Robert J. Kafin is currently appointed by the NYC Mayor as chair of GrowNYC, which operates 54 Greenmarkets and other environmental conservation initiatives in New York City. He dedicates most of his time to not-for-profit civic and environmental organizations while serving as an optional service partner at his firm, where he continues to provide advice to clients. He is also the founder and a member of the firm’s Environmental Practice Group.
Bob previously held senior management positions within the firm, including Chief Operating Partner for 15 years and General Counsel. He has served as chair of the Times Square Alliance, the business improvement district for the Times Square area in Manhattan.
Since 1971, Bob has focused his client services in environmental law, addressing complex issues across a wide range of environmental challenges that businesses face. He possesses a comprehensive understanding of the legal, political, regulatory, scientific, and transactional aspects associated with major federal environmental laws and their state counterparts. These include the Clean Air Act, Emergency Planning and Right-to-Know Act, Federal Water Pollution Control Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Oil Pollution Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Superfund, and Toxic Substances Control Act.
Bob has also assessed environmental compliance and liabilities in significant transactions across various industries. He has aided clients with “Brownfields” projects, helping navigate the regulatory and financing complexities introduced by new statutes and regulations aimed at establishing voluntary cleanup and liability protection programs.
Another aspect of Bob’s environmental law practice involves land use regulation and environmental impact analysis. He has worked extensively on environmental impacts and zoning issues related to major real estate developments and industrial projects, including the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, where he oversaw the preparation of environmental impact statements and secured permits for the primary sports facilities.
Additionally, he is a former Chair of the Adirondack Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the ecological integrity and wild character of the six-million-acre Adirondack Park.
