Biography
An experienced environmental law attorney, Agnes advises clients on complex litigation, corporate governance, transactions, regulatory compliance and land use challenges.
Her environmental litigation work spans the full spectrum of federal and state environmental law. Agnes represents potentially responsible parties in federal and state court and alternative dispute resolution forums in government and private cost-recovery litigation involving:
- Superfund (CERCLA)
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- Clean Water Act (CWA)
- New Jersey Spill Act
Agnes leverages her engineering and corporate background to counsel businesses in multiple sectors, including the utilities, energy, construction, real estate and manufacturing industries, on a full range of legal issues involving the environment and corporate sustainability.
She counsels clients on compliance with state hazardous substances, land use and air permitting regulations and represents them in enforcement actions by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). Agnes also advises clients regarding federal environmental laws, including Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) enforcement of Superfund. In addition, she helps businesses navigate corporate regulatory issues, including in the area of environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements.
Agnes is well-versed in developing issues related to environmentally sensitive real estate, including wetlands and coastal areas regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Agnes advises owners, tenants, buyers and developers on redeveloping brownfields and other contaminated sites covered by ISRA. She also represents developers and property owners in challenges to adverse rulings by state and federal regulators, including the NJDEP and the USACE.
She speaks frequently on evolving regulatory, land use and climate related issues.
Representative Matters
- Represented a utility in a CERCLA and NRD enforcement matter relating to the Passaic River and Newark Bay.
- Represented a utility in CERCLA and state litigation that resulted in a favorable settlement.
- Represented the special master in the enforcement of court-ordered injunction against a national energy company.
- Represented a retail developer in connection with substantial claims relating to defective workmanship, fraud and construction delay claims.
- Represented a global intellectual property management company in a case which resulted in a landmark legal decision regarding e-discovery.
- Represented property developer in a litigation against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which resulted in a significant decision in the federal court in support of the landowner/developer.
- Represented a global semiconductor company as local counsel in patent and antitrust litigation that resulted in a jury verdict in excess of $100 million on behalf of the client.
*Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Beyond Fox Rothschild
Since 2018, Agnes has served on the board of Wynona’s House Child Advocacy Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting justice and providing healing for child victims of abuse and neglect in Essex County.
Agnes was appointed to the Supreme Court of New Jersey District Ethics Committee for Essex County from 2011 to 2015.
Before Fox Rothschild
Agnes joined us from a regional law firm where she was Chair of the Environmental Practice Group. Prior to that, Agnes completed a judicial clerkship for the Honorable Katharine S. Hayden of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Before entering the legal profession, Agnes worked for Keyspan Energy Corp. There, she managed the company’s environmentally impaired properties and oversaw Keyspan’s environmental compliance.
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
Education
- Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2000)
- University of Notre Dame (B.S., 1993)
Memberships
- New Jersey State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
Board of Directors
- Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (2021–present)
- Wynona’s House Child Advocacy Center (2018-present)
Languages
- Polish
Honors & Awards
- Selected to the list of attorneys ranked by Chambers USA for Environmental Law in New Jersey (2016, 2020-2025)
This award is conferred by Chambers & Partners. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. - Selected to the "Best Lawyers in America" list for Environmental Law, Environmental - Litigation and Women in the Law (2018-2025)
This award is conferred by Best Lawyers. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. - Selected to the "ROI Influencers: Environment" list (2024, 2025)
This award is conferred by ROI-NJ. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. - Selected to the "Super Lawyers" list for Environmental Law (2016-2023) and Environmental Litigation (2026) in New Jersey
This award is conferred by Thomson Reuters. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. - Selected to the "Leaders in Law" list in New Jersey by NJBIZ (2022)
- This award is conferred by NJBIZ. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
- Selected to the "Best 50 Women in Business" list by NJBIZ (2017)
This award is conferred by NJBIZ. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. - Selected to the list of "40 Under 40" by the New Jersey Law Journal (2010)
This award is conferred by New Jersey Law Journal. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
