Read below for an essay excerpted from 50 Remarkable Years, 50 Remarkable People, Wildlands’ 50th anniversary book honoring the partners and volunteers who have made remarkable contributions to land conservation in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Read “The Next Remarkable Chapter,” our series introduction by President Karen Grey.

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Building relationships, developing protection strategies, and executing transactions are the basic elements of land protection work. Every project, regardless of the budget, the location, or the size of the land, requires a delicate dance of these three steps. Trusted attorneys are critical partners in this intricate process.

While plenty of attorneys practice real estate law, Bill Abbott and Mike Nuesse hold a unique understanding of the highly nuanced details of land protection. Whether regarding the finer points of a conservation restriction, ambiguity around an easement, or encroachment issues with neighbors, Bill and Mike have deep experience that has made them indispensable legal advisors to Wildlands Trust. With their fingerprints on hundreds of land protection projects, some dating as far back as 1973, they have donated their time to the Wildlands mission for a combined 80-plus years.

Bill was an early board member who became general counsel to the Trust, in addition to his busy Boston law practice. His name is synonymous with land protection in his hometown of Plymouth. Mike, a sole practitioner working from his office in Hingham, joined the board in 1997 and has been steering us in the right direction ever since.

Purchase 50 Remarkable Years, 50 Remarkable People today: wildlandstrust.org/shop50