Deborah K. Tellier

Partner
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Deborah K. Tellier is a partner in the Farella Braun + Martel's Environmental Law Department.  Ms. Tellier counsels business and industry clients on compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws, with an emphasis on hazardous waste and water quality laws and regulations.  She represents companies in administrative proceedings and negotiations with federal, state and local environmental enforcing agencies.  She also advises clients on conducting and evaluating environmental due diligence investigations in connection with the acquisition, leasing and financing of real property.  She counsels domestic and international clients on establishing and monitoring environmental management systems, audits and sustainability programs. 

Ms. Tellier is also a partner in the firm's Exempt Organization Practice Group advising clients on formation, operational, grantmaking and governance issues.  As former Associate General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, she was primarily responsible for the foundation's day-to-day legal matters, compliance programs, organizational and Board governance and regulatory filings.  She also provided strategic management and oversight of the Foundation's Grants Administration Department, which was responsible for the due diligence and awarding of $200-250 million in grants annually.

She has taught and lectured on a variety of environmental law and regulation topics at institutions of higher learning and industry conferences in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Environmental Law.

Affiliations

  • Board of Directors, Environmental Law Institute (ELI) 
  • Chair, former Programs Vice Chair, Waste and Resource Recovery Committee, American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources (2009 - Present)
  • President, Executive Committee Member, Environmental Law Section, Bar Association of San Francisco (2000-2006, 2008-Present)
  • Board Member, Counsel, Maya Center for Rural Education and Well-Being Association (U.S. public charity supporting educational programs in rural Guatemala)
  • Board Member, Chair, Governance Committee, Community Alliance With Family Farmers
  • Partner Chair, Professional Development Committee, Farella Braun + Martel LLP
  • Co-chair, Real Property Section, Environmental Subsection, State Bar of California (1993-1995)