About Francis
education
University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, Intellectual Property and Environmental Law
Salem State College, M.Ed School Administration
Suffolk University, B.S. Biology
Bar Admissions
Massachusetts
United States District Court, District Of Massachusetts
United States Supreme Court
United States Patent and Trademark Office (No. 31754)
Accolades & more
Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, General Counsel
Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association, General Counsel
Massachusetts Nursery Landscape Association, General Counsel
Massachusetts Flower Growers’ Association, General Counsel
Massachusetts Association Of Agricultural Commissions, Founder and General Counsel
Certified Secondary School Principal, Certified General Supervisor, and Certified Teacher
Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Committee, Member (2015-Present)
Essex Agricultural Society, Board Member 2000 – Present, President (2013-2015)
Massachusetts Agricultural Fair Association, 2012 Board Member, President (2017-Present)
Massachusetts Association Conservation Commissions: Nominating Committee(2017-Present)
Tri-State Association of Agricultural Fairs, Vice President (2012-Present)
NuPath, Inc., Board of Directors (2011-2015)
Massachusetts Association of Agricultural Commissions, Founder (2006-Present)
Agricultural Commissioner, Boxford Massachusetts, Member (2005-Present)
Essex Agricultural Society, Member (2000-Present)
Conservation Commissioner, Boxford, MA (1999-Present)
Middlesex Fells Zoological Society, Stoneham, MA, Member (1990-1997)
Horn Pond Committee, Woburn, MA, Member (1989-1990)
Conservation Commissioner, Woburn, MA (1986-1989)
Biography
Francis has devoted a significant portion of his practice to representing the agricultural community. His focus primarily being in connection with federal, state, and local regulation compliance concerning agriculture, land use, marketing, acquisition and sale of agriculture facilities, agricultural taxation, agricultural and conservation restrictions and exempted agricultural practices. A substantial part of Frank’s practice involves municipal land use permitting and environmental issues including, but not limited to: wetlands, hazardous materials, and the use of such materials. For the past 30 years, Frank has been in private legal practice with a large regional law firm. He is also experienced in processing trademark applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
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Practice Areas
- Administrative & State Tax Appeals
- Environmental Law
- Environmental Litigation
- Land Use
- Litigation
- Agricultural Law
Representative Experience
- Profit prende rights to sand
- Rights to withdraw water
- Municipal liability in bringing frivolous action against a developer
Professional and Community Involvement
- 1996-1998 BOSTON COLLEGE LAW SCHOOL, Newton Centre, MA - ADJUNCT PROFESSOR. Responsibilities Include: Preparing and teaching a course titled, “Introduction to Lawyering and Professional Responsibility.”
- 1990-1996 SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND SCHOOL OF LAW, New Bedford, MA - ADJUNCT PROFESSOR. Responsibilities Include: Preparing and teaching courses concerning Business Torts, Intellectual Property, Environmental Law, Advanced Environmental Law, and Municipal Law.
- 2017 – PRESENT MCLE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW HANDBOOK - Co-author Chapter 9: Agriculture and Forestry
