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Practices

Biography

Mr. Sinkman represents plaintiffs and defendants in Superfund and other litigation matters regarding the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. He also represents buyers, sellers, and developers of contaminated properties, including parties seeking qualification for tax credits and other benefits provided by New York State’s Brownfield Cleanup Program. Mr. Sinkman’s practice also includes assisting clients with a wide variety of environmental compliance matters.

Mr. Sinkman is a former Assistant Attorney General in the New York State Office of the Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Bureau. In that role, he represented New York State and its agencies in Superfund matters; litigation against the federal government and private parties seeking in excess of $50 million for PFAS contamination at 69 sites; litigation against an international organization seeking more than $40 million in flooding damages; and other environmental enforcement matters.

Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Mr. Sinkman was in private practice in New York City. He also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Richard Owen of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Mr. Sinkman is a member of the Executive Committee of the Environmental and Energy Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and Co-Chair of the Section’s Enforcement and Compliance Committee. He also is a member of the Board of Directors of the New York City Brownfield Partnership. Mr. Sinkman regularly writes about environmental law issues and speaks on environmental law programs hosted by the Section, the NYC Brownfield Partnership, and other organizations.

 

Other Info About Matthew

Education

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Law School

Boston University School of Law, J.D.

  • Selected for the Sutherland Cup Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition in Washington, DC
  • Edward C. Stone Moot Court
  • President of the Jewish Law Students Association, 2006-2007

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Undergraduate School

University of Michigan, B.A.

Clerkships

Matthew served as a clerk for the court(s) and judge(s) below:

Judicial clerk to the Honorable Richard Owen, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, New York, NY, 2008 – 2010

Bar Memberships

Matthew is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

New York

New Jersey

Courts

Matthew is admitted to practice before the following court(s):

United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, United States District Court for the Western District of New York, United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

Award Selection Methodology

Recognized by Best Lawyers®, 2026 Edition: Environmental Law; Litigation – Environmental

Included on the New York Metro Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, Business Litigation, 2014-2016

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

New York State Bar Association
Executive Committee, Environmental & Energy Law Section, 2019 – Present
Co-Chair, Enforcement and Compliance Committee, Environmental & Energy Law Section, 2019 – Present
Member, Global Climate Change Committee, Environmental & Energy Law Section
Member, Hazardous Waste/Site Remediation Committee, Environmental & Energy Law Section

Co-Chair and Principal Organizer, Earth Day Climate Change Symposia, 2020-2025, sponsored by the New York State Bar Association and New York City Bar Association

New York City Bar Association
Member, International Human Rights Committee, 2016 – 2019

Member, New York City Brownfield Partnership Board of Directors

Civic Activities

Civic & Charitable Organizations

Mr. Sinkman has regularly provided pro bono legal services while working in the private sector. His pro bono work has included representing an applicant for refugee asylum status based on religious and political persecution and representing clients in landlord-tenant matters.