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Deborah R. Brancato

Deborah R. Brancato

Partner

  • Stamford
  • dbrancato@carmodylaw.com

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Legal Services

  • Real Estate & Land Use
  • Environmental

Industries

  • Energy & Infrastructure
  • Real Estate: Energy & Infrastructure

Education

  • Pace University School of Law, J.D., 2007 ~ magna cum laude
  • Fairfield University, B.A., 2004 ~ summa cum laude

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • Connecticut
  • New York

Deborah R. Brancato

Partner

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Home » Our Team » Deborah R. Brancato

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Deborah practices in the areas of environmental, real estate, and land use law, with a focus on assisting clients to understand, manage, and limit environmental risks associated with property and business transactions. Deborah represents a diverse array of clients through environmental aspects of purchasing or selling real estate or businesses that have significant environmental liabilities, including navigating investigation and remedial obligations under the Connecticut Transfer Act. She guides clients through remediation and redevelopment of brownfield and environmentally sensitive properties, including negotiating environment use restrictions for contaminated properties with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) and regularly advises regarding environmental permitting and compliance issues.

Deborah is an active participant in the State’s ongoing efforts to revamp Connecticut’s environmental regulatory framework, and served on one of the CT DEEP subcommittees formed to assist the State with its development of a new release-based cleanup program, which will ultimately replace the Transfer Act and drastically change environmental compliance obligations in the State.

Deborah has cultivated close relationships with the regulatory and consultant community that enable her to efficiently assist clients with environmental matters. She applies her years of experience, including a background at a prominent public interest environmental advocacy organization, to provide clients with pragmatic, cost-effective, and creative solutions to environmental issues.

Deborah is also experienced in representing developers, institutions, and property owners in a wide range of real estate and commercial transactions, and land use matters.

“I can only say very positive things about Deborah Brancato. She is responsive, her opinions are well thought out, her reviews are focused and accurate, and she is efficient.”

“Deborah Brancato is always there. She is responsive and easy to work with and most importantly, her knowledge of regulatory environments has been helpful.”

“Deborah Brancato has been instrumental in guiding us through our matters. She is creative and smart and distils information so that it’s understandable.”

“I have great trust in her; she is a wonderful resource.”

“Deborah Brancato manages each case with consistent understanding and guidance.”

Chambers USA Guide 2025

Affiliations

  • Connecticut Bar Association, Environmental Law Section Executive Committee, 2021-2024

  • Connecticut Society for Women Environmental Professionals (SWEP),  Executive Committee/Co-chair

  • Environmental Professionals Organization of Connecticut (EPOC)

  • Fairfield County Bar Association

  • Norwalk Leadership Institute Program, 2020

  • NYC Environmental Law Leadership Institute, 2009

Distinctions

  • Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch – Environmental Law and Real Estate Law, 2024-2025

  • Ranked in Chambers USA Guide – Environment, Connecticut, 2025

  • 40 Under Forty, Westchester & Fairfield County Business Journals, 2022

  • New Leaders in Law, Connecticut Legal Awards, Connecticut Law Tribune, 2021

  • Phi Beta Kappa

  • Connecticut Super Lawyers® – Real Estate, 2017

Community

  • Former Chair of the Fairfield County Bar Association Environmental Section, 2020-2021
  • Former Board Member of the Mutual Housing Association of Southwestern Connecticut, Inc.

Carmody Ranked in Chambers USA 2025

June 09, 2025
Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP is pleased to be ranked in Chambers USA 2025 in the following practice areas: Labor & Employment Litigation: General Commercial Real Estate Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use Chambers is one of the leaders in identifying, ranking and differentiating the best talent for law firms. Lawyers ranked individually in
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A Significant Step Closer to Sunsetting the Transfer Act

January 29, 2025
CT DEEP Submits Revised Regulations for Replacement Program for Legislative Approval The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) has reached the next milestone in setting up its “Release-Based Cleanup Program” to replace the burdensome Transfer Act.  After kicking-off the formal regulation adoption process this past July, including soliciting public comments, DEEP recently
Read More

Gov. Lamont Announces State Grants to Remediate 21 Blighted Properties through Brownfield Municipal Grant Program

December 23, 2024
On December 4, Governor Lamont announced that the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is awarding approximately $20 million in funding to support the remediation and redevelopment of 21 blighted properties in 18 municipalities across Connecticut as part of the Brownfield Municipal Grant Program. For more information about the
Read More

CT DEEP Begins Formal Regulation Adoption Process for its New Release-Based Cleanup Program

July 29, 2024
The CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) has reached a significant milestone in its process of establishing a Release-Based Cleanup Program in Connecticut, to ultimately replace the Transfer Act.  The new program was authorized by legislation in late 2020, and after years of informal development (including monthly advisory “Working
Read More

CT DECD Announces Round 20 of Brownfield Grant Funding Opportunities

July 17, 2024
The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development's (DECD) Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development (OBRD) has announced the availability of $25 million in funding opportunities under the State’s Municipal Brownfield Grant and Targeted Brownfield Development Loan Programs and is inviting applications for proposals. The deadline to submit applications is
Read More

Environmental Justice in Connecticut

June 13, 2025
Presented by the Connecticut Bar Association, presenters including Carmody Professional Environmental partner Deborah Brancato, will discuss the history and current developments in Connecticut's Environmental Justice law, including overview of Environmental Justice law implementation in CT, Environmental Justice and permitting processes, newest amendments to Environmental Justice law, including 2020 and 2023 expansions,
Read More

Demystifying CT’s Transition to a Release-Based Remediation Program

June 10, 2024
Presented by the Connecticut Bar Association, panelists including Carmody Environmental and Land Use Partner Deborah Brancato will discuss the transition to a "Release-Based" program. Since the State passed legislation in 2020 to sunset the “Transfer Act”, CT’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has been working with stakeholders to
Read More
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