The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is proud to announce that Achinthi Vithanage, Associate Director of Environmental Law Programs & Professor of Law for Designated Service in Environmental Law at Haub Law, was named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Environmental Lawyers: The Green 500. Since featuring on the inaugural Law Dragon 500 Leading Environmental & Energy Lawyers list in 2021, Professor Vithanage has been recognized on this list for four consecutive years.
The prestigious list is comprised of 500 lawyers carefully selected and based on research, nominations, and a variety of environmental expertise. “To be recognized on such an impressive list of top environmental leaders in the country is an honor,” said Professor Vithanage. “Through our ongoing research, advocacy, and practice in environmental law we are all contributing to addressing the world’s most pressing environmental challenges for the benefit of present and future generations. Congratulations to my friends and colleagues who are also recognized on this list and who work to make strides each day in the area of environmental law. Thank you to Lawdragon for recognizing the impact that Haub Law’s leaders have had and continue to have on the environmental field and beyond.”
In addition to teaching International Environmental Law and Environmental Externship seminars, Professor Vithanage is also an Advisory Board Member of Haub Law’s Sustainable Business Law Hub. Professor Vithanage also serves on the Council for the ABA’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, and is a founding Co-Chair of the Environmental Law Society Network. It was also recently announced by Haub Law that Professor Vithanage will be part of the dynamic leadership team appointed to advance the school’s top ranked environmental law program. Beginning in June 2025, Professor Vithanage will assume the role of Executive Director of the Environmental Law Program, which has been ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report for four consecutive years. Professor Vithanage also serves on the Secretariat to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Academy of Environmental Law, is a member of the World Commission on Environmental Law, and an originating member of the International Association of Energy Law, a global network of early career energy law professors.
Also included on the list are Haub Law alumni, Anne Carpenter ’09, Partner, Hogan Lovells, Samuel Brown ‘07, Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth, Kirstin Etela ’04, Partner, Day Pitney LLP, and James May ’91 (LLM), Richard S. Righter Distinguished Professor of Law, Washburn University School of Law, and former Haub Visiting Scholar and Visiting Professor at Haub Law.
“As a leader in the field of environmental law, we are once again so proud to have some of Haub Law’s environmental leaders recognized on the annual Lawdragon Green 500 list,” said Jason J. Czarnezki, Kerlin Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law, and Associate Dean of Environmental Law Programs and Strategic Initiatives. “Our environmental leaders of tomorrow are learning from the leadership of today. Haub Law is proud to have faculty, alumni, affiliates, and colleagues that will help to lead us toward a greener and more sustainable future.”
The 2025 Lawdragon Green 500 list also included other Haub Law affiliates, including: 2021 Haub Law Environmental Law Distinguished Junior Scholar and 2022 Lloyd. K Garrison Lecturer on Environmental Law, Sharmila Murthy, Director for Environmental Justice in the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and 2022 Gilbert and Sarah Kerlin Lecturer on Environmental Law, Roger Martella, Chief Sustainability Officer for GE.
