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Daniel Ruzow
Partner
Whiteman Osterman & Hannah LLP
DANIEL A. RUZOW is a partner of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, Albany’s largest law firm. He concentrates his practice in the environmental, zoning and planning review and permitting of major controversial and complex commercial and residential developments and in litigation defending such approvals. He has represented clients in obtaining municipal land use approvals (site plan, special permit, subdivision and zoning amendments) across New York State, federal wetland permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a wide variety of environmental permits administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and defended such approvals in related litigation. He also has represented numerous environmental and community organizations, municipalities and State agencies in the review of similar projects or in related litigation.
Mr. Ruzow is recognized nationally for his knowledge and experience with New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and is co-author of the leading treatise on SEQRA, Environmental Impact Review in New York, published by Matthew Bender (1990-2024). In 2023, he was welcomed as a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers. He is a past-Chair of the Environmental Law Section of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) and served as Co-Chair of the Section’s Environmental Impact Assessment Committee from 1983-96. He also served as Chair of the NYSBA Administrative Law Committee from 1992-95. Mr. Ruzow previously served as Assistant Commissioner and Counsel for Hearings of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and also served as SEQRA counsel to the Department. He was an advisor to the Department on the 1987, 1996 and 2018 amendments to the SEQRA regulations. Mr. Ruzow has authored several law review and journal articles on SEQRA and since 1981 has been a frequent lecturer on SEQRA and local land use laws for the New York State Bar Association, the New York Planning Federation and Association of Towns of the State of New York. He was a Board member of the New York Planning Federation from 2000-09. He has also been recognized for his environmental and land use law experience in The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers (2005-21), Best Lawyers in America (2005-24), New York Super Lawyers -Upstate Edition (2008-24) and Britain’s Chambers & Partners, Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2005-22).
Mr. Ruzow received his J.D. in 1976 from Fordham University School of Law and a B.A. degree from Franklin and Marshall College in 1973.