Albany, NY. Nixon Peabody is expanding its Environmental & Land Use team in Albany with the arrival of Elizabeth M. Morss as counsel in the firm’s Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice.
“We’re excited to welcome Beth, who is so highly regarded by clients for her proactive approach, responsiveness, and deep knowledge of federal and state environmental laws,” said Andy Rose, managing partner of the firm’s Albany office. “She’ll be a perfect fit with our talented group of environmental attorneys.”
Beth has over 30 years of experience advising industrial clients on compliance with federal, state, and local environmental laws, with an emphasis on air, hazardous waste, water, and bulk storage issues as well as matters relating to climate change and renewable energy development. Beth also monitors developments in New York State and federal environmental law to advise her clients in preparing comments on pending regulations, legislation, and guidance.
“Beth is an attorney who is equally passionate about her legal practice and the environment,” said Denise Pursley, leader of Nixon Peabody’s Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice. “Clients choose to work with Beth because of her foresight. She identifies changes that will likely affect future operations and ensures long-term compliance.”
For the past 20 years, Beth has co-authored the Clean Air Act Handbook: A Practical Guide to Compliance (a Thomson Reuters publication), updating it annually with changes to the Clean Air Act and surveying overlapping agency guidance documents, cases, and other materials that comprise the federal law governing air pollution.
Beth develops training and compliance materials, including environmental procedures, for her industrial clients, including a major New York utility company. Most recently, Beth has prepared applications for wind and solar projects in New York and has a strong understanding of environmental issues facing renewable energy developers in the state.
“The next decade in environmental law will likely be driven by climate change,” said Beth. “New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act—if fully implemented—will transform the state’s economy by forcing major changes in the state’s energy infrastructure. These changes will affect every aspect of our lives from the houses we live in, to the cars we drive, to the work we do.”
Beth attended New York University’s School of Law. She also earned a master’s of public administration from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Administration and a bachelor of arts, magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania.
