Foley Hoag LLP announced that Basil Seggos, formerly the longest-serving Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), has joined the law firm as Partner and Senior Policy Director in the Energy & Climate Group. Seggos will advise clients on matters involving climate change, clean water, energy and environmental policy, public health, sustainability, and security. He will be part of the firm’s expanding team in its New York office.
“We are thrilled that Basil has chosen to join our firm,” said Foley Hoag Managing Partner Jim Bucking. “He is a force not only in the New York environmental community, but also nationally and even globally. His policy and regulatory expertise will complement and enhance our market-leading energy and climate practice.”
Seggos served as Commissioner of the New York State DEC from 2015 to 2024. During his tenure at the agency, he oversaw the implementation of policies and programs promoting a clean, healthy and accessible environment. Seggos was instrumental in the passage of the state's nation-leading climate law, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, and he co-chaired the Climate Action Council charged with implementing the Act.
Seggos also guided DEC with respect to the design of the state’s “cap and invest” program; devised and was responsible for the $5.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act; promulgated first-in-the nation regulations on emerging contaminants; and spearheaded the reauthorization of the state's Superfund law and reforms of the Brownfield Tax Credit program. He also elevated the agency’s environmental justice portfolio to the executive level and created the state’s first-ever Office of Indian Nations Affairs.
"I am excited to join the Energy & Climate team at Foley Hoag, a leader in the field of clean energy, climate, and environmental law,” said Seggos. “I look forward to working closely with Foley Hoag’s nationwide team and clients to deliver innovative solutions to some of the most pressing issues of our time."
“We are thrilled to welcome Basil to our growing and dynamic practice,” said Noah Shaw, Energy & Climate partner. “His depth of experience, judgment, vision and energy will be an enormous value to our clients.”
Prior to becoming DEC Commissioner, Seggos served as Deputy Secretary for the Environment, where he counseled the Governor on environmental policy and the operations of New York's environmental agencies. He also served as an executive with a clean-tech private equity company, and in various roles at the Natural Resources Defense Council, Riverkeeper and the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
Seggos is also a former officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and dedicates personal time to humanitarian efforts on the front lines in Ukraine. He is a visiting fellow at the National Security Institute and a fellow at the American College of Environmental Lawyers. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy from Trinity College, and a Juris Doctorate from The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University.
The Energy & Climate group at Foley Hoag was founded almost 20 years ago as one of the first fully integrated practices serving energy transition clients across the value chain and development and deployment lifecycle. The team assists in all aspects of transactional support and project development.
