Kirstin Etela Named to Lawdragon's 2025 Green 500 List of Leading Environmental Lawyers

Day Pitney Partner Kirstin M. Etela has been named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Environmental Lawyers – The Green 500 list. Now in its fourth year, the annual list recognizes the nation's leading environmental lawyers across private practice, nonprofits, and academia who are shaping the future of environmental and energy law through advocacy, litigation, policy, and scholarship.

According to Lawdragon, honorees are selected from a rigorous process of journalistic reporting, nominations, and vetting with peers and experts in environmental law. Honorees typically have at least 10 years of practice and hold partner status or an equivalent designation with leadership in their firms. For additional information on the list and its selection methodology, click here.

"As ever, we're proud to publish this look at the lawyers who spend their lives helping address our world, whether on behalf of a corporation that delivers energy or develops homes, or an organization that fights for endangered species and to protect open land," notes Katrina Dewey, Founder of Lawdragon.

Based in Hartford, Etela advises clients on complex environmental and regulatory matters across Connecticut, New York, and nationally, including compliance, transactions, permitting, remediation, and risk mitigation. She is well-versed in emerging issues such as ESG initiatives, environmental justice challenges, and PFAS regulation. With a strategic approach, she has successfully structured solutions to facilitate transactions and mitigate regulatory and legacy environmental liabilities.

Her experience includes developing and implementing EHS compliance programs, leading brownfields redevelopment projects, conducting internal investigations, and managing crisis communications on matters of public interest. She has in-depth knowledge of all major federal environmental, health, and safety statutes and regulations, as well as state requirements and international experience in chemical regulation and remedial obligations.

Etela earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Pace University School of Law. She also holds an M.S. and a Graduate Diploma in Business from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), as well as a B.A., magna cum laude, from Tulane University. She is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York.

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