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.

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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 SeriesMay 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 Guide2018–2021

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 laude2004
    Phi Beta Kappa