Sarah Lobe represents clients in renewable energy and environmental litigation matters. She has also taught contracts, torts, legal writing and international business transactions classes as a law professor, and now teaches as adjunct professor of environmental law. Sarah has helped to hold businesses and governments accountable for environmental harms while working for the U.S. federal government and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. Experience in both public and private sectors enables Sarah to contribute a well-rounded perspective and comprehensive understanding of issues. Her background also includes domestic and international work on water access.
My practice focuses on environmental and land use litigation under New York State and federal laws. I advise clients on issues of clean water, contaminated lands, storm water management and land preservation.
I also counsel clients in renewable energy matters by drafting local solar laws and representing clients in the New York State Article 10 process for the environmental siting of major wind and solar power facilities.
Additionally, I partner with technical experts to develop legal solutions for individual, municipal, business and citizen’s group clients.
With a background in water issues, I am particularly interested and involved in drinking water and water contamination developments. Emerging contaminants, such as PFAS, have become a regulatory focus with new maximum contaminant levels issued by or anticipated in various states and the EPA. These contaminants impact waters world-wide. New testing presents challenges in regulation, remediation and compliance as well as opportunities for advanced technological solutions, legal guidance and innovative, cross-sector partnerships.
I also see great opportunity for renewable energy growth. The transition from fossil fuels is a major part of recent and proposed legislation, administrative processes, regulations and incentives across the local, state and federal levels. I anticipate rapid progress in this area and look forward to helping advance our alternative energy sector.
American University, Washington College of Law, J.D., cum laude
Boston University, M.A., Public Policy, magna cum laude
Boston University, B.A., Political Science, magna cum laude
New York
U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
Sarah Lobe is an active member of the New York State Bar Association’s Environmental and Energy Law Section, serving as the co-chair of the Diversity Committee and as a member of both the Cabinet & Executive Committee and the Future of Federal Environmental Policy Task Force. Sarah is also a member of the Monroe County Bar Association, where she is a member of the Environmental Law Committee and the Young Lawyers Section. She is part of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York and its Environmental Law Committee as well as the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys, where she serves as co-chair of the Programs Committee.
