Jon Witmer, a Senior Associate Attorney at Knauf Shaw, works across many of the firm’s practices, including environmental litigation and brownfield redevelopment.
Jon joined Knauf Shaw in December 2024 after working as a contract attorney with the United States Department of Justice within the Natural Resources Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Division for over a decade. At the Natural Resources Section, Jon assisted on a variety of cases, including many indigenous law cases. He worked on numerous tribal trust fund and resources claims, including many cases with a National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) element. As a member of the litigation team on an aboriginal rights case involving the National Park Service, he received the Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Excellence. He brings his expertise on indigenous law to Knauf Shaw.
Jon also has extensive experience in natural resources and land use law from his time at the Natural Resources Section. He was involved in a wide range of litigation, including litigation focused on offshore wind farm project development, mountaintop mining in West Virginia, the effects of development projects on pallid sturgeon populations in the Missouri River, and various environmental criminal cases.
Jon is a Rochester native who enjoys searching for the perfect hiking spots locally and in the Adirondacks, as well as coaching and watching basketball.
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- Lead Law Clerk, Amentum, U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Natural Resources Section, Washington, D.C.
- Law Clerk, CACI International Inc, Washington, D.C.
- Contract Attorney, Kelly Law Registry (McGuire Woods), Washington, D.C.
- Contract Attorney, Ajilon Staffwise (Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP), Washington, D.C.
- Paralegal Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration, Fort Worth, TX
- Law Clerk, Rick Engineering Company, San Diego, CA
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- Monroe County Bar Association
- Environmental Committee (Member)
- New York State Bar Association
- Environmental and Energy Law Section (Member)
- Local and State Government Section (Member)
- Air & Waste Management Association, Genesee Finger Lakes Chapter (Member)
- Monroe County Bar Association