Land Use and Zoning Law Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
Geoffrey L. "Geoff" Robinson
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Geoff Robinson focuses his practice on land use, development and real estate litigation. He represents clients in civil and administrative proceedings involving planning and zoning laws, CEQA, development fees and exactions, and public facilities financing. He is an authority on writs of mandate in the trial court and is co-author of the treatise California Administrative Mandamus (CEB, 3rd Ed. 2020) and other publications on civil writ practice. He also has substantial experience in the area of development mitigation and has litigated numerous cases involving challenges to development exactions, mitigation requirements and public financing districts. He has also handled a broad range of water law matters, including a ground water basin rights adjudication and appellate litigation involving the validity of a water supply assessment and an Urban Water Management Plan. Geoff has been an active participant in pro bono efforts, representing individuals, nonprofits and public agencies before state and federal courts, including several matters in the California Supreme Court. He is the recipient of the California State Bar President’s Pro Bono Award. Geoff served as law clerk to Judge Thomas J. MacBride of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California and as extern to Judge Joseph T. Sneed of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Professional Recognition
Professional Recognition
- Listed in Super Lawyers, Northern California, 2004 - 2020
- Recipient of President’s Pro Bono Award, State Bar of California, 1996
- Recipient of John J. Curtin Public Service Award, 2006
Overview
- French
- University of California Hastings College of the Law, J.D., graduated 1983
- University of California Hastings College of the Law, JD, graduated 1983
- University of Virginia
- University of California Berkeley, BA, graduated 1978
- California, The State Bar of California
- United States, U.S. Supreme Court
- United States, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Contra Costa Senior Legal Services - Board of Directors
- JAG Section - California State Guard - Judge Advocate Officer
- OneJustice - Advisory Board
- United States District Court
- French
- California, The State Bar of California
- United States, U.S. Supreme Court
- United States, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Contra Costa Senior Legal Services - Board of Directors
- JAG Section - California State Guard - Judge Advocate Officer
- OneJustice - Advisory Board
- University of California Hastings College of the Law, J.D., graduated 1983
- University of California Hastings College of the Law, JD, graduated 1983
- University of Virginia
- University of California Berkeley, BA, graduated 1978
- United States District Court
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Land Use and Zoning Law
- Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
Awards:
- President's Pro Bono Award - State Bar of California
- John J. Curtin Public Service Award
- Margaret Sanger Award - Planned Parenthood Shasta-Diablo
News & Media
Case History
Cases
- Representative Experience
Litigated successful appeals of actions challenging water supply assessment for specific plan area and challenging Urban Water Management Plan Defended city in state and federal courts in litigation brought by competing regional mall developers Represented public utility in original mandamus proceedings in California Supreme Court challenging natural gas pipeline project Brought successful challenge to city’s denial of regional mental health facility Negotiation and processing of complex land exchange, environmental remediation and redevelopment program with the Port of San Diego, State Lands Commission and California Coastal Commission Negotiated $8 million reimbursement of developer fees for builders in city of Tracy Represented industry groups in litigation successfully overturning (on appeal) county ordinance requiring a landuse permit for refinery activities Filed amicus briefs for California State Association of Counties and League of California Cities in various California Supreme Court cases involving land use issues
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