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Michael A. Howard, a partner, has extensive experience in managing complex projects on behalf of institutional and public sector clients. Mr. Howard graduated from Hamilton College (B.A., 1976, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) and Albany Law School of Union University (J.D., 1979, cum laude, Justinian Honor Society). Admitted to the practice of law in New York in 1980, Mr. Howard began his career in the real estate area where he represented a broad spectrum of clients, ranging from individuals to large institutional lenders in a variety of real estate based transactions. Representative clients include commercial banks, credit unions, and mortgage bankers. Mr. Howard also served as lead contact in the formation of the Rochester District Heating Cooperative, Inc., the first public/private steam cooperative in New York state, which acquired and upgraded the downtown steam system.
Mr. Howard's experience with environmental matters began 1985, when he assisted Mr. Wilson with the Firm's representation of first, the Western Finger Lakes Solid Waste management Authority, a multi-county authority in upstate New York and then, the Wayne County Water and Sewer Authority. Mr. Howard also had principal responsibility for procurement issues in connection with Tompkins County's development of an integrated transfer station and recycling center. Admitted in Ohio, Mr. Howard has acted as special counsel to several counties in Ohio concerning their compliance with the state's solid waste management statute, which requites integrated solid waste management plans for county-wide districts.
Also admitted in the District of Columbia, Mr. Howard acted as special legal counsel to the U.S. Conference of Mayors based in Washington, D.C., in connection with its National Office Paper Recycling Project. Mr. Howard has also acted as special counsel to the National Association of Counties in Washington, D.C., in connection with its initiative to develop of a special environmental project focusing on waste minimization and recycling.
Currently, Mr. Howard represents the Rochester District Cooling Cooperative, Inc., which is seeking to develop a new chilled water supply and distribution system to satisfy the cooling needs of major buildings in downtown Rochester. Mr. Howard also represents the Monroe County Water Authority in connection with real estate issues and the acquisition of easements and rights-of-way. Mr. Howard also acted as special counsel to Continental Industrial Capital, LLC, the company that acquired the Rochester Technology Park (formerly the Elmgrove site) - one of the largest industrial sites in New York State - from the Eastman Kodak Company.
As counsel to the Xerox Federal Credit Union, Mr. Howard was instrumental in assisting the credit union to accomplish the first fully electronic mortgage closing in New York State. Mr. Howard also plays a key role in advising eSys Technologies, LLC, a leading provider of e-software solutions to the title industry and national lenders.
Mr. Howard is a member of the Monroe County, New York State, and American Bar Associations.
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