Lecturer Bios
James Bryan Bacon, Esq.
James Bryan Bacon, Esq., began his career 18 years ago with the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic and Hudson Riverkeeper. He represents the Croton Watershed Clean Water Coalition, Inc., and other parties concerned with mitigating environmental impacts within New York City’s watershed and in the Hudson Valley. This requires review of federal, state and local land use and permitting policies, as well as review of projects undergoing SEQRA review. The New York State Bar Journal published his account of whether the public is being adequately protected under SEQRA in situations requiring supplemental environmental review. Mr. Bacon also is counsel for the planning board of the Town of Wallkill, served 10 years on the planning and town boards of New Paltz, and was elected town justice in 2007.
Charlotte A. Biblow, Esq.
Charlotte A. Biblow, Esq., is a partner in the Municipal Litigation Group with Farrell Fritz, P.C., and heads the firm’s Environmental Law Practice Group. Ms. Biblow joined Farrell Fritz in 2003. She concentrates her practice in environmental law and litigation, representing clients in environmental, toxic tort, cost recovery and products liability litigation. She counsels clients about environmental permitting, regulatory compliance, and investigation and remediation of environmentally impacted properties. Ms. Biblow is an experienced negotiator with federal, state and municipal environmental regulators. She has published several articles and has made presentations on a variety of topics. She is a member of the American, New York State and Nassau County Bar Associations. Ms. Biblow is a founding member of the Action Committee for the Environment. She received her J.D. degree from St. John’s University School of Law; her M.S. degree in environmental health science from Hunter College; and her B.S. degree, cum laude, in chemistry from the State University of New York at Albany. Prior to practicing law, Ms. Biblow was a doctoral student at Rutgers University in the department of environmental sciences.
Dianne K. Le Verrier, Esq.
Dianne K. Le Verrier, Esq., is founder of The Le Verrier Law Firm. She represents corporate, private and municipal clients in land use and environmental matters. Ms. Le Verrier works closely with residential and commercial developers to create and present development plans that comply with federal, state and local statutes and ordinances, and she pursues all necessary appeals if a development plan is arbitrarily denied by a respective agency or board. She has served as counsel to village boards of trustees and boards of zoning appeals, and as prosecutor, enforcing village ordinances for the Village of Sands Point and the Village of Mill Neck. Ms. Le Verrier represents clients with regard to environmental compliance with federal, state and local statutes and regulations. She counsels clients in real estate transaction matters. Ms. Le Verrier also assists with conducting all-appropriate inquiries for Phase I environmental assessments prepared as part of the due diligence process. She obtained her J.D. degree, cum laude, from the Jacob D. Fuchsberg Touro Law Center and was a published member of the Touro Law Review. Ms. Le Verrier obtained her B.S. degree in biology and economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She is an active member of the American Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, New York State Bar Association and Suffolk County Bar Association.
Daniel M. Richmond, Esq.
Daniel M. Richmond, Esq., is a partner at Zarin & Steinmetz. He counsels private clients and municipalities on environmental and land use issues, liaises with and advocates before regulatory bodies, and formulates and executes litigation strategy. Mr. Richmond was formerly a staff attorney with Riverkeeper, Inc.; assistant corporation counsel at the New York City Law Department; and an associate at Rivkin, Radler & Kremer in Uniondale. He received his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Vermont Law School in South Royalton, where he was editor-in-chief of the Vermont Law Review. Mr. Richmond earned a B.A. degree in history from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
Graham L. Trelstad
Graham L. Trelstad, AICP, is vice president and director of planning at AKRF, Inc. He focuses on community and regional planning. His practice includes preparation of environmental impact statements under SEQRA and NEPA for public actions, private developments, and large transportation and infrastructure projects. Prior to joining AKRF, Inc., Mr. Trelstad was a research associate with Regional Plan Association in New York City, where he co-wrote a book describing methods to combine community planning tools with water quality protection techniques. Mr. Trelstad is the author of The Ecology of Land Use, a Council of Planning Librarians bibliography on material related to natural resource protection and land use planning. He received his B.A. degree in urban planning from Columbia University and his master’s degree in environmental studies, hydrology and watershed management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Mr. Trelstad is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Michael D. Zarin, Esq.
Michael D. Zarin, Esq., is a principal in the White Plains law firm of Zarin & Steinmetz. Z & S focuses on land use and environmental law, and represents municipalities and private entities as special environmental and land use counsel. Mr. Zarin was formerly a partner with the law firm of Sive, Paget & Riesel and began his legal career at Weil, Gotshal & Manges. He has been special environmental counsel for the Village of Port Chester in the approval of the Marina Redevelopment Urban Renewal, as well as for numerous other projects. Recently, Mr. Zarin was involved in the so-called Stew Leonard’s litigation and represented a number of municipalities in the current Ridgehill Development proposal located in Yonkers.
