Alan Knauf, a Partner at Knauf Shaw, represents businesses, developers, municipalities, landowners and citizens on issues including hazardous waste and petroleum spill cleanup, brownfield development, environmental impact review, water pollution and wetlands, zoning and planning, project siting, alternative energy, municipal law, and commercial real estate.
Alan is a founding partner of Knauf Shaw LLP in Rochester, NY. In 1986, he left big firm practice to start his own practice to pursue environmental law. He is now surrounded by numerous other lawyers at Knauf Shaw LLP. He brings over 40 years of experience, and has set numerous precedents in environmental and land use cases. He is also a partner in recycling, brownfield and real estate ventures.
Alan and his wife Patti raised two boys, Nate and Oliver, who have both studied Computer Science at Georgia Tech. Alan has completed 14 marathons since he started running at Pittsford High School, and last year won his age group in the Shoreline Half Marathon on his 65th birthday.
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Counsel in about 200 reported decisions. Some of the notable precedents Alan established include:
- Lighthouse Pointe Property Associates LLC v. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 14 N.Y.3d 161 (2010), where the Court of Appeals overruled NYSDEC’s interpretation of the definition of “brownfield site,” allowing contaminated sites to enter the Brownfield Cleanup Program, and opening up the program to voluntary remediation of sites across the state.
- Norse Energy Corp. USA v. Town of Dryden, 108 A.D.3d 25 (3d Dep’t 2013), aff’d 23 N.Y.3d 728 (2014) where he represented Dryden Resources Awareness Coalition, and the Third Department upheld local zoning legislation banning hydrofracking.
- Concerned Area Residents of the Environment v. Southview Farm, 34 F.3d 114 (2d Cir. 1994), cert den’d 514 U.S. 1082 (1995), establishing that concentrated animal feeding operations required permits for manure discharges under the Clean Water Act, resulting in widespread implementation of comprehensive nutrient management plans at farms across America, and reduced water pollution.
- Snyder v. Newcomb, 194 A.D.2d 53 (4th Dep’t 1993), established a private right of action to bring a direct action against the insurer of a petroleum discharger under the New York Oil Spill Act.
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Alan has taught Environmental Law at the Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester, and is a frequent lecturer at continuing education programs. Recent presentations include:
- Case Law Update, NYSBA Environmental and Energy Law Section Annual Oil Spill Symposium, Albany and Virtual, 2010-2021
- Tax Credits Under the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program, Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast, Virtual, June 22, 2021 and August 27, 2020
- Land Use: The Comprehensive Plan, NYSBA CLE, Virtual, March 9, 2021
- Environmental Issues, Law Focus: First 100, Rochester Business Journal, Virtual, Feb. 25, 2021
- Renewable Energy Siting, NYSBA CLE, Virtual, May 6, 2020
- Major Electric Generating Facility Siting Law, Association of Towns Annual Meeting, New York City, Feb. 18, 2019
- Turning Brown to Gold – Brownfield Development and Transactions, NYSBA Real Property Section Annual Meeting, New York City, Jan. 24, 2018
- New York Brownfield Cleanup Program Under the 2015 Amendments, USEPA Brownfields 2017, Pittsburgh, PA, Dec. 6, 2017
- Art of the Brownfield Deal, NYSBA CLE, New York City, Oct. 31, 2017
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- New York State Bar Association
- Real Property Law Section
- Land Use and Environment Committee (Current Co-Chair)
- Environmental & Energy Law Section (Past Chair)
- Real Property Law Section
- Monroe County Bar Association
- Environmental Law Committee (Founding Chair)
- Real Estate Council of the Monroe County Bar Association (Former Chair)
- American Bar Association
- Section on Environment, Energy and Resources (Member)
- Park-Meigs Neighborhood Association (Former President)
- New York State Bar Association
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- AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® as the Environmental Law “Lawyer of the Year” for 2020 in Rochester, NY (his fifth “Lawyer of the Year” designation). He is listed in Best Lawyers in America® for Environmental Law, Environmental Litigation, Land Use and Zoning Law, and Land Use and Zoning Litigation.
- Selected to “Super Lawyers” for Environmental Law, Environmental Litigation, Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law.
- Recognized as a Leader in Law by the Daily Record.