Experience

SRH Law PLLC (fka Dunkiel Saunders Elliott Raubvogel & Hand)

• United States
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Partner

  • Jan 2003 - Present

  Multi-faceted practice in the fields of energy, utility and environmental law, concentrating on renewable energy projects, electric utility regulation, telecommunications, land use development, water pollution, and contaminated properties. Example of work performed include: advising wind energy developers on environmental considerations and permitting requirements; representing telecommunications carrier in regulatory proceedings; representing residential landowners in Act 250 proceedings and lawsuits involving impacted drinking water supplies; and outside counsel to a municipality on stormwater permitting and utility issues. Our law firm is different from others because we choose to make a difference with our practice. Our clients - be they businesses, nonprofits, cooperatives, government agencies or individuals - share a commitment to our communities and the greater world around us, and to resolving their often complex problems with creativity and integrity. We have deep experience in a broad range of practice areas – energy/utilities, environmental, telecommunications, business/corporate, healthcare, government relations and public affairs, housing and community development, corporate social responsibility, and nonprofit corporations and cooperatives. In those practice areas we provide clients with regulatory and compliance assistance, transactional and business counsel, and litigation services. Show less



Vermont Agency of Natural Resources

• General Counsel

  • May 1998 - Jan 2003

  Provided legal counseling and advice on matters of Agency-wide significance to the Agency Secretary and his management team. Examples include the environmental review of major development, infrastructure and transportation projects; personnel issues including discrimination, conflicts of interest, discipline and grievances; and legislation and litigation involving the enforcement program. Coordinated all defensive and affirmative litigation with the Office of the Attorney General. Represent the Agency at legislative hearings, in administrative litigation, and in court proceedings. Act as hearing officer in Agency contested case proceedings. Supervised staff of 13 attorneys.Served as lead Agency attorney on hydroelectric relicensing cases, advising the Secretary and Governor on major developments in cases at FERC and the Water Resources Board. Successfully negotiated, with the Secretary, the settlements reached for the Lamoille, Fifteen Mile Falls and Deerfield River Hydroelectric Projects. Show less

• Associate General Counsel for Administrative Litigation

  • Apr 1996 - May 1998

  Represented the Agency in all aspects of administrative litigation at the Environmental, Water Resources, and Public Service Boards. Responsibilities included motion practice, discovery, examination of witnesses, drafting of briefs, oral advocacy, and settlement discussions. Case load involved all environmental resource areas, including wildlife and fish habitat, public lands, water and air quality, waste management, wetlands, lakes and ponds encroachments, and energy conservation.Supervised Assistant Land Use Attorney in Act 250 cases. Provided legal advice on electric utility restructuring, attending legislative hearings and testifying regarding the same. Served as hearing officer for DEC internal contested case. Show less



Vermont Department of Public Service

• Special Counsel

  • Sep 1994 - Mar 1996

  Litigated cases involving electric and water utilities before the Public Service Board, including motion practice, discovery, examination of witnesses, briefs, and oral argument. Lead attorney in cases involving integrated resource planning and energy conservation programs. Specialized in cases with environmental and scenic resource issues, including VELCO transmission line across Lake Champlain and GMP wind project. Provided legal advice on the energy conservation and public utility criteria in Act 250 cases, and the development of model energy code legislation. Successfully appealed hearing officer’s decision in dispute between Burlington Electric Department and Vermont Gas. Litigated rate case against Central Vermont Public Service Corp., resulting in highly favorable settlement for ratepayers. Show less



U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region I

• Assistant Regional Counsel

  • Sep 1989 - Jul 1994

  Represented EPA in Superfund litigation, administrative proceedings, negotiations, and in dealings with other federal/state agencies. Supervised EPA attorneys in enforcement cases involving Superfund “removal actions” and expedited cleanups. Provided legal and policy advice to the Regional Administrator and other EPA managers. Participated in and/or led several national Superfund workgroups. Related practice in other environmental laws (Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, RCRA), and other substantive areas such as bankruptcy, corporate, and real property law. Negotiated a $6 million private party cleanup of the BFI-Rockingham Superfund Site, resulting in a site cleanup two years faster than a traditional Superfund action. Conducted search for liable parties at the Old Southington Landfill Superfund Site, culminating in the naming of 320 potentially responsible parties. Bronze Medal for achieving accelerated settlement in BFI-Rockingham case. National award for drafting national model enforcement order. Superfund Team of the Year Award for improvements in Region’s removal enforcement program. Show less