Martha A Dean

Martha A Dean

5.0
Rating: 8.0

Licensed for 39 years

Environmental and natural resources Lawyer at Avon, CT
Practice Areas: Environmental and Natural Resources, Lawsuits & Disputes, Land Use & Zoning, Constitutional

144 Reverknolls, Avon, CT

About Martha

Biography

Practice Areas

4

Practice Areas

Environmental and Natural Resources 30%

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: Our firm represents businesses, land owners, shooting ranges and individuals with environmental compliance, enforcement, cost recovery, remediation, and legislative objectives. We provide the highest quality legal services in an efficient, creative and cost-effective manner. We frequently work collaboratively with teams of legal and technical experts to assess and develop strategies for resolving clients' legal issues.

36 years | 22 cases

30%
Land Use and Zoning 30%

LAND USE: We work with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, state environmental agencies, and local land use agencies to obtain approvals for new projects and development and for existing activities. We also defend businesses, clubs and not-for-profits, and individual land owners against regulatory actions and neighbor-against -neighbor lawsuits.

36 years | 10 cases

30%
Lawsuits and Disputes 30%

SHOOTING RANGE DEFENSE: We have achieved unparalleled success defending outdoor shooting ranges in litigation around the country. We also provide environmental, safety, and noise-related strategic advice and legal guidance to shooting ranges. Attorney Dean is a frequent writer and lecturer on the defense of outdoor shooting ranges.

30 years | 11 cases

30%
Constitutional 10%

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: We challenge inappropriate government action under the federal and state constitutions.

30 years | 7 cases

10%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.

search module image

Search our directory

Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.

chat module image

Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.

Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.

Chat with

Licenses

Licensed in Connecticut for 39 years

State: Connecticut

Acquired: 1986

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in New York for 10 years

State: New York

Acquired: 2015

Resigned

No misconduct found

Location

Law Offices of Martha A. Dean

144 Reverknolls, Avon, CT, 06001

Ad

Transform legal challenges into solutions.

Connect now to review your situation.

The Avvo Rating explained

display-bg

The Avvo Rating explained

Martha A Dean's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

6 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (6) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 6 reviews

Posted by Adam | July 26, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes

Excellent Small firm. Very knowledgeable

Martha, Nicole and Nate were great to work with. They helped me with a dispute from my neighbor who was trying to get the state to shut down my at home Target shooting range They were very professional and Martha was quick to help me out with questions and concerns I had. They helped me feel like ...a person who needed legal help rather than just a nameless client. I would not hesitate to use them again if the need should arise.

Posted by MIchael | May 09, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Environmental and Natural Resources

Skilled and Proficient

Martha’s in-depth knowledge of environmental law and issues and her skills as a litigator saved our organization on several fronts. In conflicts with municipal and State agencies over environmental pollution claims, she was adroit in developing defenses that resolved those issues as well as forestall...ing future claims. She was equally adept in the court room, securing a solid win for us when litigants attempted to shut down our entire operation. She then guided us through the arduous process of obtaining local, State, and Federal permits for site improvements in State and Federal wetlands. She is skillful in her field of law, and pleasant to work with…a winning combination.

Posted by anonymous | March 29, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Environmental and Natural Resources

Martha helped save our gun club.

I am one of the officers of the Metacon Gun Club in Simsbury, CT. Several years ago the club was subjected to an intense attack by some of our neighbors who used every avenue possible to shut us down, including lawsuits at both the state and federal level on environmental grounds. The club retained... Martha to represent us and after a long and exasperating battle we prevailed in both cases and are still operating to this day. The suit in federal court was even appealed and we survived that also. Martha's firm was able to tie our case to a recently-won Supreme Court victory in the environmental field and the group that had won that case took the lead in defending our case also, which saved us a lot of money. Without the services of a very knowledgeable and energetic attorney our club would surely have been shut down. We had to deal with local, state and federal agencies on matters of safety, design, operations, and environmental stewardship and Martha was invaluable in helping us navigate the difficult and sometimes exasperating path through all the requirements and regulations that are in effect these days. She was able to guide a bunch of laymen through a very difficult battle and kept us on the path to victory with grace and humor, which helped a lot.

Posted by anonymous | March 23, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Environmental and Natural Resources

An expert in her field

We are owners of two properties that were once used as gas stations; we never owned or operated the stations. Both properties have/had environmental issues relative to the past uses. Martha Dean assisted us as we navigated the issues regarding our rights as innocent parties and our responsibilities ...under state and Federal regulations. Martha is an expert in her field and I highly recommend her for someone who needs assistance navigating the very complex issues involving environmental law.

Posted by anonymous | March 21, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Environmental and Natural Resources

Very knowledgeable and professional

I purchased a mini plaza with a gas station without knowing all the ins and outs of owning a potentially very expensive liability. I did my "due diligent'" of a stage I environmental studies of the property and thought that was all. After meeting with an acquaintance, who is an owner of the local... gasoline distributor and gas stations, he advised me to have Attorney Martha Dean review over the environmental studies and the lease on the gas station tenant. He highly recommended Attorney Martha Dean. In her review, Attorney Martha Dean picked up many issues that my previous attorney had missed. Issues like who is ultimately responsible if there was a gasoline leak at the gas station, what agreements are in the lease, and what I needed in documentations to made sure that I was protected as the landowner from any potential environmental liabilities the gas station tenant can cause in their operations As her client, she made sure that I was protected in every way and advises me in my best interest. She would explain both the pros and cons of the situation and gives her opinions and experiences on the laws. She provides an excellent professional service at a personal level.

See All Client Reviews

Martha A Dean's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Martha

No Endorsement Data Available Yet
This attorney hasn't received any attorney endorsements recently on Avvo.

No Endorsement Data Available Yet
This attorney hasn't created any attorney endorsements recently on Avvo.

Experience

Rating:  8.0 (Excellent)

Honors

2012

2nd Amendment and Freedom Award, National Rifle Association

1982

Book Award (highest grade) - Corporations, University of Connecticut School of Law

Work Experience

1994 - Present

Attorney / Owner, Law Offices of Martha A. Dean

1990 - 1994

Attorney (Associate), Robinson & Cole

1986 - 1988

Attorney (Associate), Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, PC

1985 - 1985

Summer Associate, Gaston Snow & Ely Bartlett

1984 - 1984

Summer Associate, Honors Program, U.S. Securities & Exchange Commisison, Enforcement Division

Associations

2012 - Present

National Rifle Association

Speaker & author (shooting range litigation/legal issues)

1996 - Present

Federalist Society (Connecticut Lawyers chapter)

Co-founder of Chapter & Executive Committee Member

1986 - Present

Connecticut Bar Association

Former Executive Committee Member (Environment Section)

Sample of Legal Cases

Simsbury Avon Preservation Society v. Metacon Gun Club

Client prevailed on all issues in state and federal court.

Mehler v. Terminix

Resolved through settlement.

See More Legal Cases

Education

1986

University of Connecticut School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1982

Wellesley College

BA - Bachelor of Arts

1977

Phillips Academy (Andover)

hs

Speaking Engagements

2015

Range Development Seminar

Defense Strategies for Outdoor Shooting Ranges

2015

Annual Conference

Defending Outdoor Shooting Ranges

2012

National Firearms Law Seminar

Defense strategies - outdoor shooting ranges

2009

Range Development Seminar

Defending Outdoor Shooting Ranges

2009

Environmental Policy Committee, Annual Meeting

Litigation Strategies

1993

Environmental Law

Compliance with the Emergency Planning & Community Right to Know Act

1992

State Emergency Response Commission

Emergency Planning

Languages

English

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution