Environment, Energy, and Resources Practice

Environment, Energy, and Resources Practice

Balancing the needs of commerce and industry with protection of the environment is an ongoing challenge, and may seem daunting to business owners and entrepreneurs who often do not understand the intricacies of environmental law. The Environment, Energy, and Resources Group at Sahn Ward represents and advises clients in all areas of environmental law at the federal, state, and local levels, largely related to matters concerning Long Island, New York City and the greater New York Metro area. Our Firm’s legal professionals have experience representing individual, industrial, commercial, health care, and municipal clients in a full spectrum of environmental law matters, including air quality, development and siting, hazardous waste, brownfields, and wetlands, among many others.

In addition to providing legal counsel related to environmental matters, the Firm is also well-positioned to handle the legal challenges associated with efforts to modernize and expand the existing energy infrastructure for both traditional and renewable energy sources. The Practice Group has the experience and expertise to address our clients' needs in this multi-disciplinary field.

Environmental Law

The Firm provides legal advice and representation in all aspects of environmental law. Our attorneys have a comprehensive understanding of federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations, and extensive experience in the field of environmental law, including:

  • Agricultural management and open space preservation
  • Air quality
  • Brownfields and other contaminated properties
  • Chemical regulation and right-to-know
  • Development and facility siting and permitting
  • Environmental compliance and enforcement
  • Environmental due diligence
  • Environmental disclosure and transactions
  • Environmental and toxic tort litigation
  • Environmental permitting
  • Health and safety
  • Pesticides
  • Solid and hazardous waste
  • Spills and release reporting
  • Superfund and natural resource damages litigation
  • Toxic substances
  • Water quality and wetlands

The Firm represents clients before federal and state courts, and administrative agencies. Our attorneys also advise clients with regard to transactions that require coordination of environmental due diligence and the drafting and negotiation of environmental representations, warranties, indemnifications, and access agreements.

The Firm's attorneys also have extensive experience assisting industrial, health care, educational, commercial, developer, and public-sector clients in resolving state and federal regulatory compliance and enforcement matters.

Energy

New York values the progressive field of renewable, alternative, and distributed energy resources, with policies that foster the economic development and environmental benefits of clean energy. Bringing energy to market often means navigating through complex, highly regulated legal pathways. Regardless of the fuel source, all energy producers must also deal with government oversight, fluctuating market conditions and surging demand. The Firm's energy practice has its foundation in its environmental and land use practices. Our attorneys have previous experience working in the energy field and are uniquely qualified to advise and assist clients in developing new energy infrastructure, including matters concerning:

  • Acquisition, leasing and sale of land
  • Dispute resolution
  • Energy litigation
  • Government approvals
  • Licensing and agency coordination
  • Navigation of regulations
  • Renewable, alternative, and distributed energy resources
  • Siting and construction
Resources

The attorneys of the Environment, Energy, and Resources Group counsel clients concerning their rights and obligations under federal environmental statutes and regulations, as well as similar state and local laws, and represent clients in related natural resources enforcement proceedings and litigation. Our attorneys represent the client's interests in a variety of natural resources matters, such as:

  • Marine resources
  • Water resources
  • Public land and resources
  • Natural resources litigation
  • Open space preservation and development rights

For a partial listing of representative matters handled by the Firm's Environmental, Energy, and Resources Practice Group, click here.