News
April 28, 2022Couch White Announces Alita Giuda as new Chair of the Environmental Practice Group; Adam J. Schultz to Retire
Couch White LLP announced the retirement of longtime partner and Chair of the Environmental and Land Use Practice Group, Adam J. Schultz, and named Alita J. Giuda as the new chair of that group. After joining the firm in 2013, Mr. Schultz played an integral role in expanding and developing Couch White’s Environmental and Land Use Practice Group. Ms. Giuda has been a partner at Couch White since 2016 and will continue the group’s growing momentum, utilizing her wealth of knowledge and experience in that specialty area.
“Adam provided invaluable contributions to Couch White and the practice of environmental law throughout his career,” said Leonard H. Singer, Partner at Couch White. “And while his legal mind will surely be missed, we couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity that awaits Alita. She’s clearly well-suited for the position based on her impressive track record and long-term, trusted relationships with our clients. I am confident she will flourish and build on the outstanding foundation that Adam and the rest of the team built.”
A magna cum laude graduate of Colgate University (2002) and Albany Law School (2006), Ms. Giuda regularly represents various industrial and commercial clients in all facets of environmental law, zoning, and land use issues. Her work includes matters regarding air, water, mining, solid and hazardous waste, wetlands and environmental impact review. In addition, Ms. Giuda has extensive experience representing clients regarding the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated properties under New York’s Brownfield Cleanup Program. Ms. Giuda also engages in any litigation necessary to secure and/or defend project approvals.
Recent examples of Ms. Giuda’s significant projects and notable matters include the remediation of an historic bulk storage oil facility into the award winning Starbuck Island apartment complex; securing a 30-year PILOT agreement and defending a proposed multi-use development in Kingston, New York from numerous legal challenges; managing the due diligence review and acquisition of dozens of renewable energy projects in New York; and, securing the right to locate and operate an asphalt plant while facing significant public and local governmental opposition, including multiple state and federal lawsuits.
Couch White’s Environmental Practice Group has more than 75 years of experience providing strategic advice and precise execution in sensitive and high-profile proceedings, including energy development projects, resource extraction, infrastructure, residential, multi-use, commercial and industrial development, transactional and due diligence advice related to renewable energy and other development projects, and Brownfield and other remediation and redevelopment.
For more information about Couch White’s environmental group, visit https://www.couchwhite.com/practice-areas/environmental/, and for updates and information about Couch White, visit https://www.couchwhite.com/.
To contact Ms. Guida, Chair of the Environmental and Land Use Practice Group, please email agiuda@couchwhite.com.
