Robin L. Main

• Represented South Fork offshore wind farm in its federal consistency reviews before the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, and the New York Department of State.
• Represented Revolution Wind offshore wind farm in its federal consistency reviews before the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, in its permitting with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and before the Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board for licensing. Also successfully represented the wind farm before the Rhode Island Superior Court in cases challenging the permitting process.
• Represented Sunrise Wind offshore wind farm in its federal consistency reviews before the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, and the New York Department of State.
• Represented the first offshore wind farm in the United States in a complicated permitting process before the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council under the Council’s then newly adopted Ocean Special Area Management Plan. Also successfully represented the wind farm before the Rhode Island Superior and Supreme Courts in cases challenging the permitting process.
• Defense of a large construction company in a wetlands enforcement action involving the Army Corps of Engineers, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and numerous stakeholders on the rehabilitation of a riverbed in western Massachusetts.
• Helps construction companies in navigating environmental compliance issues and regularly represents construction companies in federal and state environmental enforcement actions and other environmental disputes.
• Successfully represented a large utility company at the trial court and on appeal to the state supreme court in a challenge to the scope of a 26-mile utility easement in central and southern Rhode Island.
• Routinely represents utilities in Rhode Island and Massachusetts before federal and state environmental agencies on permitting and the cleanup of legacy sites, including former manufactured gas plant and holder sites.
• Routinely advises businesses in defending against and in negotiating penalties in enforcement actions brought by federal and state environmental agencies involving releases of oil and hazardous materials, air discharges including asbestos, and water discharges.
• Regularly counsels real property and financial institutions on handling and mitigating environmental risks associated with transactions, including the use of brownfields agreements and environmental insurance.
• Handles environmental due diligence for corporate and real estate transactions.

Work Experience

• Hinckley Allen
  • Co-Chair, Environmental and Energy Law Groups
  • Partner (2006-Present)
  • Executive Committee Member (2013-2025)
  • Associate (1989-1992)
• Holland & Knight, LLP
  • Partner (2001-2006)
  • National Chair of Women's Initiative (2004-2006)
  • Professional Development and Recruitment Committee (2004-2006)
• McGovern, Noel & Benik (merged into Holland & Knight)
  • Partner (1995-2001)
  • Associate (1992-1995)

Honors & Awards

• Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star (2026)
• Best Lawyers in America® (2007-2026)
  • Lawyer of the Year (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025-2026)
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Energy Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Litigation – Environmental
• Martindale-Hubbell® AV Peer Review Rating, Recipient
• Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Top Women in Law (2010)
• Providence Animal Rescue League, Stanley Mason Award (2009) for efforts made on behalf of animals
• Providence Business News, Business Women Awards, Professional Services Industry Leader (2026)
• Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly, Go To Lawyer for Environmental (2021)
• Rhode Island Monthly, Professional Excellence in Law (2019, 2020, 2022, 2025-2026)
  • Environment
• Super Lawyers, Rhode Island (2008-2026)
  • Environmental

Certifications

• Certified Mediator, Mediation Works, 2011

Charitable & Civic Involvement

• Environmental Business Council of New England, Rhode Island Chapter
  • Advisory Council Member (2026-Present)
  • Strategic Planning Committee Member (2022-Present)
  • Member (2020-Present)
• Jamestown Education Foundation, Board of Directors (2013-2019)
• New England Environmental Business Council, Former Director
• Providence Animal Rescue League
  • Director (1994-2011)
  • Chair of Board of Directors (2007-2010)
• Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), Board of Directors
• Rhode Island State Properties Committee (2015-2024)
• Rhode Island Chapter of U.S. Green Building Council, Past Director
• Rhode Island State Ethics Commission, Commissioner (1999-2004)
• Rhode Island Society of Environmental Professionals, Former Director
• Roger Williams Family Association, Member
• The Women's Fund of Rhode Island, Board Member (2011-Present)

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association; Women in Products Liability Committee
• American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
• American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL)
  • Education Committee, Co-Chair (2023-Present)
  • Fellow
• Energy Bar Association (EBA)
• Federal Bar Association
• New England Business Association (formerly known as SBANE) (2016-2020)
  • Chair
  • Board of Directors Member
  • Executive Committee Member
• New England Women in Energy and the Environment (NEWIEE)
• Rhode Island Bar Association
• Rhode Island Society of Environmental Professionals (RISEP)

Bar Memberships

• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• New York
• Rhode Island