Sbaiti, Mazin

Richard H. Saudek has represented the public, utilities and municipalities in energy, siting, tax, contract and valuation matters before courts and regulatory bodies. He has formed and represents Vermont "captive" insurance companies and several businesses. He handles government relations in the legislature and administrative and regulatory agencies on a range of subjects, including environmental and insurance-related matters. He represents municipalities in cases involving the siting of "wind farms" and in taxation cases involving hydroelectric plants.

Mr. Saudek joined the firm in January 1985. A graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan School of Law, Saudek was a partner in a New York City law firm before moving to Vermont. He served as Chairman of the Vermont Public Service Board and as the State’s first Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Service. In those positions, he was involved in all aspects of utility regulation, from telephone and electric rate cases to siting cases and power contract negotiations. He was personally responsible for the State’s first power contracts with Hydro-Quebec and Ontario Hydro. After joining the firm, he was appointed by the Attorney General to represent the public in hearings on the Vermont Telecommunications Agreement and by the Governor to serve as Chair of the District V Environmental Commission. He is admitted to practice in the Federal and State Courts of Vermont and is a member of the Vermont Bar Association.

Richard Saudek has served as a Trustee of Capital City Concerts, the Governor’s Institutes, the Vermont Council on the Arts, the Vermont Opera Theater, Inc. and the Barre Opera House, and as President of the Vermont Harvard-Radcliffe Club. He is a current Trustee of Marlboro College and the American Civil Liberties Union-Vermont and received the 2002 ACLU-Vermont Chase Award for Outstanding Cooperating Attorney.