





A leading law firm focusing on California environmental and land use law
A leading law firm focusing on California environmental and land use law






A leading law firm focusing on California environmental and land use law
A leading law firm focusing on California environmental and land use law
Our Projects
The Latest
DEVELOPER MUST BE JOINED AS A DEFENDANT ONCE NAMED IN A NOTICE OF EXEMPTION, EVEN IF IDENTIFIED AFTER INITIAL PROJECT APPROVAL
Chris Stiles
July 7, 2025
In Citizens for a Better Eureka v. City of Eureka (June 11, 2025, A170214) __Cal.App.5th__ , the First District Court of Appeal upheld the trial court’s dismissal of a CEQA challenge for failure to ti...
THIRD DISTRICT CLARIFIES LIMITS ON PERMIT CHECKLISTS UNDER THE PERMIT STREAMLINING ACT
Chris Stiles
July 7, 2025
In Old Golden Oaks LLC v. County of Amador (May 30, 2025, C09948) __Cal.App. ___, the Third District Court of Appeal struck down a vague “catch-all” provision in Amador County’s encroachment permit ch...
U.S. SUPREME COURT NARROWLY CONSTRUES THE UNIVERSE OF INDIRECT EFFECTS TO BE ADDRESSED IN AN EIS UNDER NEPA
Chris Stiles
July 7, 2025
In Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado (2025) (May 29, 2025, No. 23-975) 605 U.S. ___, the U.S. Supreme Court held that NEPA affords substantial deference to an agency’s de...
FIFTH DISTRICT HOLDS THAT COURTS MUST ALWAYS CONSIDER REASONABLENESS IN WATER USE DISPUTES; ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION NOT EXEMPT FROM INJUNCTION BOND REQUIREMENT
Chris Stiles
July 7, 2025
FIFTH DISTRICT HOLDS THAT COURTS MUST ALWAYS CONSIDER REASONABLENESS IN WATER USE DISPUTES; ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION NOT EXEMPT FROM INJUNCTION BOND REQUIREMENT In Bring Back the Kern v. City of Baker...
Fourth District Court of Appeal Strikes Down San Diego County’s VMT Significance Thresholds
Chris Stiles
May 12, 2025
In Cleveland National Forest Foundation v. County of San Diego __Cal.App.5th__, the Fourth District Court of Appeal held that San Diego County’s thresholds of significance for VMT-related impacts were...
First District Court of Appeal Clarifies CEQA’s Consultation Requirements Under AB 52
Chris Stiles
May 12, 2025
In Koi Nation of Northern California v. City of Clearlake (2025) ___Cal.App.5th__, the First District Court of Appeal set aside a mitigated negative declaration (MND) for a proposed hotel, holding the...
The Latest
DEVELOPER MUST BE JOINED AS A DEFENDANT ONCE NAMED IN A NOTICE OF EXEMPTION, EVEN IF IDENTIFIED AFTER INITIAL PROJECT APPROVAL
Chris Stiles
July 7, 2025
In Citizens for a Better Eureka v. City of Eureka (June 11, 2025, A170214) __Cal.App.5th__ , the First District Court of Appeal upheld the trial court’s dismissal of a CEQA challenge for failure to ti...
THIRD DISTRICT CLARIFIES LIMITS ON PERMIT CHECKLISTS UNDER THE PERMIT STREAMLINING ACT
Chris Stiles
July 7, 2025
In Old Golden Oaks LLC v. County of Amador (May 30, 2025, C09948) __Cal.App. ___, the Third District Court of Appeal struck down a vague “catch-all” provision in Amador County’s encroachment permit ch...
U.S. SUPREME COURT NARROWLY CONSTRUES THE UNIVERSE OF INDIRECT EFFECTS TO BE ADDRESSED IN AN EIS UNDER NEPA
Chris Stiles
July 7, 2025
In Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado (2025) (May 29, 2025, No. 23-975) 605 U.S. ___, the U.S. Supreme Court held that NEPA affords substantial deference to an agency’s de...
FIFTH DISTRICT HOLDS THAT COURTS MUST ALWAYS CONSIDER REASONABLENESS IN WATER USE DISPUTES; ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION NOT EXEMPT FROM INJUNCTION BOND REQUIREMENT
Chris Stiles
July 7, 2025
FIFTH DISTRICT HOLDS THAT COURTS MUST ALWAYS CONSIDER REASONABLENESS IN WATER USE DISPUTES; ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION NOT EXEMPT FROM INJUNCTION BOND REQUIREMENT In Bring Back the Kern v. City of Baker...
Fourth District Court of Appeal Strikes Down San Diego County’s VMT Significance Thresholds
Chris Stiles
May 12, 2025
In Cleveland National Forest Foundation v. County of San Diego __Cal.App.5th__, the Fourth District Court of Appeal held that San Diego County’s thresholds of significance for VMT-related impacts were...
First District Court of Appeal Clarifies CEQA’s Consultation Requirements Under AB 52
Chris Stiles
May 12, 2025
In Koi Nation of Northern California v. City of Clearlake (2025) ___Cal.App.5th__, the First District Court of Appeal set aside a mitigated negative declaration (MND) for a proposed hotel, holding the...