Michael Saretsky
Overview
Michael Saretsky is a partner in Kirkland’s Global Environmental Practice Group, based in the Firm’s New York and Bay Area offices. Michael’s practice focuses on all aspects of environmental matters in business transactions, from public and private M&A and investments, to real estate and debt transactions, bond offerings, infrastructure development and restructuring matters. Michael helps clients identify and manage environmental liabilities and risks in the transactional context, employing both business insight and creative thinking to help them achieve their objectives. In 2024, Chambers and Partners recognized Michael as a leading Environmental Transactional attorney for New York in Chambers USA. Michael is also profoundly interested in emerging environmental issues and advises clients on future environmental considerations that may impact their bottom line.
Prior to joining Kirkland, Michael served as counsel for the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy in Washington, D.C., a specialized funding agency in the U.S. Department of Energy, where Michael assisted with establishing and implementing funding programs for research and development of advanced energy technologies. Outside of the office, Michael enjoys connecting with students in a unique experiential class on Environmental Transactional Law at NYU Law, co-taught with other colleagues from Kirkland’s New York office.
Experience
Representative Matters
Mergers & Acquisitions
Industrial/Manufacturing Sectors
- Represented Clearlake Capital Partners in its acquisition of Intertape Polymer Group, a manufacturer of packaging and protective products.
- Represented Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in its acquisition of Cornerstone Building Brands, the largest manufacturer of exterior building products in North America.
- Represented Gryphon Investors in its majority investment in Techmer PM, a designer and producer of advanced engineered materials, including custom color and additive masterbatch solutions used in the plastics and fiber industries.
- Represented Greenbriar Equity Group in its acquisition of Whitcraft Group, a manufacturer of specialty aerospace products, and subsequent combination of Whitcraft with Paradigm Precision to form Pursuit Aerospace.
- Represented Industrial Growth Partners in its acquisition of APCT, a designer and manufacturer printed circuit boards, and subsequent add-on acquisitions.
- Represented Arcline Investment Management in its acquisitions of Fairbanks Morse, a manufacturer of heavy-duty, medium-speed reciprocating engines.
- Represented GTCR in its acquisition of EaglePicher Technologies, a manufacturer power solutions for customers in various end markets.
- Represented Olympus Partners in its sale of Phoenix Services, a provider of outsourced slag handling, metal reclamation, and other related services to steel mills.
- Represented Golden Gate Capital in its sale of EP Minerals, a miner and producer of diatomaceous earth, perlite and clay minerals for various end products.
Consumer/Services Sectors
- Represented Bernhard Capital Partners in its acquisition of RailWorks, North America’s leading rail infrastructure solutions provider.
- Represented Energy Capital Partners in its acquisition of Liberty Tire Recycling, a nationwide tire recycling business.
- Represented Greenbriar Equity Group in its acquisition of Oil Changers, an operator of automotive quick lube facilities.
- Represented Solus Alternative Asset Management in its acquisition of the U.S. and Canadian assets of Jack Cooper, a diversified transportation and logistics business.
Food Sector
- Represented Investindustrial Industries in its acquisition of the Meal Preparation division of Treehouse Foods, a manufacturer of various consumer food products.
- Represented Thomas H. Lee Partners in its acquisition and subsequent sale of Give & Go Prepared Foods, a North American baked goods company.
- Represented Ares Management Corporation in its acquisition of Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants, a high-end restaurant and winery chain.
Energy Sector
- Represented World Fuel Services Corporation in its acquisition of Flyers Energy Group, an operator of cardlock fueling stations and distributor of petroleum products.
- Represented Blackstone in its joint acquisition with ArcLight of four power plants in Ohio and Indiana.
- Represented Brookfield Infrastructure Partners in its acquisition of Teekay, a marine energy transportation, storage & production company.
Restructuring
- Represented Whiting Petroleum, a diversified oil and gas company, for environmental matters in Chapter 11 restructuring.
- Represented GenOn, an operator of power plants, for environmental matters in Chapter 11 restructuring and associated asset sales.
- Represented Horsehead Holding, a producer of zinc and related materials, for environmental matters in Chapter 11 restructuring.
- Represented Patriot Coal Company, a coal mining business, for environmental matters in Chapter 11 restructuring and associated asset sales.
Real Estate
- Represented private equity and strategic clients on environmental matters in a variety of proprietary real estate transactions, including property acquisitions and sales, sale-leaseback transactions, lease negotiations and environmental investigations.
Prior Experience
Attorney-Advisor, Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy, 2010–2014
Law Clerk, EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, 2008, 2010
Law Clerk, DOJ Environment and Natural Resources Division, 2009
Law Clerk, Center for International Environmental Law, 2007
More
Thought Leadership
Teaching
Adjunct Professor, New York University School of Law, Environmental Transactional Law, 2024–Present
Adjunct Professor, University of California Berkeley School of Law, Environmental Transactional Practice, 2017–2023
Adjunct Professor, George Washington University School of Law, Environmental and Energy Scholarship, 2012–2014
Speaking Engagements
Panelist, “The Elephant in the Room? Regulatory, Legislative and Litigation Updates on PFAS and Transactional Considerations,” Environmental Transactional Roundtable, May 2023
Moderator, "Updates in the Environmental Insurance Marketplace Panel," Environmental Transactional Roundtable, June 2022
Publications
Co-Author, “PFAS Update: EPA Designates PFOA and PFOS as Hazardous Substances Under CERCLA,” Kirkland Alert, April 2024
Co-Author, “PFAS Update: EPA Announces its First Enforceable and Final National Drinking Water Standards for Certain PFAS,” Kirkland Alert, April 2024
Co-Author, "Environmental Law and Practice in the United States," Thomson Reuters Practical Law Series, May 2021
Contributor, "The Washington Report," Energy Regulatory Quarterly, Vol. 9, Issue 1, April 2021
Contributor, "Energy: Oil & Gas Law and Practice in USA," Chambers and Partners Global Practice Guide, 2018–2021
Co-Author, "EPA’s Plans to Make Sweeping New Change to Regulation of Methane Emissions from Existing Oil and Gas Sources and Potential Next Steps," LexisNexis Pratt’s Energy Law Report, Vol. 16–8, September 2016
Co-Author, "One Step Beyond: Potential Impacts of Proposed Methane and VOC Reduction Initiatives in Pennsylvania’s Oil and Gas Sector and Staying Ahead of the Curve," Kirkland Alert, February 2016
Recognition
Recognized in Chambers USA for Environment: Transactional, 2024
Recognized in The Legal 500 United States for Environment: Transactional, 2023–2024
Named to Lawdragon's list of the “500 Leading U.S. Environmental Lawyers,” 2023–2024
Recognized as Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” for Environmental Law, 2023
Presidential Management Fellow, 2010–2012
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2024, New York
- 2015, California
- 2023, District of Columbia
- 2010, Maryland (inactive)
Languages
- English
- French
Education
- The George Washington University Law SchoolJ.D.with Honors2010
Senior Production Editor, Journal of Energy and Environmental Law
Semi-Finalist, National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition (2008)
- The George Washington University, Elliott School of International AffairsM.A., International Science and Technology Policy2010
- University of PennsylvaniaB.A., Sociology & Frenchsumma cum laude2004Phi Beta Kappa