Attorney Michelle C. Zaludek

Michelle C. Zaludek

Associate

Biography

Michelle C. Zaludek graduated from Albany Law School in 2021 and was admitted to the New York State Bar in June 2022. Ms. Zaludek previously interned with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Office of Hearings and Mediation Services, where she was introduced to the State’s environmental regulatory regime, including its work in renewable energy siting projects. In law school, Ms. Zaludek served as a Symposia Editor on the Albany Law Journal of Science & Technology; President of Albany Law OUTLaw; Outreach Coordinator for the Albany Law Environmental Law Society; Research Assistant in environmental law; and Teaching Assistant for legal writing.

Ms. Zaludek joined the Firm as a law clerk in 2020 and stayed on as an Associate upon graduating. Ms. Zaludek has represented clients before New York State agencies in matters involving the permitting and siting of renewable energy projects under Article 10 of the Public Service Law and Section 94-c of the New York State Executive Law, including reviewing draft exhibits for siting applications, as well as matters involving the regulation of competitive wholesale electricity suppliers. 

 

Practice Areas

  • Energy
  • Utility Rate Cases
  • SEQRA
  • Local Permitting
  • Renewable Energy Siting
  • Municipal Law
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Transmission Siting
  • Administrative Law

Education

  • Albany Law School of Union University, Albany, New York
    • J.D. - 2021
    • Honors: Albany Law OUTLaw, President
    • Honors: Albany Law Environmental Law Society, Outreach Coordinator
    • Honors: Research Assistant in environmental law
    • Honors: Teaching Assistant for legal writing
  • California Polytechnic State University
    • B.A. - 2016
    • Honors: magna cum laude
    • Major: Journalism

Bar Admissions

  • New York, 2022

Past Positions

  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Office of Hearings and Mediation, Intern

Published Works

  • Climate Change Adaptation and Land Use, Research Handbook on Climate Change Adaptation Law (Jonathan Verschuuren, 2d ed.), 2022
  • Surviving Climate Change: An Examination of Government Disaster Response and its Effect on People Impacted by Poverty, 31 Journal of Science and Technology 225 (2021). Symposium, Positive Perspectives: Law, Health, and the HIV+ Community, Albany Law OUTLaw, 2020
  • In the Crosswalk: The Intersection of COVID, Race, Technology, and the Law, Albany Law Journal of Science & Technology, 2020
  • Treatise, Siting & Environmental Impact Review of Electric & Natural Gas Facilities, Environmental Impact Review in New York, 2022
  • Treatise, Energy: Siting and Environmental Impact Review of Electric and Natural Gas Facilities, Environmental Law and Regulation in New York, 2022

Representative Cases

  • Garnet Energy Center, LLC, 2022 WL 16747995, 2022, N.Y.S. Bd. of Elec. Generation
  • High River Energy Center, LLC , 2021 WL 977283, 2021, N.Y.S. Bd. of Elec. Generation
  • East Point Energy Center, LLC , 2021 WL 228959, 2021, N.Y.S. Bd. of Elec. Generation

Representative Clients

  • NextEra Energy Resources, LLC
  • Hecate Energy, LLC
  • Municipal Electric Utilities Association of N.Y.
  • Independent Power Producers of New York, Inc.
  • New York Municipal Power Authority

Classes & Seminars

  • Positive Perspectives: Law, Health, and the HIV+ C, OUTLaw, Albany Law Health Law Society, 2020
  • Legal Name Change Pro Bono Clinic, OUTLaw, Legal Aid Society of Northeaster, 2020 to 2021

Pro-Bono Activities

  • Albany Law School Health Law Clinic, 2019 to 2020
  • Legal Name Change Pro Bono Clinic, 2020 to 2021

Professional Associations

  • New York State Bar Association, Member, 2022 to Present

Honors

  • Glen H. Smith Award