort Claims in Construction Defect Cases, (October 2025)
- Client Alert: New Massachusetts Law Allows Conversion of Beer & Wine Licenses to All-Alcohol, (September 2025)
- Standing Against Your Neighbor: Abutter Appeals One Year After the Affordable Homes Act, (August 2025)
- Safe Harbor: The Proposed Cape Cod Seal Cull’s Illegality Under the MMPA, Ineffectiveness, and Cruelty, (2021)
- Data Stewardship and Privacy Rights Under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan's Amendment 23's Proposed Electronic Monitoring, (2020)
