Santa Cruz Environmental Lawyers

I was an elected official in Santa Cruz County, California for twenty years. Now, I am an environmental attorney, practicing law in Santa Cruz County. To get my perspective on politics, law, and government, read the postings I make, daily, to my blog, "We Live In A Political World." You can find my blog at www.gapatton.net.

I have over 21 years experience serving Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and Monterey Counties with superior and efficient land use, real estate, and business law services – all backed by professionalism and integrity. In my current practice in Capitola, I represent individual, business and public agency clients in a wide range of real estate, land use, and public law matters (transactional and litigation), with special emphasis on: Land use permits; Zoning compliance and red tag removal; CEQA and Coastal Act compliance and litigation; Writ of mandate litigation (against or on behalf of public agencies); Real estate transactions, disputes...

Mr. Brodsky earned his Bachelor's Degree in English from the University of California at Berkeley, with highest honors in English and highest distinction in general scholarship, graduating first in his class and earning the University Medal as the most distinguished graduate of 1994. He earned his Juris Doctor Degree from Yale Law School in 2001 and clerked for the Honorable Dorothy W. Nelson at the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit in 2001–2002.

Prior to completing his undergraduate and law degrees, Mr. Brodsky was a construction sub-contractor in the San Francisco Bay Area for fourteen years, installing ceramic...

For your out of court settlement, mediation, negotiation, or transactional needs, contact Kevin Boileau, PhD, at 415.830.0065 or 858.688.4871. Specializing in complex negotiation, mediation, transactional, and int'l problem-solving. INTL LAW, divorce, business, climate change and water, design - - We handle transactions in Asia, Europe and throughout North America. ANIMAL RIGHTS MEDIATION - - We protect animals ranging from Animal Control issues, to vet malpractice, ownership, systemic abuse, and other. CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER & LAND MEDIATION - - We offer creative solutions to conflicts emerging from a changing environment. Wildfires, coastal erosion, earthquakes, land degradation, flash floods, heat, and polluted and scarce water. DIVORCE &...

Jeff Lawson is a shareholder of Silicon Valley Law Group, where his practice focuses on compliance and litigation related to environmental law and land use. He also litigates complex commercial and employment cases. Jeff serves the petroleum, manufacturing, water, agriculture, transportation, financial services, real estate, and semiconductor industries. He also serves as a mediator in environmental and commercial disputes. Jeff has been recognized by Law & Politics Media and San Francisco Magazine as one of "Northern California's Super Lawyers" from 2004 to the present and has been named one of the top 100 lawyers in Northern California in 2011, 2012...

Ed Kraus is a shareholder with Silicon Valley Law Group. For over 20 years he has represented individuals, small and large companies in a variety of civil and criminal litigation matters. Ed has successfully handled litigation involving employment issues, real estate, construction, commercial disputes, contract issues, unfair competition and Americans with Disabilities Act claims on behalf of businesses. Ed also handles a wide variety of criminal litigation including representing individuals and corporations accused of grand theft, embezzlement, real estate fraud, insurance fraud, environmental, trade secret violations, driving under the influence, other driving related charges and other general criminal matters.

Ed believes...

Based out of Santa Clara County, The Law Office of Eben L. Kurtzman has been providing reliable legal advice and representation in criminal law defense and personal injury prosecution cases for over two decades. Eben has handled over one thousand cases and has had more than fifty jury trials. His practice is centered on the idea that the client is the most important part of any case, and that a straight-forward, honest approach is the best way to succeed. He will give you a realistic, honest assessment of your case. He encourages all of his clients to ask questions and...

Santino Tropea is a founding partner of Tropea McMillan. A significant portion of his practice includes representation of clients in toxic tort claims, actions brought under the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and all phases of CERCLA and the Superfund process. He has successfully represented clients in regulatory disputes and negotiations with both state and federal agencies, and has implemented supplemental environmental projects/pollution prevention plans to reduce or eliminate fines and penalties. He defends Proposition 65 cases and citizen's suits alleging False Claim Act violations and other related matters. Santino's experience includes representation of California municipalities, large chemical,...

Certified Appellate Specialist, Board of Legal Specialization of State Bar of California

Practice Summary: Complex federal and state litigation in contracts, land use, government, administrative, constitutional property and speech, trusts and estates, product liability, land use and insurance law.

Specialties: Appeals, injunctions, writs of mandate, land use administrative proceedings, challenging local, state and federal action and enforcing local, statutory and constitutional law in federal and state courts.

Represents both plaintiffs and defendants; insurance defense; owners and contractors in construction disputes; beneficiaries and administrators

Jon Welner is a leading practitioner of environmental law in California. His broad and deep experience over twenty years enables him to solve regulatory problems for clients in virtually every area of environmental practice, including air, water, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, consumer products, traditional and renewable energy, and natural resources. Jon helps clients make sense of the “alphabet soup” of state and federal environmental regulatory agencies in order to achieve their business objectives. He regularly represents clients in court to defend their interests and achieve their goals.

Jon has a robust land use practice and assists clients to successfully navigate the...

I am an accomplished California attorney, representing clients with Government, Environmental, Natural Resources and Land Use matters. I have over 30 years of experience with a broad array of federal, state and local issues. I bring knowledgeable and skilled advocacy to effectively and efficiently meet your legal needs. A recipient of CalCIMA's Spirit of the Industry Award, I am also listed among The Best Lawyers in America and Northern California Super Lawyers.

Chapman Law Group, A.P.C. handles personal injury law, real estate and business counseling, and general litigation and appeals in state and federal courts. Attorney David Chapman is a Certified Mediator. The firm serves clients throughout Marin County, the greater San Francisco Bay Area, and Northern California. Mr. Chapman represents seriously injured victims in cases involving auto accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injury – including brain and spine injuries - dog bites, slip & fall, medical malpractice, and elder abuse. Mr. Chapman’s real estate practice handles cases involving nondisclosure, fraud, easement and boundary issues, HOA & landlord /...

Ernest C. Brown, ESQ, PE is highly experienced in construction contracts, negotiation, claims preparation, construction litigation, mechanic’s liens, bid protests, public works law and insurance coverage. He has resolved more than 2,500 construction disputes, including complex mediations, arbitrations, litigation, court trials, jury trials, DRB's and other innovative ADR approaches. He is a graduate of MIT in Civil and Environmental Engineering and earned a MS Construction Management and JD from the University of California, Berkeley. He also did graduate coursework at Harvard Law School in International Law. He is a senior construction lawyer and licensed civil engineer. Mr. Brown has...

I have been in solo private practice representing plaintiffs in the areas of environmental, land use, and elections law for almost thirty years. My clients are usually local environmental groups, neighborhood associations, homeowner associations, and occasionally individuals or government agencies. In addition to my law degree (New College of Calif., 1990) have undergraduate and masters of science degrees in biology from Brown University and a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from Harvard University. I spent ten years working as a researcher in agricultural biotechnology before doing a career change and getting my law degree.
I represent clients...

A San Francisco Bay Area native, James Nevin received a bachelor of arts from Boston College (majoring in International Studies), a master of arts in Asian Studies from Stanford University, and a law degree from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was an editor on the UCLA Law Review. Mr. Nevin is a partner and trial counsel with the firm. He has been with Brayton Purcell since March 2002. His legal practice focuses on all litigation and trials representing personal injury and wrongful death plaintiffs, specializing in toxic torts, such as asbestos and mesothelioma, artificial stone silicosis, benzene-caused diseases,...

Mr. Donadio was raised in Concord, Massachusetts, where he graduated in the top 10% of his high school class. In 1985 he graduated with a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania. After moving to California, Mr. Donadio went to the University of San Francisco Law School (USF), where he was president of the Environmental Law Society. After graduating from USF, Mr. Donadio spent a summer clerking for the White House's Council on Environmental Quality and obtained a masters degree in law, with a concentration in environmental law, from Vermont Law School. Mr. Donadio began work...

Terrance J. Evans is a partner in the Trial Practice Group of Duane Morris in San Francisco. He concentrates his practice in representing the financial services industry, which includes international, national and community banks; loan service companies; and insurance companies.

With respect to the insurance industry, Mr. Evans concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation and policy interpretation and analysis. He has represented commercial primary, excess and umbrella insurers in a wide range of multimillion-dollar cases, including declaratory relief, bad faith, rescission, subrogation, indemnity, additional insurance, interpleader and reformation actions.

In relation to the banking industry, Mr. Evans has represented international,...

Gary Grimm provides affordable and effective legal advice and representation on environmental regulatory matters, with a focus on water quality issues. Prior to establishing his law firm in 1996, Gary spent over 20 years in public service advising and representing multiple government environmental regulatory agencies.

Gary Grimm's extensive public and private sector experience enables him to address complex water quality issues and achieve client goals in a practical and cost-effective manner. He is currently advising and representing businesses, public agencies and individuals on all aspects of water quality regulatory matters before state, local and federal agencies. This advice and representation includes...

Dennis A. Yniguez is a Registered Consulting Arborist, an International Society of Arboriculture Board Certified Master Arborist, and the principal of Tree Decisions, an arboricultural consulting firm in Berkeley, California. He received B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and his J.D. degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. Mr. Yniguez is a past president of the American Society of Consulting Arborists and has served on their national faculty since 2000. His consulting practice includes tree health and risk assessment, forensic examination and case analysis, insurance claim evaluation, expert trial assistance, and alternative...