Douglas H. Ward has extensive federal and state civil practice experience at both the trial and appellate levels. As an Assistant Attorney General from 1984 to 1995, he served as either the lead attorney or the supervising attorney in hundreds of environmental cases, including air, water, wetlands regulation and the State Environmental Quality Review Act. Mr. Ward represents the wind energy industry and alternative energy industry on on-shore and off-shore permitting, regulation and siting issues, as well as transmission line siting and interconnection issues. He has assisted renewable energy organizations such as ACE NY in efforts to design and implement policies to facilitate renewable energy development in New York State.

Mr. Ward has represented developers on variance and permit applications regarding subdivision approval, site plan approval, wetlands permitting, and rare and endangered species permitting.

Mr. Ward is a Town Attorney for the Town of Northumberland, representing the Town on contract, zoning and enforcement matters. He has assisted other municipalities on planning, zoning and permitting matters.

Bar Admissions

New York
U.S. District Court Northern District of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit

Education

Albany Law School Union University, Albany, New York, 1973, J.D.

Law Review: Albany Law Review, Notes Editor, 1971 – 1973

Brown University, Providence, RI, USA, 1969, B.A.
Major: English

Published Works

Note: An Analysis of Chapter 822 of the New York Laws of 1971 in Light of the Religion Clause of the United State Constitution, 36 Albany Law Review, 369, 1971

Prospects for Safer Communities: Emergency Response, Community Right to Know, and Prevention of Chemical Accidents, 14 Harvard Environmental Law Review, 134, 1990

Beyond Compliance Enforcement, 8 National Environmental Enforcement Journal, 3, 1993

Honors and Awards

Named as The Best Lawyers in America®, 2010 – Present

Past Employment Positions

Ward, Sommer & Moore, Partner, 1995 – 1999
New York State Department of Law, Section Chief, Environmental Protection Bureau, 1984 – 1995
Herzog, Nichols, Engstrom and Kopolowitz, P.C., Associate Attorney, 1983 – 1984
Helm, Shapiro, Ayers, Anito & Aldrich, Associate Attorney, 1979 – 1983
Saratoga Springs City Attorney’s Office, Assistant City Attorney, 1980 – 1981
Robert J. Kafin, Esq., Associate Attorney, 1977 – 1979
Adirondack Park Agency, Senior Attorney, 1974 – 1977
Richard J. Bartlett, Justice of the Supreme Court, Confidential Law Clerk, 1973 – 1974
Hon. Richard J. Bartlett, Law Clerk

Pro Bono Activities

Open Space Project, Saratoga Springs, NY, 1993 – Present ACE NY advisor, co-chair of siting committee

Legal Assistant Information

Lisa M. Gorman, 518-438-9907 x. 233
lgorman@youngsommer.com