Creative, practical, affordable solutions to your environmental legal issues.
What I Do
Counseling clients on an array of complex environmental litigation, regulatory and transactional matters.
My trial experience includes matters in both state and federal courts. I have argued several cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, including a case argued before an en banc panel of the court. I also have experience resolving environmental matters through mediation and arbitration proceedings and working with various state and local environmental agencies.
My Practice
- My practice focuses on environmental, transactional and judicial proceedings, as well as product liability claims and other complex litigation.
- I have successfully represented clients in matters involving hazardous substances, air and water quality, land use, toxic torts and other environmental matters, including state and federal Superfund liability; National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting and compliance issues; California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (Proposition 65); and hazardous waste regulatory issues.
- My trial experience includes matters in both state and federal courts. I have argued several cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, including a case argued before an en banc panel of the court. I also have experience resolving environmental matters through mediation and arbitration proceedings and working with various state and local environmental agencies.
Representative Experience
- Defended a major oil company from allegations by Communities for a Better Environment involving more than 3,000 gasoline service station sites in California regarding alleged discharges of benzene and toluene to “sources of drinking water.” In a similar case, brought by Consumer Advocacy Group (CAG), won a motion for summary judgment in which the court ruled the CAG lawsuit was barred by the doctrine of res judicata, because of an earlier settlement and consent judgment entered in the Communities for a Better Environment case.
- Acted as lead counsel in negotiating terms of a proposed NPDES permit for storm water discharges for a battery manufacturing client.
- Represented numerous industrial companies and local agencies in negotiating and addressing NPDES permit issues including wastewater and storm water discharges.