Nika D.
Sabasteanski
Associate
Nika D.
Sabasteanski
Associate
Nika joined SPR in Fall 2023 after graduating magna cum laude and as a member of the Order of the Coif, from New York University School of Law.
At NYU Law, Nika served as the Editor-in-Chief of the New York University Law Review. Additionally, she was a Furman Academic Scholar and a Furman Public Policy Scholar. Nika spent her 2L summer as a law clerk at the Department of Justice—Environment and Natural Resources Division in the Natural Resources Section, where she focused on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) challenges and Fifth Amendment takings cases. She was also a student clinician in the Regulatory Policy Clinic, a partnership with the Institute for Policy Integrity, and in the Environmental Law Clinic, run by the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Prior to law school, Nika earned a Master of Public Health from the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, in the department of Population & Family Health with a concentration in Forced Migration. While in graduate school, she worked for the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at the Earth Institute and the International Centre for Migration, Health & Development in Geneva, Switzerland. She previously worked as a healthcare software consultant.
Hudson River Park
From its inception, SPR has served as environmental and litigation counsel to the Hudson River Park Trust on major proposed projects in Hudson River Park, most recently Little Island, Pier 57, and Gansevoort Peninsula. Little Island is a distinctive pier offering world-class recreation and performing arts events, with the support of a donation from the Diller/von Furstenberg Family Foundation – the largest gift to a public park in the history of New York State. Little Island was the subject of litigation in state and federal court for over two years, during which SPR successfully overcame a challenge to the Trust’s environmental review and a challenge to the permit issued by the DEC (as co-counsel with the State).
SPR also helped the Trust obtain new permits after the donor terminated and then restarted the Project. Pier 57 was transformed from its original maritime use to an indoor/outdoor public space and food hall. SPR advised the Trust with respect to the preparation of an environmental impact statement for Pier 57 as well as obtaining environmental permits. The Gansevoort Peninsula is a public beach and passive recreation space that replaces a former sanitation facility. SPR advised on environmental permitting and represented the Trust in litigation challenging the Gansevoort Peninsula project.
MTA Congestion Pricing
Lenox Hill Hospital
Port Authority of NY & New Jersey – Bus Terminal
Nine Dot Energy – NY Green Bank
GSI – NY Green Bank
Sun Rocket Capital – Donato Solar (Decatur Brush)
SunRocket Capital – Donato Solar (Decatur Brush 2)
SunRocket Capital – WCP Financials
“Administrable Omissions Liability in Public Law”
For: NYU Law Review
“Saving Lives and Livelihoods: The Paycheck Protection Program and its Efficacy”
For: Economia
“Climate Migration and Health System Preparedness in the United States”
For: Climate Policy
“Climate Migrants Within the U.S. Will Need a Strong Health System”
For: Scientific American: Observations
New York State FY 2025 Budget Includes Significant Housing & Environmental Programs
On April 20, 2024, the New York State Legislature enacted the long-awaited $237 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (the FY 2025 Budget). Housing reform is the centerpiece of the FY 2025 Budget, given the bipartisan nature of the on-going housing affordability and vacancy crisis—...
Covered New Jersey Buildings Must Meet New Benchmarking Requirement By December 31
Biden Administration Proposes “Phase 2” Revisions to NEPA Regulations
New York University School of Law, J.D., 2023, Order of the Coif, Magna cum laude
Columbia University, M.P.H., 2020, Delta Omega
Barnard College, B.A., 2017, Phi Beta Kappa, Summa cum laude
New York, 2024