Former NYSDEC Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel Ed McTiernan Joins Arnold & Porter

NEW YORK, November 9, 2015 -- Arnold & Porter LLP announced today that Edward F. McTiernan, former Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), has joined the firm as partner. Mr. McTiernan will be part of Arnold & Porter's national Environmental practice and resident in the firm's New York office. He will focus his practice on litigation and regulatory environmental issues affecting clients in state and federal venues.

After a long career in private practice, Mr. McTiernan was appointed in 2011 to NYSDEC by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. During his tenure at the organization, he directly supervised the state's active docket of litigation, enforcement proceedings, and policy initiatives covering all aspects of site remediation, development and permitting. In this role, he managed a core team of 90 lawyers and 30 support staff responsible for more than one hundred active litigations in state and federal courts and nearly two hundred administrative enforcement proceedings. Mr. McTiernan also advised high ranking state officials, including the Governor's Counsel and Secretary for Environment and Energy, on a range of issues arising under New York's Environmental Conservation Law and delegated federal programs. He worked regularly with New York's Public Service Commission, the Empire State Development Corporation, FERC, USEPA and the U.S. Department of Justice.

"Ed is a terrific addition to our firm. He combines many years of experience in resolving difficult environmental issues with a sophisticated understanding of the government's perspective and process in this field," said Arnold & Porter Chairman Thomas H. Milch.

Prior to NYSDEC, Mr. McTiernan spent 24 years as an attorney in private practice, also serving as a team leader for a New York regional firm's environmental practice, where he focused on matters for Fortune 100 companies and multi-nationals. During that time, he honed his skills as both a litigator and compliance counselor and helped clients address numerous Superfund and Spill Act cost recovery actions and related Natural Resource Damage claims.

Stewart Aaron, head of Arnold & Porter's New York office, noted: "Ed is well known and respected in environmental circles throughout the greater New York area. The positive impact that he has had on the industry is far-reaching."  

Added Lester Sotsky, head of the firm's Environmental practice: "His hands-on experience with enforcement and rulemaking and deep understanding of New York environmental policy brings a formidable element to our existing bench strength, and great value for our clients."

Mr. McTiernan obtained his J.D. from Seton Hall University, School of Law, after earning an M.S. in Environmental Science from State University of New York, College of Environmental Science & Forestry, as well as a B.S. in Biology from Fordham University. Before attending law school he was an environmental scientist, consultant and planner.

"I'm excited about putting my experience to work at Arnold & Porter, offering clients the benefit of my years of experience in environmental law," said Mr. McTiernan. "I also look forward to being part of a great team of lawyers whom I've had the pleasure of working with on many environmental issues in the past."

Arnold & Porter LLP is an international law firm of nearly 800 lawyers with offices in Brussels, Denver, Houston London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Washington, DC,  The firm, founded in 1946, maintains more than 25 practice areas spanning a broad spectrum of the law, with a primary focus on litigation, transactional matters, and regulatory issues.