About Us
The Great Lakes Environmental Law Center is Michigan’s foremost environmental legal advocacy organization. When environmental issues threaten our communities, residents deserve an advocate that will work with them to create multi-faceted solutions that will achieve their goals. We focus on addressing environmental issues impacting people of color and low-income because these communities are often more severely impacted by environmental issues and often lack access to legal services.
Our Staff
Nick Leonard
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Since becoming the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center’s Executive Director in 2018, Nick has pushed the organization to become a leader in Michigan’s robust environmental justice movement by providing legal representation to frontline communities across the State. As the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center’s Executive Director, Nick supervises the Center’s attorneys and coordinates the organization’s legal strategies. He also regularly represents the Center’s clients on a wide variety of issues.
Prior to serving as Executive Director, Nick worked for the Center as an Equal Justice Works fellow from 2014 to 2016 and as a staff attorney from 2016 to 2018.
Nick spends his free time watching Detroit Tigers baseball and spending time with his wife and two daughters on Belle Isle.
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J.D. University of Michigan Law School
B.A. English at Kalamazoo College
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Licensed to practice in Michigan, U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan
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Email: nicholas.leonard@glelc.org
Phone: 313-782-3372 ext 1
Scott Troia
STAFF ATTORNEY
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Scott joined GLELC in the summer of 2023, getting back to his environmental law roots with a focus on water quality issues in the Great Lakes. Scott grew up on the shores of Lake Erie in a suburb of Cleveland and raised his kids in Michigan where they spent most of their travel time on the shores of Lakes Superior and Michigan. Scott’s love for the Great Lakes fuels his passion for ensuring that the waters in this special region of the world remain clean, safe, and nurturing for generations to come.
Law is Scott’s second career. Prior to pursuing law, Scott owned his own wedding photography company and worked as a GED instructor/job developer with a MichiganWorks! Affiliate in Detroit. After raising his sons, he then studied Environmental Law at Pace Law school where his course work focused on the Clean Water Act and he worked for Hudson Riverkeeper in Pace’s Environmental Law Clinic. Prior to joining GLELC, Scott was working for Lakeshore Legal Aid in their Eviction Prevention program as a Supervising Staff Attorney.
In his free time, Scott enjoys kayaking, swimming in lakes, cross-country skiing, reading prose and poetry, and laughing with his kids and grandkids.
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J.D. with Certificate in Environmental Law, Pace University Law School
B.A. Communication/Theater Arts, Eastern Michigan University
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Licensed to practice in the State of New York, State of Michigan
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Email: scott.troia@glelc.org
Phone: 313-782-3372 ext 4
Andrew Bashi
STAFF ATTORNEY
Erin Mette
STAFF ATTORNEY
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In September 2018, Erin joined the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center as an Equal Justice Works Fellow. Erin’s fellowship project focuses on protecting children in Detroit and Flint from home-based environmental health hazards by providing legal counseling and representation to affected families and advocating for policy that advances environmental justice. After finishing her fellowship, Erin transitioned to her role of staff attorney
Erin was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Prior to law school, she worked as an environmental educator and organic farmer. In her free time, Erin enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, cross-country skiing, and kayaking.
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J.D. Wayne State University Law School
M.S. Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan
B.A. Political Science, Kalamazoo College
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Licensed to practice in Michigan
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Email: erin.mette@glelc.org
Phone: 313-782-3372 ext 3
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Andrew joined the Center in April of 2020, returning to his home state of Michigan after nearly a decade of practicing law and teaching in Illinois and New York. Andrew’s passion lies in the advancement of racial, environmental, and economic justice, as well as the welfare and rights of the animals and ecosystems with which we share this planet.
Upon graduating from law school, he founded a practice in Chicago, through which he provided aggressive defense for the accused as well as know-your-rights outreach to communities of color and activists. Most recently, Andrew served as a course instructor for conservation and One Health courses at Cornell University under the tutelage of rhino conservationist, Robin Radcliffe.
Andrew is a trained raptor handler. He has donated hundreds of hours to wildlife hospitals and rehabilitators. One of his greatest joys is gardening.
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J.D. with Certificate in Public Interest Law, Loyola University Chicago
B.A. International Relations, Oakland University
A.S. Biology, Harry S. Truman College
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Licensed to practice in the State of Illinois, State of Michigan, U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, and 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.
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Email: andrew.bashi@glelc.org
Phone: 313-782-3372 ext 2
Board of Directors
Brian Foley
Bob Johns
Justin Onwenu
Francis Grunow
Elizabeth Arnkoff
Michelle Martinez
Mozhgon Rajaee
Nick Schroeck