News

Farella Braun + Martel Deepens Environmental Practice With Partner Donald Sobelman

October 9, 2019 Announcement

Northern California legal powerhouse Farella Braun + Martel is pleased to welcome environmental law attorney Donald E. Sobelman to the firm’s San Francisco office as a partner.

“For over two decades, Don has had his finger on the pulse of California’s evolving environmental laws and regulations, helping his clients successfully navigate these complexities and – in many cases – uncharted territory,” said Firm Chairman Brian Donnelly. “We are pleased to welcome Don to Farella. His deep environmental law experience in California and track record of results adds additional depth to our well-respected environmental practice.”

Sobelman has tackled a diverse range of environmental law matters, including administrative proceedings and civil litigation in trial and appellate courts involving state and federal statutes (such as CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Water Act, and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act); complex environmental/toxic tort litigation; contractual disputes and claims arising from environmental indemnities; compliance with local, state, and federal regulations pertaining to hazardous materials, hazardous waste, water quality, and wetlands; and remediation, transfer/sale, and redevelopment of brownfields sites requiring investigation, risk assessment, and remediation to address vapor intrusion and soil and groundwater contamination. He conducts due diligence regarding environmental liabilities associated with real estate and corporate transactions and navigates developers through the CEQA process, including defending projects in both trial and appellate courts.

Sobelman is listed in both Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers in the Environmental Litigation category. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School (1996) and his B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of California at Los Angeles (1991). He is admitted to practice in all California federal district courts, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

“I am excited to join Farella with its well-known and highly respected environmental practice and diverse client base,” said Sobelman. “Farella provides significant opportunities to leverage my litigation, compliance, and brownfields redevelopment expertise.”

Farella Braun + Martel is a leading Northern California law firm representing corporate and private clients in sophisticated business transactions and complex commercial, civil and criminal litigation. Clients seek our imaginative legal solutions and the dynamism and intellectual creativity of our lawyers. We are headquartered in San Francisco and maintain offices in the Napa Valley that are focused on the wine industry.

Contact:
Cheryl Loof
Farella Braun + Martel LLP
415 954-4433 / [email protected]