Atty. Robert M. Rosenthal
Robert (Bob) Rosenthal focuses his practice on environmental and energy law matters, including litigation in federal and state courts, regulatory permitting, and contract negotiations. He represents major companies on matters involving the Public Service Law, the Federal Power Act, the Natural Gas Act, the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), and New York’s Tidal and Freshwater Wetland Acts.
Profile Summary
About Robert M. Rosenthal at a glance
Robert M. Rosenthal is a Shareholder based in Albany, New York, practicing at Greenberg Traurig, LLP. They have 33+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1993. Their practice focuses on environmental, government, and energy. Admitted to practice in New York (1993). Educated at Temple University Beasley School of Law (J.D., 1992) and Rutgers University (B.S. Chemical, 1986). Serands clients in Albany, NY and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Robert (Bob) Rosenthal focuses his practice on environmental and energy law matters, including litigation in federal and state courts, regulatory permitting, and contract negotiations
- He represents major companies on matters involving the Public Service Law, the Federal Power Act, the Natural Gas Act, the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), and New York’s Tidal and Freshwater Wetland Acts
- Robert also handles the governmental, environmental, and energy aspects of land use and real estate transactions
- His clients include electric generation facilities (traditional power plants, solar and wind energy), gas pipelines, solid waste landfills, and other energy infrastructure projects
- Bob has worked on numerous regulatory actions pending before New York Public Service Commission, including those related to the planning and siting of electric transmission, power plants and gas infrastructure, wholesale electricity markets, electric and gas retail utility rates, and the regulation of telecommunications
- Bob also represents clients before town planning boards for special permits, particularly for renewable energy projects, and guides clients through the Public Service Law Articles 8 and 10 siting processes
- He has represented energy clients before the New York Independent System Operator, PJM, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- His litigation experience includes obtaining trial- and appellate-legal decisions under the Clean Air Act, obtaining dismissals of Article 78 petitions challenging SEQRA processes, securing permanent injunctions on First Amendment grounds, obtaining waivers under NYISO tariffs to preserve wind energy projects in interconnection queues, and defending CERCLA counterclaims against Eleventh Amendment challenges
- Bob served as general counsel for the New York Public Service Commission and Department of Public Service, overseeing more than thirty attorneys and advising on legal matters related to energy, utilities, and telecommunications
- He led teams in drafting key PSC orders on renewable energy, transmission planning, and affordability programs, and developed a new utility enforcement unit
- Robert also integrated the Office of Renewable Energy Siting into DPS, expanded its authority, and supervised all PSC litigation, preparing commissioners for monthly meetings
- Bob’s experience includes serving as senior counsel in the New York Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Bureau, where he represented the state in major federal and state court cases and handled regulatory enforcement, settlements, and appellate briefs, including landmark Clean Air Act actions
- In the Governor’s Counsel’s Office, he advised on energy, environment, and agriculture policy, drafted and negotiated key legislation and budget bills, supervised major litigation, and contributed to strengthening utility oversight and environmental regulations
- Concentrations • Environment and natural resources • Energy • Agriculture • Project permitting • Renewable energy and transmission • NEPA/SEQRA • Environmental remediation projects • Negotiations with local, state, and federal environmental regulators Experience Representative Matters • PSEG Long Island LLC v
- Town of N. Hempstead, 2016 U.S
- Dist
- LEXIS 13533 (E.D.N.Y Feb. 3, 2016): Co-counsel in obtaining order granting permanent injunction preventing enforcement of ordinance that would have required utility to post a warning sign on utility poles that the poles contain a hazardous substance on grounds that ordinance violated the First Amendment. • In re: Dry Lots Wind, LLC, FERC Docket No. ER16-1047-000 (April 1, 2016): Represented petitioner in obtaining waiver of milestone under NYISO tariff that would have removed wind energy project from NYISO interconnection queue. • State of New York v
- General Elec
- Co., 45 ELR 20193 (Sept. 29, 2015): Obtained order denying State’s motion to dismiss defendant’s counterclaims under CERCLA on grounds that counterclaims are not barred by Eleventh Amendment. • Represented a NJ power plant in a unanimous decision upholding its NJPDES permit. • Co-drafted Power NY Act of 2011, including the new Public Service Law Article 10 power plant siting law and the on-bill financing law.° • Assisted in all aspects of the Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC's) environmental review and preparation of regulations related to horizontal high-volume hydraulic fracturing.° • Drafted and negotiated bill that merged the Belleayre ski resort into the Olympic Regional Development Authority.° • Worked closely with Moreland Comm'n on Utility Storm Preparation and Response regarding recommendations to strengthen the PSC, reform the Long Island Power Authority and unify the management structure of the State's energy agencies.° • United States v
- Ohio Edison Co. (5.D
- Ohio 2003)
- Member of plaintiffs' trial team in case where the district court issued landmark decision, finding company had violated New Source Review (NSR) provisions of the Clean Air Act.° • United States v
- Cinergy Corp. (7th Cir. 2006)
- Argued appeal on behalf of states and citizens groups in another NSR enforcement case.° • NRG v
- DEC (2003-04)
- Defended (in state supreme and appellate courts) DEC's Acid Deposition Reduction Program.° • State of New York v
- U.S
- Dep't of Energy (2nd Cir. 2008)
- Litigated and settled case against the Department of Energy, resulting in adoption of more stringent energy conservation standards for furnaces and boilers.° • In re: EPA's Adoption of Chesapeake Bay TMDL (2010)
- Assisted DEC in submission of public comments regarding EPA's proposed rule that would require NY-based sources to reduce discharges of pollutants into New York rivers included within Chesapeake Bay watershed.° °The above representations were handled by Mr. Rosenthal prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Noteworthy Experience • General Counsel, New York Public Service Commission/Department of Public Service, 2019-2025 • Assistant Counsel, New York State Governor Counsel’s Office, 2011-2013 • Senior Counsel, New York State General’s Office, Environmental Protection Bureau, 1995-2011 • Staff Attorney, New York City Law Department, Environmental Law Division, 1992-1995 Recognition & Leadership Awards & Accolades • Team Member, U.S
- News - Best Lawyers®, Best Law Firms Edition, "Law Firm of the Year," Environmental Law, 2016 • Recipient, Louis J. Lefkowitz Memorial Award, 2002 and 2007 Professional & Community Involvement • Chair, Albany Chapter of the New York League of Conservation Voters, 2018-Present
Practice Areas Explained
Robert M. Rosenthal's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Robert M. Rosenthal handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Environmental attorneys for regulatory compliance, contamination, land use, and natural resource law.
Robert M. Rosenthal is one of 56,434 environmental attorneys indexed nationally. Browse environmental attorneys in New York →
Attorneys for administrative law, agency hearings, government contracts, licensing, and public benefits.
Robert M. Rosenthal is one of 132,225 government attorneys indexed nationally. Browse government attorneys in New York →
Energy attorneys for oil & gas, renewables, utility regulation, and energy sector transactions.
Robert M. Rosenthal is one of 36,230 energy attorneys indexed nationally. Browse energy attorneys in New York →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in New York
Practicing law in New York. Legal matters in New York are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Albany are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate New York state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in New York brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in New York courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional New York attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Albany or all attorneys in New York.
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