Best Lawyers in California, United States for Environmental Law
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David has over twenty-five years of land use and environmental law experience. His practice focuses on CEQA, climate change, development agreements, discretionary permits and entitlements, infrastructure agreements, public-private partnerships, subdivisions, zoning, environmental regulatory compliance, CERCLA, RCRA, and Proposition 65. David regularly appears before planning commissions, city councils, and other federal, state, and local government agencies on land use and regulatory matters....
Nicki Carlsen is the co-leader of the firm’s Environment, Land Use & Natural Resources Group. Her practice focuses on land use, environmental compliance and litigation. She has over 25 years of experience with the federal, state and local regulations affecting development projects, including land use planning and subdivision laws, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California Coastal Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act, endangered species act...
Buck B. Endemann is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law and Environmental Law. Buck B., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Buck B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Chris Carr is widely regarded as one of the leading project development, environmental, and energy lawyers in the United States. Drawing on his experience with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of State, Mr. Carr represents businesses, land developers, public agencies, and nonprofits in all areas of environmental and natural resource law, including energy, transportation, water, forestry, mining, coastal and marine resources, and agriculture. In particular, his pract...
David E. Cranston is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. David E., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Alicia Guerra has developed a multi-disciplinary practice focused on local, state, and federal land use entitlement and permitting and environmental review for a broad sector of private industry, developers, and public agencies. Ms. Guerra’s practice often involves complex and controversial projects at all levels of the administrative process including due diligence, land use entitlements, development agreements, disposition and development agreements, permitting advice, and counsel for...
Pete Duchesneau’s practice focuses on most aspects of environmental law involving litigation, administrative proceedings, regulatory compliance and business transactions. He handles complex environmental litigation in federal and state courts, including CERCLA, RCRA, Clean Water Act, products liability, toxic tort, and Proposition 65 actions, among others. Pete has significant experience with emerging chemicals and drinking water contamination. In addition to litigation, Pete counsels c...
Craig Moyer is a member of the firm’s Management Committee and leads Manatt Energy and Environmental. His practice focuses on all aspects of environmental and energy law. Among other honors, he was selected in 2014 as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in California by the Daily Journal. Craig has repeatedly been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America , and in 2013 received the “West Coast Law Firm of the Year” by Oil & Gas Awards. Craig has advised clients in connection with...
Ronald E. Van Buskirk is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Ronald E., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ronald E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Barbara Schussman, a partner in the firm's Environment, Energy & Resources practice, focuses on securing federal, state and local agency approvals needed to develop a wide range of private and public projects, including industrial scale solar facilities, university campuses, hospitals, research and development facilities, water supply and storage projects, oil refineries, maritime port and airport expansions, and numerous industrial, commercial, housing and mixed use developments. Barbara...
Matt has the experience and track record to guide clients through all types of disputes involving environmental regulation and litigation. He is a go-to resource for companies facing litigation and agency proceedings and a trusted advisor when it comes to real estate development, contamination concerns, and environmental regulatory compliance. Matt Wickersham has a broad national environmental and energy practice involving complex litigation, regulatory counsel, and transactional matters. He ...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.