
Michael J. Hecker
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- New York
- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
Education
State University of New York at Geneseo, B.A., cum laude
University at Buffalo School of Law, J.D., cum laude
Mike is the leader of the firm’s Environmental Practice Group, and has a broad-based environmental and energy-based practice, with a focus on addressing environmental issues in business transactions, regulatory compliance counseling and permitting, administrative, civil, and criminal environmental defense, and remediation-based project oversight and assistance.
A large part of Mike’s practice focuses on assisting regional, national, and international clients with regulatory compliance and remedial matters. His experience includes counseling corporate and facility-based management on operational compliance programs and permitting pursuant to local, State and Federal requirements and disclosure obligations, including the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”), Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, and other environmental statutes and regulations. In addition, Mike has substantial experience in overseeing small to large-scale, multi-faceted remedial projects, including those pursuant to the New York State ("NYS") Spills Program, the NYS Brownfields Program, the NYS Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site Remedial Program, RCRA, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act ("CERCLA"). As part of these representations, Mike has negotiated a number of State and Federal Orders and Decrees with various agencies, including the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Justice.
As part of his involvement in business transactions, Mike counsels strategic and financial parties on a wide range of issues, including due diligence matters; legacy impairment and compliance liabilities and considerations; Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) matters; the negotiation of sophisticated environmental-related provisions and requirements in purchase and acquisition agreements, distributor and supplier agreements, leases and other contractual arrangements; the use of environmental insurance and risk transfer products; compliance with State transfer act program requirements; the use of tax-credit based programs, including the USEPA’s Brownfields Program and the NYS Brownfields Program; and, sustainability-based initiatives and requirements.
Mike regularly assists renewable project developers on a wide range of permitting, regulatory compliance, and risk assessment issues. In particular, he has assisted a number of clients on the siting of projects on brownfield and former landfill sites, providing counsel on the wide range of issues to be addressed and considered in doing so.
Mike also has significant experience representing clients during State and Federal administrative, civil, and criminal investigations and proceedings regarding alleged violations of environmental statutes and regulations. His experience defending enforcement actions includes assisting clients with internal investigations and audits, directing and overseeing sophisticated third-party environmental professionals, legal and regulatory application and analysis, and interaction with regulatory authorities.
Mike is a member of the Board of Directors of Hodgson Russ.
Honors
- Listed, Best Lawyers in America (Environmental Law) 2024
- Listed, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business - Band 1 (Environment) 2020 - 2023
- Listed, New York Metro Super Lawyers (Environmental) 2022 - 2023
- Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers (Environmental) 2021 - 2023
- Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars (Environmental) 2014 - 2020
- Listed, New York Metro Super Lawyers Rising Stars (Environmental) 2013 - 2020
Experience
Mike regularly represents clients regarding environmental regulatory issues and disputes before the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; advises clients on interpretation of federal and state environmental provisions, regulations, and statutes; and advises clients on environmental provisions in transaction agreements, including indemnity provisions, supplier agreements, and other associated corporate documents. Specifically, Mike has played a significant role in the following representative matters:
- Buffalo Sabres’ HARBORCENTER Project
- Counsel to an Agricultural Chemical Company Regarding an Ongoing RCRA Corrective Action Matter Involving Federal and State Agencies
- Counsel to an Industrial Manufacturer for Federal and State Compliance and Enforcement Matters
- Counsel to an Industrial Manufacturer in the New York State Brownfields Program Addressing Groundwater and Soil Vapor Intrusion Issues
- Defense of Wood Treatment Corporation in CERCLA Litigation
- Environmental Regulatory Matters for Raw Materials Manufacturer
- HR Teams Assists IDA in Obtaining GE Building and its Reuse by Local Manufacturer
- New York State Inactive Hazardous Waste Registry Listing & Cleanup
- Representation of Fortune 1000 Manufacturer in Interests & Real Estate Acquisition
- Representation of Integer Holdings Corporation in $1.7 Billion Acquisition
- Representation of Lumber Company in Multiple Acquisitions Per Year
- Represented Long-Time Client, Integer Holdings Corporation, in a $600 Million Disposition
- Sale of Multinational Wood Treatment Client to Private Equity Fund
- Settlement of USPEA Claims Regarding Multiple Alleged Violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
- Stock & Real Property Acquisition for Aerospace Technologies Manufacturer
In the News
- Cadence Bank (Press Release), October 24, 2023
- Law360, October 20, 2023
- Buffalo Business First, November 29, 2019
- The Green Tie, NAEM's blog for EHS and Sustainability leaders, August 10, 2018
- The Street, January 7, 2016
- SUNY Buffalo Law School Forum, Spring 2014
- SUNY Buffalo Law Wins Moot Court CompetitionDaily Record, February 27, 2014
- December 20, 2010
Press Releases
- October 19, 2023
- September 22, 2023
- August 23, 2023
- August 17, 2023
- June 6, 2023
- September 29, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 23, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, June 2, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 20, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, May 26, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, October 28, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, September 8, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, April 24, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, September 12, 2019
- Press Release, August 12, 2019
- Press Release, October 12, 2018
- Press Release, August 20, 2018
- Press Release, January 2, 2018
- Press Release, September 6, 2017
- Press Release, October 5, 2016
- Press Release, August 31, 2016
- Press Release, September 16, 2015
- Press Release, August 19, 2015
- Press Release, December 30, 2014
- Press Release, August 14, 2014
- August 2013
Publications
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert , August 8, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Brownfield Redevelopment Alert, March 29, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert , December 14, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, September 12, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy and Real Estate Alert , June 21, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy & Municipal Alert, May 3, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy and Municipal Alert, April 29, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Brownfield Redevelopment Alert, April 11, 2022
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Healthcare Alert, March 28, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, March 22, 2022
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Labor & Employment Alert, February 18, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, February 3, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Brownfield Redevelopment Alert, January 27, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, January 19, 2022
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Labor & Employment Alert, January 14, 2022
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Labor & Employment Alert, January 12, 2022
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Labor & Employment Alert, December 23, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Labor & Employment Alert, December 20, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, November 30, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA Alert, November 17, 2021
- Hodgson Russ SALT and Renewable Energy Alert, November 15, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, November 9, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA Alert, November 8, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA Alert, November 5, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, November 5, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, November 2, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Land Use & Economic Development Alert, October 22, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, October 20, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA Alert, September 21, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, September 14, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA Alert, September 10, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, September 8, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, August 3, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, August 2, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA Alert, July 1, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA Alert, June 15, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA Alert, April 27, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, April 19, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, April 7, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, April 6, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Environmental and Renewable Energy Alert, March 24, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA Alert, March 17, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, March 4, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, January 13, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, January 6, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, December 17, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, December 1, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, November 23, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, October 28, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, October 23, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, October 21, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, October 19, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, October 16, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Brownfield Redevelopment Alert, September 29, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, September 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, September 17, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, September 10, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental and Renewable Energy Alert, August 20, 2020
- Hodgson Russ OSHA Alert, August 17, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, August 12, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, August 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, August 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, July 28, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, July 28, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, July 24, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, July 20, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, July 1, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Brownfield Redevelopment Alert, June 29, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, June 23, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation and Bankruptcy & Restructuring Alert, June 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, June 19, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, June 12, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, June 9, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, June 3, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, June 2, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, May 26, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, May 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, May 20, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy and Construction Alert, May 15, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, May 15, 2020
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Business Litigation Alert, May 13, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, May 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, April 27, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, April 27, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, April 23, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation and Securities Regulation & Corporate Compliance Alert, April 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, April 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, April 21, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, April 20, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, April 16, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, April 15, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, April 14, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, April 9, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, April 9, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Litigation Alert, April 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, April 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, April 3, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, April 2, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, April 1, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental and Brownfield Redevelopment Alert, April 1, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, March 30, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, March 27, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, March 26, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, February 26, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, February 24, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, February 10, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, February 4, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, January 30, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy and Municipal Alert, January 29, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, January 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental, Brownfield and Tax Alert, January 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental and Renewable Energy Alert, January 21, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, January 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy and Muncipal Law Alert, January 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, December 19, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy and Muncipal Law Alert, December 16, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, December 12, 2019
- Petition is first move towards New York’s aggressive goal of 6,000 Megawatts of solar by 2025Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, December 4, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, December 2, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, November 27, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Environmental, Municipal, and Public Finance Alert, November 12, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, November 6, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, November 1, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, October 31, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, October 18, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy and Environmental Alert, October 8, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, October 7, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Brownfield Redevelopment and Renewable Energy Alert, June 18, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, May 7, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert, May 6, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, April 22, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, April 18, 2019
- Renewable Energy Alert, February 13, 2019
- Increased Regulatory Requirements and Water Infrastructure Investment Likely in 2019Environmental Alert, December 21, 2018
- Renewable Energy Alert, November 20, 2018
- Litigation Alert, August 3, 2018
- Buffalo Business First, December 25, 2017
- Smarter Way to Cross Blog Archives, May 7, 2013
- Environment & Energy Alert, March 27, 2012
- April 8, 2011
- A Lesson From the East: International Labor Rights and the U.S.-Cambodia Trade Agreement of 1999Buffalo Public Interest Law Journal, 2007
Blog Posts
Mike contributed to Hodgson Russ's Clean and Green Law blog. His blog entries included:
- "Solyndra Lives: Controversial Department of Energy Loan Program Will Continue," October 15, 2013
- "State Renewable Portfolio Standards Under Attack by State Legislatures," May 2, 2013
- "New York Governor Pushes for Increased Cleantech Investment," January 15, 2013
- "Lisa Jackson to Step Down as EPA Administrator; Is a Cleantech Innovator Next in Line?, December 27, 2012
- "Lower Costs and State Incentives Making Solar Increasingly Affordable in Commercial and Residential Markets," October 17, 2012
- "U.S. Government Moves to Fast Track Solar Development on Public Lands," August 1, 2012
- "Alternative Financing Options for Renewable Energy Projects: The Next Step?," July 6, 2012
He also contributed to the archived Hodgson Russ Canada/U.S. cross-border blog, Smarter Way to Cross. His entries can be found on the Publications page.
Presentations & Events
- Herkimer College, Herkimer, NY, April 25, 2023 - April 26, 2023
- December 7, 2022
- Preparing for the Future of Business AccountabilityDecember 1, 2022
- October 19, 2022
- Excelsior Springs Event Center, October 18 - October 19, 2022
- May 17, 2022
- June 8-9, 2021
- February 25, 2021
- October 20, 2020
- October 7, 2020
- September 30, 2020
- June 11, 2020
- May 26, 2020
- May 22, 2020
- Buffalo Grand Hotel & Events Center, March 10, 2020
- New York Hilton Midtown - NYC, January 30, 2020
- Buffalo, January 23, 2020
- October 24, 2019
- Toronto, ON, October 16 & 17, 2019
- Understanding New York State Tax Issues of 2019The Harvard Club 35 W. 44th Street, New York, NY, June 12 - August 7, 2019
- The Desmond Hotel Albany, May 29, 2019
- Harvard Club of NYC, February 12, 2019
- August 23, 2018
- Environmental Law and Regulation: The Role of the Government, the Environmental Lawyer, and YouApril 4, 2018
- Environmental Track of the Erie-Niagara Chapter NYSSPEFebruary 23, 2018
- July 27, 2017
- Air & Waste Management Association - Niagara Frontier Section: Legal Considerations for the Environmental ProfessionalBuffalo, NY, February 23, 2017
- Hodgson Russ LLP, The Guaranty Building, Buffalo, NY, November 16, 2016
- Air & Waste Management Association – Niagara Frontier Section Enrichment Seminar “Environmental Liability – Alternative Risk Management Options.”Buffalo, NY, January 27, 2016
- Buffalo, NY, May 1, 2015
- Buffalo, NY, January 28, 2015
- Buffalo, NY, May 2, 2014
- Buffalo, NY, January 22, 2014
- January 17, 2014
- Saratoga Springs, NY, October 18, 2012
- Buffalo, NY, March 30, 2011
Professional Associations
- Elect, UB Law School Alumni Association
- National Association of Environmental Management
- Air & Waste Management Association - Niagara Frontier Section - Co-Chair of the Annual Seminar Committee
-
New York State Bar Association - Environmental & Energy Law Section- Second Vice Chair and Member of the Executive Committee and Cabinet
- New York League of Conservation Voters- Central & Western NY Chapter Board Member
Community & Pro Bono
- Adjunct faculty member, University at Buffalo School of Law, International Legal Advocacy, 2013 - 2016
-
American Lung Association of the Northeast’s Buffalo Leadership Board, Immediate Past Chair and Chair of the Nomination Committee
- Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., former member of the Board of Directors