Harter Secrest & Emery names co-practice leaders for Environmental, Land Use and Energy practice

 

 

Rochester, NY Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, has named Melissa Valle as co-leader of the firm’s Environmental, Land Use and Energy practice group, joining current group leader and partner Thomas Tuori.

Valle brings a strategic, client-centered perspective to environmental, land use and zoning matters. She guides businesses, developers, and individuals through complex regulatory landscapes, helping them achieve practical, forward-looking solutions. From compliance and permitting to Brownfield redevelopment and litigation, Valle partners with clients to manage risk and move projects forward efficiently.

Tuori, who has more than 35 years of experience in the environmental field, including 16 years as an environmental consultant and project manager before obtaining his law degree, has served as practice group leader since 2017.

“Melissa’s forward-thinking vision and proven leadership will be instrumental as we continue to innovate in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape,” said Tuori. “I am excited to work alongside Melissa in her new role to enhance the firm’s reputation as having a sophisticated Environmental, Land Use and Energy practice while delivering timely, practical and forward-thinking solutions for our clients.”

Valle is co-chair of the New York State Bar Association Petroleum Spills Committee, and chair of the Air & Waste Management Association, Genesee Finger Lakes Chapter. She was recently named to the 2025 Rochester Business Journal Power List for Environmental Leaders and is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Environmental Law and Litigation-Environmental. Prior to joining Harter Secrest & Emery in 2023, Valle was a partner at Knauf Shaw, an environmental law boutique firm in Rochester, New York. She earned a J.D., cum laude, from Roger Williams University School of Law and a B.S. in environmental studies and policy, summa cum laude, from State University of New York at Buffalo. 

Harter Secrest & Emery’s Environmental, Land Use and Energy attorneys help clients with all environmental aspects of their businesses, deals, and projects; guide clients through the maze of local, state, and federal environmental regulations, land use and zoning requirements, and cleanup obligations; protect clients from environmental risk in the acquisition and sale of businesses and real property; and help clients strategically navigate the evolving energy-related legal landscape so that they can capitalize on opportunities. The practice is recognized by Chambers and Partners, and nationally, by Best Law Firms®.