Lawyers working for the environment

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Zachary Knox Griefen

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Biography

Zachary Knox Griefen has over fifteen years of litigation experience in the fields of environmental and land use law. He has represented environmental organizations, citizen groups, and individuals in cases before municipal boards, state agencies, and state and federal courts. Mr. Griefen has assisted citizen groups and individual clients in halting inappropriate development and enforced federal environmental laws on behalf of environmental organizations and their members. Zak has presented on many legal education panels, on topics including citizen suit litigation, municipal separate storm sewer system regulations, and the regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Prior to joining Bricklin & Newman LLP as an associate, Mr. Griefen was a senior litigator for Conservation Law Foundation, with a focus on civil litigation under the federal Clean Water Act. Prior to joining CLF, Zak worked as a litigation attorney at Cheney, Brock & Saudek, P.C. and clerked at the Vermont Environmental Court.

Zak Griefen has a long-term passion for environmental protection. Zak is an avid angler who ties his own flies and is an enthusiastic user of our public lands and waters.

Practice Areas

  • Environmental and Land Use Law

Education

  • Vermont Law School, South Royalton, Vermont
    • J.D. - 2005
    • Honors: cum laude
    • Honors: Full Merit Scholarship
  • Vermont Law School, South Royalton, Vermont
    • Master of Studies in Environmental Law - 2005
    • Honors: magna cum laude
    • Honors: Full Merit Scholarship
  • University of New Mexico
    • 2002
    • Honors: cum laude
  • National Institute of Trial Advocacy Environmental Law Trial Skills Program
    • 2017

Bar Admissions

  • Vermont
  • Massachusetts
  • Washington
  • New Hampshire
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court District of Vermont
  • U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court District of Connecticut
  • U.S. District Court District of New Hampshire
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit

Professional Associations

  • Washington State Bar Association, Member
  • Vermont Bar Association, Member
  • American Bar Association, Member

Current Employment Position

  • Associate

Pro-Bono Activities

  • Chair, Executive Committee, Vermont Chapter of the Sierra Club
  • Chair, Wetlands and Water Quality Committee, Vermont Chapter of the Sierra Club
  • Board Member, Vermont Chapter of the Native Fish Coalition

Past Positions

  • Senior Litigator, Conservation Law Foundation
  • Litigation Associate, Cheney, Brock, and Saudek, P.C.
  • Hon. Thomas Durkin, Vermont Environmental Court, Judicial Law Clerk
  • Hon. Merideth Wright, Vermont Environmental Court, Judicial Law Clerk