About Richard S. Pakola
Richard S. Pakola Jr. built a legal foundation on a sequence of academic steps that combined law and history. He earned a B.A. in history from the University of Pennsylvania in 1985, followed by a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 1994. He later completed an LL.M. in Environmental Law at The George Washington University Law School in 2004.
After law school, Pakola began practicing in New York. He developed experience in matters that intersect state regulatory schemes and federal appeals. Early in his career he handled a range of disputes and regulatory questions, gaining familiarity with agency procedures and courtroom practice in New York state courts and federal venues.
The LL.M. in environmental law deepened his engagement with regulatory and compliance issues. He has worked on permitting disputes, administrative proceedings, and contested enforcement matters that require both technical understanding and legal analysis. His background in history and law contributes to a methodical approach to records and precedent when assembling arguments or preparing for hearings.
Pakola is admitted to practice in New York and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. That combination has led him to take on both trial-level and appellate assignments. He has handled briefing and oral argument in appeals and prepared administrative records for agency proceedings. His practice has involved interactions with regulatory agencies, drafting comments on proposed rules, and advising clients on obligations under environmental statutes and regulations.
Today he practices in New York, where his work continues to blend environmental regulatory matters with appellate advocacy. He represents clients in proceedings before state agencies, in trial courts, and on appeals, and his current practice concentrates on environmental regulation, administrative procedure, and appellate litigation.
