Leslie has more than two decades of experience counseling clients in a broad range of environmental, health and safety compliance matters, land use and zoning projects, and alternative energy developments.
Environmental, Health and Safety
Leslie specialized in the areas of environmental permitting, environmental and OSHA auditing, solid and hazardous waste management, and environmental enforcement. She worked collaboratively with consultants, engineers, and other specialists to bring the best of all disciplines to service her clients’ needs. Leslie helped utilities and alternative energy providers understand and comply with complex federal, state, and local permitting and entitlement matrices and requirements, and is well-versed in federal pre-emption laws. In addition, Leslie leveraged her experience handling international environmental, health and safety matters to provide trusted counsel to U.S. and foreign clients on the regulation of imports and exports under REACH, ECHA, TSCA, EPCRA and OSHA, as well as the FTC and the U.S. Customs Service.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Leslie conducted the environmental, health and safety due diligence required in corporate mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. She leveraged issues with a focus on getting deals done and protecting clients from contingent liability risks.
Land Use and Zoning
Leslie represented national retailers and franchisors, traditional and alternative energy providers, local developers, and municipalities during the SEQRA review and land use entitlements processes, including prosecuting and defending CPLR Article 78 proceedings and hybrid actions. In counseling public and private entities, Leslie managed and oversaw the adoption of numerous municipal ordinances and local laws throughout New York State and is well-versed in navigating the accompanying procedural requirements.
Leslie served as Partner-in-Charge of the Firm’s Corning, New York office from 2014-2021.
PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC AFFILIATIONS
- Member and President, Board of Directors, Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development
- Former President, Board of Directors, Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes
- Former Member, Board of Directors, Three Rivers Development Corporation
- Former Chair, Corning Area Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Council
- Former Member, Women Presidents’ Organization, Rochester I Chapter
- Former Member, Chemung County Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Council
- Chair, Board of Directors, Trillium Health, 2013-2016
- Member, Board of Directors, Trillium Health, 2004-2016
HONORS & AWARDS
- Recognized by Chambers USA in 2021 and 2022 in the field of Environment (Upstate NY)
- Named as Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in Rochester, NY for Litigation – Land Use and Zoning (2022) and Land Use and Zoning Law (2015)
- Recipient, “Top Women in Law” Award, The Daily Record, 2019
- Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for Environmental Law; Land Use and Zoning Law; Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
- Selected to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list, 2013-2019
- Recipient, “Forty Under 40” Award, Rochester Business Journal, 2006
- Martindale-Hubbell DistinguishedSM Peer Review Rated
