Scarinci Hollenbeck Awards Second Annual Theodore A. Schwartz Scholarship for Environmental Law

Scarinci Hollenbeck Congratulates Environmental Law Scholarship Recipient Talha Iqbal!

Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC has awarded the second annual Theodore A. Schwartz Scholarship for Environmental Law to Talha Iqbal, a rising third-year student at Rutgers Law School in Newark. Mr. Iqbal will receive $2,500 to support his continued legal education. The Environmental Law Scholarship is awarded annually to a student who demonstrates a commitment to the field.

The firm established the scholarship to recognize the contributions of retired partner Theodore “Ted” Schwartz and to support the next generation of environmental lawyers. Ted retired from Scarinci Hollenbeck in 2025 after nearly 60 years of practice. The firm presented the scholarship to him as a retirement gift and to honor his legacy as a pioneer in New Jersey environmental law. The New Jersey State Bar Foundation, which administers the scholarship, invited Ted to serve on its selection committee.

Mr. Iqbal spent this summer gaining experience in both private practice and in-house work, serving as a Summer Associate at Riker Danzig and as a legal intern at Crum & Forster. He enters his final year of law school with a commitment to pro bono service and to practicing in the areas of New Jersey where legal help is most needed.

Scarinci Hollenbeck applauds Mr. Iqbal’s dedication to service and hopes this scholarship helps him complete his final year of law school with less financial stress.

“The Scarinci Hollenbeck Theodore A. Schwartz Scholarship for Environmental Law hosted by the NJSBF represents an investment in my potential and commitment to New Jersey’s legal community. Beyond easing the financial burden of law school, it gives me greater freedom to pursue pro bono opportunities and to practice in areas where dedicated attorneys are most needed. Receiving this scholarship strengthens my resolve to build a career defined by service, integrity, and meaningful contributions to New Jersey,” said Mr. Iqbal.

Scarinci Hollenbeck plans to award the scholarship indefinitely. Submission information is available here: https://njsbf.org/about-njsbf/opportunities-for-funding/law-school-scholarship-program/

About Theodore Schwartz

Over more than five decades of legal service, Mr. Schwartz established himself as a pioneer in Environmental Law, with numerous achievements to his name. From 1965 to 1970, he was Deputy Attorney General for the State of New Jersey, where he acted as Chief of the Attorney General’s Task Force on Pollution. During this time, he authored numerous environmental laws and regulations, including the New Jersey Pollution Control Act, which became a national model for environmental regulation.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Schwartz spearheaded the creation of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). Throughout his career, Mr. Schwartz has handled numerous landmark cases in the areas of air pollution, site remediation, water pollution, water supply, and solid waste. Most notable among these cases was Mr. Schwartz’s successful action against all major airlines using Newark Airport, seeking to replace their jet engines with smokeless ones. This action sparked a national response, and as a result, other states began to follow suit in prompting airlines to replace their jet engines.

Learn more about Scarinci Hollenbeck’s Environmental Law Practice.