Environmental Law

Small communities across California often run into trouble when trying to meet federal and state environmental requirements. Many lack the financial resources to upgrade outdated infrastructure or implement the kinds of pollution control systems regulators expect....

California has long led the nation in environmental preservation and climate change legislation. The state's groundbreaking laws and regulations often set the benchmark for environmental policies nationwide. Businesses and organizations in California frequently find...

You don’t have to spill the chemicals to be held responsible for cleaning them up. That’s the harsh reality property owners in contaminated zones face, thanks to CERCLA—the federal law that assigns cleanup costs to anyone even remotely tied to a polluted property. And...

Commercial real estate transactions come with unique challenges, particularly when environmental liabilities are involved. These liabilities can significantly impact property value, legal compliance, and future usability, making them a critical concern for buyers,...

In April 2024, updates to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) reshaped the landscape for property owners. These revisions designate PFOA, PFOS, and their related variants—commonly called "forever chemicals"—as hazardous...

How can you pinpoint the true source of environmental harm in the complex world of pollution liability? Environmental forensic science provides the necessary tools and techniques to uncover the facts, helping to identify the origins and extent of pollution. We at...

A California toxic tort case is anything but easy to navigate. How do you establish accountability for chemical exposure under the state's stringent regulations? What evidence stands up to scrutiny in courts? And where do you even begin when local regulations seem to...

California's wildfire crisis is escalating at a troubling pace, with entire communities grappling with destruction to homes, properties, and lives. Large utility corporations like PG&E and SDG&E are among the primary culprits, whose negligence has resulted in...

California has recently changed its laws in a way that can sharply limit a farmer's access to water. State action in response to water shortage can, in turn, restrict agricultural operations in the state. These new rules will change the way that farming operations...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the legal authority to draft regulations to protect the public against certain harms. The EPA has recently been active in its regulatory efforts to address Contaminants of Emerging Concern (“CEC”). The EPA’s role and...