Environmental Law

Represented companies in pre‑litigation and government‑initiated enforcement actions under the Clean Water Act and Proposition 65. Work included drafting persuasive responses that avoided litigation, coordinating technical analyses, and negotiating favorable resolutions. Achieved a “walk-away” of a threatened consumer product class action demand through pre-litigation advocacy.

Defended a major chemical distributor in decades‑long coordinated groundwater contamination litigation involving dozens of cases and extensive fact and expert discovery. Took or defended more than 40 depositions, prepared summary judgment motions, and helped achieve repeated dismissals and favorable settlements.

Advise clients on compliance with cleanup and abatement orders, management of mining waste, water rights, historical resource protections, and remediation strategy.

Acted as lead counsel for a municipality in (1) development and approval of environmental impact report for a large transportation infrastructure project, and (2) defense of city in resulting litigation, resulting in key published CEQA decision.

Represented potentially responsible parties in many of the major multi-party CERCLA litigation matters and settlement processes concerning Superfund sites in California over the last two decades, including the Exide secondary lead smelter site in Vernon, the Casmalia Resources waste disposal site in Santa Barbara County, the BKK Corporation landfill in West Covina, the Mouren-Laurens waste oil site in Los Angeles, the Cooper Drum site in Los Angeles, the Modesto Ground Water Contamination site, and the Goodrich/RFF Site in Rialto. 

Defended client in state court cost recovery action asserting HSAA and common law claims, brought by a California water district concerning aquifer contamination by TCE and other VOCs.

Jointly defended two companies in environmental cost recovery action concerning drilling mud disposal site. Obtained voluntary dismissal of the action following extensive negotiations with Regional Water Quality Control Board concerning the site remedy. 

Advised client with respect to implementation of TSCA-compliant PCB remediation at former plant site, to facilitate sale and residential redevelopment of property.

Represented and successfully resolved CERCLA cost recovery and contribution litigation against beverage company at major NPL Superfund site.

Represents/represented transportation company in multiple cost recovery and contribution actions, including successful settlement involving payment to client.

Represented multiple clients, including wineries, recycling facilities, and other industrial operations in successful resolution of CWA citizen suits.

Represents confidential client in ongoing PFAS matters involving State cleanup order, investigation and remediation, negotiations with State and local agencies and third parties, and potential cost recovery litigation.

Represents product manufacturer in multiple coordinated lawsuits throughout California regarding groundwater contamination due to historical applications of soil fumigants. Successfully negotiated resolution of dozens of lawsuits, often by dismissal with no settlement payment.

Represented a transportation company in a four-week trial in federal District Court in Washington in a state Superfund contribution action relating to a former wood treating site. Obtained a complete defense judgment.