Event Overview
Thursday, January 16, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM – Agency Update Off-Site CLE Program | Greenberg Traurig, LLP, One Vanderbilt Avenue, 29th Fl.
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Off-Site Reception
Friday, January 17, 2025
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM – CLE Program
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM – Off-Site Luncheon
2025: A Whole New World?
The program will cover recent environmental law developments at the federal and state level, including recent Supreme Court Decisions and newly effective state laws relating to wetlands, among other topics.
Environmental & Energy Law Section Chair
Michael Hecker Esq., Hodgson Russ LLP, Buffalo, NY
Program Chair
Karen L. Mintzer, Esq., Mintzer Mauch PLLC, New York, NY
General Registration Fee
Required for all Annual Meeting attendees.
| NYSBA Members | $250 |
| Non-members | $350 |
+plus…
$150 Program Registration Fee
Environmental & Energy Law Section Annual Meeting
2025: A Whole New World?
Friday, January 17, 2025
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
New York Hilton Midtown
Gramercy | Second Floor
4.0 MCLE Credits
4.0 Areas of Professional Practice
This program is transitional and is suitable for all attorneys including those
newly admitted.
8:30 a.m. – 8:35 a.m.
Welcome and Introduction
Section Chair
Michael Hecker, Esq.
Partner
Hodgson Russ LLP
Buffalo, NY
Program Chair
Karen L. Mintzer, Esq.
Founding Partner
Mintzer Mauch PLLC
New York, NY
8:35 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
What Practitioners Need To Know About SEQRA’s New Cumulative Impacts Analysis Requirement
Speaker
Nancy Doon, AICP | Northeast Region Environmental Service Leader, VHB, New York, NY
Lawrence Weintraub, Esq. | Office of General Counsel New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY
Adriana Espinoza | Deputy Commissioner, Equity and Justice New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY
Hilary Semel, Esq. | Director and General Counsel NYC Mayor's Office of Environmental Coordination, New York, NY
Moderator
Helen Mauch, Esq. | Founding Partner, Mintzer Mauch PLLC, New York, NY
1.0 Credit in Areas of Professional Practice9:25 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Break
9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.
A Discussion of DEC’s New Freshwater Wetlands Regulations
Speaker
Kathryn Sommo, CPESC, ISA Arborist | Technical Director, Biologist/Environmental Scientist, Roux Associates, Islandia, NY
Roy Jacobson | Head of the Habitat Protection Section, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY
Robert O’Connor, Esq. | Assistant Regional Attorney, Region 3, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY
Moderator
Jessica S. Albin, Esq. | Senior Counsel, NYC Department of Sanitation, New York, NY
1.0 Credit in Areas of Professional Practice10:20 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Break
10:40 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Cap & Invest
Speaker
Jane E. McLaughlin, Esq. | Principal, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Albany, NY
Jonathan Binder, Esq. | Deputy Commissioner, Air Resources, Climate Change and Energy New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY
Moderator
Yvonne Hennessey | Partner, Barclay Damon, Albany, NY
1.0 Credit in Areas of Professional Practice11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
What is the Supreme Court Doing to Environmental Law?
Speaker
Michael B. Gerrard, Esq. | Professor and Director, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School, New York, NY
Sean H. Donohue, Esq. | Partner, Donahue, Goldberg & Herzog LLP, Washington, DC
Shannon S. Broome, Esq. | Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, San Francisco, CA
Moderator
James J. Periconi, Esq. | Managing Principal Owner, Periconi, LLC, New York, NY
1.0 Credit in Areas of Professional PracticeThursday, January 16, 2025
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
One Vanderbilt Avenue, 29th Fl. | New York, NY 10017
1.0 MCLE Credit
1.0 Areas of Professional Practice
This program is transitional and is suitable for all attorneys including those newly admitted.
4:00 p.m. – 4:05 p.m.
Welcome and Introduction
Section Chair | Michael Hecker, Esq., Hodgson Russ LLP Buffalo, NY
4:05 p.m. – 4:10 p.m.
Business Meeting and Election of Officers
Nominating Committee Report
Speaker
Karen L. Mintzer, Esq. | Section Secretary and Nominating Committee Chair; Mintzer Mauch PLLC New York NY
4:10 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
Environmental & Energy Law Section Award Presentation
Speaker
Nicholas M. Ward-Willis, Esq. | Awards Committee Chair; Keane & Beane P.C., White Plains, NY
4:20 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Agency Update
Speakers from the New York State Department of Public Service and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will provide an update.
Speaker
Robert Rosenthal, Esq. | General Counsel NYS Department of Public Service
Alexander B. Stein, Esq. | Deputy General Counsel NYS Environmental Research Development Authority
1.0 Credit in Areas of Professional Practice
Silver Sponsor
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