Robert (Bob) Rosenthal focuses his practice on environmental and energy law matters, including litigation in federal and state courts, regulatory permitting, and contract negotiations. He represents major companies on matters involving the Public Service Law, the Federal Power Act, the Natural Gas Act, the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), and New York’s Tidal and Freshwater Wetland Acts. Robert also handles the governmental, environmental, and energy aspects of land use and real estate transactions. His clients include electric generation facilities (traditional power plants, solar and wind energy), gas pipelines, solid waste landfills, and other energy infrastructure projects.

Bob has worked on numerous regulatory actions pending before New York Public Service Commission, including those related to the planning and siting of electric transmission, power plants and gas infrastructure, wholesale electricity markets, electric and gas retail utility rates, and the regulation of telecommunications. Bob also represents clients before town planning boards for special permits, particularly for renewable energy projects, and guides clients through the Public Service Law Articles 8 and 10 siting processes. He has represented energy clients before the New York Independent System Operator, PJM, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. His litigation experience includes obtaining trial- and appellate-legal decisions under the Clean Air Act, obtaining dismissals of Article 78 petitions challenging SEQRA processes, securing permanent injunctions on First Amendment grounds, obtaining waivers under NYISO tariffs to preserve wind energy projects in interconnection queues, and defending CERCLA counterclaims against Eleventh Amendment challenges.

Bob served as general counsel for the New York Public Service Commission and Department of Public Service, overseeing more than thirty attorneys and advising on legal matters related to energy, utilities, and telecommunications. He led teams in drafting key PSC orders on renewable energy, transmission planning, and affordability programs, and developed a new utility enforcement unit. Robert also integrated the Office of Renewable Energy Siting into DPS, expanded its authority, and supervised all PSC litigation, preparing commissioners for monthly meetings.