Environmental & Energy Law Section 2025 Annual Legislative Forum
The Annual Legislative Forum is a free and open to the public event that brings together New York State Legislative leaders and key experts to discuss a variety of new developments in environmental and energy law from many perspectives. It is a non-partisan event that lawyers from the public and private sectors and others interested in these fields attend each year.
The event features the leaders of the Environmental Conservation Committees of the Assembly and of the Senate of the New York State Legislature to discuss priorities and accomplishments.
The Keynote Speaker is a leading figure in environmental and energy law that will address current events.
This is a two part event, with the Annual Oil Spill Symposium taking place on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Register here: https://nysba.org/events/environmental-energy-law-section-2025-annual-oil-spill-symposium/.
*If you are not a NYSBA Member and a non-lawyer, please register with Member Resource Center by emailing mrc@nysba.org or calling 800-582-2452.
Annual Legislative Forum
May 7, 2025
John L. Parker, Esq.
Chair, Legislation Committee
Moderator
New York State Legislative Leaders
10 am to 11 am
Deborah Glick
Assemblymember 66th District
Chair, Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee
Peter Harckham
Senator, 40th District
Chair, Senate Environmental Conservation Committee
Panel Discussion
11:00-12:15 pm
The End of the World As We Knew It: What is the Role for Government and Private Industry in How Insurance Markets Respond to Extreme Weather Events and A Changing Climate?
Over the past several years, news stories reveal how weather patterns have changed. Atmospheric rivers bring substantial rain events, higher winds cause more damage, and flooding has become more prevalent as storms intensify. Dry conditions and drought can bring significant fires. Hurricane damage and changing sea levels will likely serve to make the problem more intense in various parts of the state.
The Panel discussion will bring together a diverse group with unique experience, expertise and perspective as the focus on the challenges that are being observed and those that are expected in the future. They will address property exposures, claims, loss control, underwriting considerations and proposed legislative involvement.
Panel Discussion
Eve-Lynn Gisonni, Esq.
Partner
Saxe, Doernberger & Vita
Drew Howard
Technical Director
Economic & Complex Analytics (ECA)
Roux
Josh Weisberg, Esq.
Chief Risk Officer
Managing Director, RMS
SterlingRisk
John O’Marra, ARM, ASLI
President
RT New York
Keynote Speaker
12:30 pm
Amanda Lefton
Acting Commissioner
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- May 7, 2025
- 10:00 AM
- 12:30 PM
- 0.0
- Virtual Participation
Annual Legislative Forum
May 7, 2025
John L. Parker, Esq.
Chair, Legislation Committee
Moderator
10 am to 11 am New York State Legislative Leaders
Deborah Glick
Assemblymember 66th District
Chair, Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee
Peter Harckham
Senator, 40th District
Chair, Senate Environmental Conservation Committee
11:00-12:15 pm Panel Discussion
The End of the World As We Knew It: What is the Role for Government and Private Industry in How Insurance Markets Respond to Extreme Weather Events and A Changing Climate?
Over the past several years, news stories reveal how weather patterns have changed. Atmospheric rivers bring substantial rain events, higher winds cause more damage, and flooding has become more prevalent as storms intensify. Dry conditions and drought can bring significant fires. Hurricane damage and changing sea levels will likely serve to make the problem more intense in various parts of the state.
In response, insurers are increasing premiums or even withdrawing from high-risk areas. The changes are putting some homeowners and businesses in financial predicaments and impacting the costs of new homeownership. These events can leave communities decimated as they struggle to find ways to rebuild after disasters.
The Panel discussion will bring together a diverse group with unique experience, expertise and perspective as the focus on the challenges that are being observed and those that are expected in the future. They will address property exposures, claims, loss control, underwriting considerations and proposed legislative involvement.
Panelists
Eve-Lynn Gisonni, Esq.
Partner
Saxe, Doernberger & Vita
Drew Howard
Technical Director
Economic & Complex Analytics (ECA)
Roux
Josh Weisberg, Esq.
Chief Risk Officer
Managing Director, RMS
SterlingRisk
John O’Marra, ARM, ASLI
President
RT New York
12:30 Keynote Speaker:
Amanda Lefton
Acting Commissioner
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- John L. Parker, Esq., Sahn Ward Coschignano, PLLC
- Deborah Glick, Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Assemblymember, 66th District
- Peter Harckham, NYS Senate, 40th District
- Eve-Lynn Gisonni, Esq., SAXE DOERNBERGER & VITA, P.C.
- Drew Howard, Roux
- Josh Weisberg, Esq., STERLINGRISK
- John O’Marra, ARM, ASLI, RT Specialty
- Webinar
- 0PY81
- Environmental & Energy Law Section
- Petroleum Spills Committee
- Committee on Continuing Legal Education
