Resume

Education

  • Undergraduate

    • Tufts University, Medford, MA
      B. A. cum laude, May 1981
      Economics and Psychology double major

  • Post-Graduate

    • Boston College Law School
      Juris Doctor, May 1984

    • United States Coast Guard Merchant Marine Officer
      50 Ton Master--Near Coastal Waters, May 2008

Honors

  • Congressional Certificate of Achievement from Representative William Delahunt for assistance in Creation of Upper Cape Water Supply Cooperative, 2001

  • Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions Environmental Service Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1991

  • Admitted to Dean's List at Tufts University, 1978, 1979, 1980

  • Admitted to Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Society for outstanding scholastic Achievement in the field of Economics, June 1980

Professional Experience

  • 1986 - Present: Law Offices of William C. Henchy
    Civil and Criminal Litigation practice with emphasis on Commercial Litigation, Municipal Law, Wetlands Protection, Environmental, Fisheries and Land Use Law. Experience before the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and District of Columbia, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Supreme Judicial Court, Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Single Justice Session of the Appeals Court, Massachusetts Superior Courts, Massachusetts District Courts, Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts, and various Administrative Agencies in the State of Massachusetts.

  • 1984 - 1985: Law Offices of Gary A. Nickerson
    Associate Attorney; responsible for legal research, preparation of civil and criminal motions and pleadings, and presentation of motions to the Court; drafting of documents and correspondence; trial of criminal cases in the District Court.

Special Affiliations

  • Special Assistant District Attorney, Cape and Islands District, 1987, 1989-1990
    Responsible for prosecution, disposition, trial, and sentencing of criminal defendants in the Barnstable County District Courts.

  • District Counsel - Mashpee Water District, 1988 to 2019
    Responsible for all legal matters relative to statutory powers and duties of the Water District, including land takings, easement acquisitions, preparation of warrants for district meetings, and rendering of legal opinions regarding actions by the District Commissioners.

  • Consultant to Wellfleet Conservation Commission, 1988
    Retained by the Wellfleet Conservation Commission as an expert consultant relative to development and implementation of comprehensive municipal wetlands protection regulations under local wetlands by-law.

  • Counsel to Otis Air National Guard Standing Water Supply Policy Group, 2000-2001
    Retained to mediate interests of municipalities and armed forces of the United States, and draft legislation to permit regional water supplies to four municipalities (Towns of Falmouth, Sandwich, Bourne, and Mashpee) whose groundwater resources were contaminated by hazardous waste plumes emanating from Otis Air Force Base. Drafted Special Legislation adopted by the Massachusetts General Court as Chapter 352 of the Acts and Resolves of 2000.

  • Counsel to Upper Cape Regional Water Supply Cooperative, 2001-present
    Retained by Board of Managers of Regional Water Supplier, representing the Towns of Falmouth, Bourne, Sandwich, and Mashpee. Responsible for legal advice relative to initial organization of regional entity, as well as transfer of assets between the Massachusetts Military Reservation and the Board of Managers. Responsible for coordination of necessary permitting to bring regional water supply on-line to participating Towns.

  • Special Counsel—Bourne Water District, 2002---2007
    Retained by Board of Water Commissioners to Bourne Water District to address perchlorate contamination into municipal wells.

  • Special Counsel—Sandwich Water District, 2006--present
    Retained by Board of Water Commissioners to Sandwich Water District to address ongoing dispute with the Department of Environmental Protection regarding allowable drinking withdrawals under G.L. c. 21G Water Management Act Permit.

  • Special Counsel—Town of Wellesley, 2007—2010
    Retained by the Town of Wellesley to litigate Judicial and Administrative appeals from limitations imposed by the Department of Environmental Protection on Wellesley’s Water Management Act registration statements. Lead counsel in Norfolk Superior Court cases consolidated with litigation by 14 other cities and towns.

Bar Status

  • Admitted to practice before the Supreme Judicial Court, 1985.

  • Admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, 1985.

  • Admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the first Circuit, 1985.

Civic and Community

  • Member, Brewster Board of Selectmen, 1989-1991

  • Chairman, Massachusetts Audubon Society's Capital Campaign for the Sanctuary at Wellfleet Bay

  • Co-chairman, Massachusetts Department of Public works, Route 6A Corridor Management Group, 1990-1991

  • Co-chairman, Brewster Conservation Commission, 1985-1993

  • Member, Brewster Land Acquisition Committee, 1988-1989

  • Member, Brewster Hazardous Waste Committee, 1985-1991

  • Member, Cape Cod Planning and Economic Development Commission, (Brewster Representative), 1989-1990

  • Panelist, 1986 Coastal Zone Management Annual Meeting Seminar on Municipal Wetlands Protection Regulation Development and Implementation

  • Panelist, 1987 Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions Program on Local Wetlands Protection Regulation Development and Implementation

  • Legal Counsel to Massachusetts Institution of Technology Symposium on Growth Control and Management, 1986

  • Author, Town of Brewster Wetlands Protection By-law

  • Author, Brewster Wetlands Protection Regulations

  • Author, Town of Brewster Environmental Impact Review By-law

  • Author, Massachusetts Municipal Association Advocate article regarding impact of moratoria on land development (published in Winter, 1988)

  • Author, Editorial in Cape Cod Business Journal regarding Municipal Land Acquisition, May 1988

  • Moderator, Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod, Cape Cod Planning and Economic Development commission and Homebuilders Association Conference on Constitutional Limitations to land use regulation, 1989

  • Member, Cape Cod Commission Blue Ribbon Panel, 1992

  • Member, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Barrier Beach Task Force, 1993-1994

  • Panelist, Boston Bar Association Environmental Law Section Meeting, 1994

  • Technical Advisor to the United States Advisory Committee, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, Bluefin Tuna Species Working Group, 1996 – 2001

  • Panelist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Symposium on Protection of Coastal landforms, 2001

  • Panelist, Coastal Zone Management / Department of Environmental Protection seminar on enforcement of Wetlands Protection laws, 2001

  • Coach, Brewster Little League

  • Mock Trial Tournament Attorney-Advisor, Cape Cod Academy, 2001—2015 (Division Champions 2005, 2007, 2008)

Directorships

  • Director, Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod, 1986-1989

  • Associate Director, Massachusetts Audubon Society, 1993 – 1998

  • Director, Massachusetts Audubon Society, 1998 - 2001