Virginia chaired the firm’s environmental and energy practice from 2000 to 2016 and was a member of the firm’s management committee from 2014 to 2015 and 2004 to 2005.
She is experienced in advising clients on the review and preparation of major project applications, environmental reviews, and hearings subject to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and federal and state cultural and historic preservation laws. Examples of these projects include landfills, airport facilities and wastewater treatment facilities. Virginia has represented public authorities, municipalities, school districts, real estate developers and numerous industrial clients on matters involving major projects. With respect to SEQRA and NEPA compliance, the majority of the projects she has handled have involved coordinated review and frequent interaction with numerous involved and interested agencies.
Virginia has counseled clients on projects involving significant permitting requirements (including, for example, air, water discharge, wetland and solid waste permits), the development of legal strategies to minimize potential litigation, advocating client positions before regulatory agencies, host municipalities and citizen groups, representing clients in DEC issues conferences and adjudicatory hearings and negotiating permit conditions. Furthermore, she has worked on projects that have confronted organized citizen opposition groups, contesting various aspects of the environmental reviews and challenging the issuance of the requested permits.
Virginia has also advised clients extensively on real estate transactions involving contaminated properties. Regarding "Brownfields," she has provided counsel to Empire State Development, the state's economic development organization, under the ReBuild Now-NY Program. This program promotes the cleanup and reuse of brownfields having significant economic potential. Virginia has also counseled municipal clients and private developers on the provisions of New York's new Brownfield Cleanup Program.
The Best Lawyers in America®, Environmental Law, 2007-2025 (listed for more than 15 years)
Lawyer of the Year (Syracuse), Environmental Law - 2013; 2017; 2019; 2022; 2024
New York Super Lawyers®, Environmental, 2021 (listed for more than 10 years)
Top 25 Female Upstate New York Super Lawyers, 2013-2014
Chambers USA 2019, Environmental
Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Rated
2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Energy, Environmental, & Natural Resources
American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL), College’s Executive Committee and Board of Regents; Co-Chair, International Pro Bono Committee
ACOEL Foundation, President (2022)
American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
New York State Bar Association, Environmental and Energy Law Section, Past Chair, 2004-2005; Member, Executive Committee; Co-Chair, Global Climate Change Committee
Central New York Chapter of the Air & Waste Management Association, Founding Chair, 1995-1996
ESF College Foundation, Inc., State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Board Member and Past President, 2005-2007
New York Chiropractic College, Board of Trustees
Phi Beta Kappa
Sol Feinstone Environmental Award, 2017, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, American Council of Engineering Companies, Central NY Region, March 2021
County of Maui, HI v. Hawaii: Clean Water Act 2020 - Law and Regulations, American Law Institute, December 2020
New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, CNY Chapter Air & Waste Management Association, November 2020
Panelist, Energy Storage and the Modern Grid, NYSBA Annual Meeting, Environmental & Energy Law Section, January 2018
Nano Utica Initiative, 20th Annual Joint Technical Conference of the CNY Chapters of the Air & Waste Management Association and American Industrial Hygiene Association, March 22, 2016
What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Assessing Environmental Compliance, Bond, Schoeneck & King CLE Program, December 9, 2015
Panel Member, Gaming Casinos: Learn from the Past to Prepare for the Future, New York State Bar Association's Annual Meeting, January 30, 2015
Virginia chaired the firm’s environmental and energy practice from 2000 to 2016 and was a member of the firm’s management committee from 2014 to 2015 and 2004 to 2005.
She is experienced in advising clients on the review and preparation of major project applications, environmental reviews, and hearings subject to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and federal and state cultural and historic preservation laws. Examples of these projects include landfills, airport facilities and wastewater treatment facilities. Virginia has represented public authorities, municipalities, school districts, real estate developers and numerous industrial clients on matters involving major projects. With respect to SEQRA and NEPA compliance, the majority of the projects she has handled have involved coordinated review and frequent interaction with numerous involved and interested agencies.
Virginia chaired the firm’s environmental and energy practice from 2000 to 2016 and was a member of the firm’s management committee from 2014 to 2015 and 2004 to 2005.
She is experienced in advising clients on the review and preparation of major project applications, environmental reviews, and hearings subject to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and federal and state cultural and historic preservation laws. Examples of these projects include landfills, airport facilities and wastewater treatment facilities. Virginia has represented public authorities, municipalities, school districts, real estate developers and numerous industrial clients on matters involving major projects. With respect to SEQRA and NEPA compliance, the majority of the projects she has handled have involved coordinated review and frequent interaction with numerous involved and interested agencies.
Virginia has counseled clients on projects involving significant permitting requirements (including, for example, air, water discharge, wetland and solid waste permits), the development of legal strategies to minimize potential litigation, advocating client positions before regulatory agencies, host municipalities and citizen groups, representing clients in DEC issues conferences and adjudicatory hearings and negotiating permit conditions. Furthermore, she has worked on projects that have confronted organized citizen opposition groups, contesting various aspects of the environmental reviews and challenging the issuance of the requested permits.
Virginia has also advised clients extensively on real estate transactions involving contaminated properties. Regarding "Brownfields," she has provided counsel to Empire State Development, the state's economic development organization, under the ReBuild Now-NY Program. This program promotes the cleanup and reuse of brownfields having significant economic potential. Virginia has also counseled municipal clients and private developers on the provisions of New York's new Brownfield Cleanup Program.
The Best Lawyers in America®, Environmental Law, 2007-2025 (listed for more than 15 years)
Lawyer of the Year (Syracuse), Environmental Law - 2013; 2017; 2019; 2022; 2024
New York Super Lawyers®, Environmental, 2021 (listed for more than 10 years)
Top 25 Female Upstate New York Super Lawyers, 2013-2014
Chambers USA 2019, Environmental
Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Rated
2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Energy, Environmental, & Natural Resources
American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL), College’s Executive Committee and Board of Regents; Co-Chair, International Pro Bono Committee
ACOEL Foundation, President (2022)
American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
New York State Bar Association, Environmental and Energy Law Section, Past Chair, 2004-2005; Member, Executive Committee; Co-Chair, Global Climate Change Committee
Central New York Chapter of the Air & Waste Management Association, Founding Chair, 1995-1996
ESF College Foundation, Inc., State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Board Member and Past President, 2005-2007
New York Chiropractic College, Board of Trustees
Phi Beta Kappa
Sol Feinstone Environmental Award, 2017, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, American Council of Engineering Companies, Central NY Region, March 2021
County of Maui, HI v. Hawaii: Clean Water Act 2020 - Law and Regulations, American Law Institute, December 2020
New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, CNY Chapter Air & Waste Management Association, November 2020
Panelist, Energy Storage and the Modern Grid, NYSBA Annual Meeting, Environmental & Energy Law Section, January 2018
Nano Utica Initiative, 20th Annual Joint Technical Conference of the CNY Chapters of the Air & Waste Management Association and American Industrial Hygiene Association, March 22, 2016
What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Assessing Environmental Compliance, Bond, Schoeneck & King CLE Program, December 9, 2015
Panel Member, Gaming Casinos: Learn from the Past to Prepare for the Future, New York State Bar Association's Annual Meeting, January 30, 2015
