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  • J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2024 (Water & Environmental Law and Capital Lawyering Concentrations)
  • B.A., Sociology with an emphasis in Law and Society, Human Rights minor, University of California, Davis, 2019
  • The State Bar of California
  • California State Courts
  • California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
  • Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section

In her free time, Sara enjoys hiking, traveling, gardening, cooking, spending time with her family and friends, and playing with her dog, Gunther, and cat, Doodle. Sara is also a member of the Sacramento Pop Choir, performing in three concerts a year and raising funds for local music programs.

  • Associate outside counsel for the County of Imperial and Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, assisting with environmental document preparation for energy land use projects and ongoing litigation matters.
  • Associate counsel for Ascent Environmental in their preparation of the Regional Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
  • Associate counsel for a school district in matters involving CEQA compliance and School Facilities law

Cases Needed

Sara
Helms
ASSOCIATE
916.443.2745
ASSOCIATE
916.443.2745
ASSOCIATE
916.443.2745
Professional Highlights
  • Advising public agencies and developers on CEQA compliance and assisting with drafting and reviewing environmental documents for various developments, including energy, housing, waste management, and school facility projects.
  • Defending public agencies and developers through administrative review and litigation in CEQA and land use challenges.
About Sara

Sara Helms is an associate attorney with Remy Moose Manley, LLP. Ms. Helms specializes in environmental law, land use and planning, water law, initiatives and referenda, and administrative law generally. She represents public agencies, developers, landowners, and non-profit organizations in connection with land use entitlements, environmental review, and litigation involving a broad range of development projects throughout California. Ms. Helms joined the firm in 2024.

Ms. Helms attended the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, on a full merit-based scholarship. She earned her Juris Doctorate with concentrations in Water and Environmental Law and Capital Lawyering. As a law student, Ms. Helms was a member of McGeorge’s Moot Court Honors Board and a Staff Writer for the University of the Pacific Law Review, Greensheets Volume. During law school, she interned with the California Air Resources Board, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the State Water Resources Control Board.

J.D., University of Texas, Austin, 2001
B.A., Geography, University of Texas, Austin, 1995

●  The State Bar of California

●  California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section

●  California State Courts

●  U.S. District Courts, all California Districts

●  Sacramento County Bar Association

●  Environmental Law Section

●  Lead Articles Editor, Texas Environmental Law Journal, 2000-2001

●  Editor, California Land Use & Policy Reporter, 2005-2008

●  Contributing Author, Environmental Law Updates, Environmental Law Section of the California Lawyers Association, 2017-2020

●  Selected for inclusion in the 2013-2022 Northern California Super Lawyers® magazine and Rising Stars section of the 2009-2011 Northern California Super Lawyers® magazine

●  Former Member, Environmental Law Society, University of Texas School of Law

●  Former Member, Public Interest Law Association, University of Texas School of Law

Hiking, camping, cooking, travel, and fitness Girls on the Run, Coach, Spring 2024

●  Former Board Member, Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership- Northern California Chapter

●  Former Corporate Board Member, Francis House, Sacramento

●  Outside counsel to the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection in 2018-2020 with respect to the preparation of a programmatic environmental impact report for the California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP), which involves the use of prescribed fires and other techniques to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and to restore forest health, and in litigation over the approval of that project.

● Outside counsel to the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority regarding CEQA compliance for projects to reduce the risk of wildfires within Marin County.

●  Representing the City of Los Angeles in several ongoing cases defending the City’s compliance with CEQA for various development projects.

●  Representing the City of Livermore in litigation defending the City’s approval of a boutique hotel.

●  Represented the Town of Loomis in litigation defending the Town’s approval of a new Costco store.

●  Outside counsel to the City of Monterey in a variety of environmental and land use matters.

●  Outside counsel to the City of Mountain View in a variety of environmental and land use matters.

●  Outside counsel to the City of Santa Cruz for a variety of infill projects.

●  Outside litigation counsel to the County of Humboldt in a variety of cannabis permitting and other land use matters arising under CEQA and the State Planning and Zoning Law.

●  Outside litigation counsel to the San Francisco Unified School District in litigation under CEQA challenging the District’s proposal to study the removal of a mural in George Washington High School.

●  Counsel to RainTree Investment Corporation regarding land use entitlements and CEQA compliance for portions of the Green Valley Specific Plan area in Perris, California.

●  Counsel to various developers of Dollar General stores regarding compliance with CEQA and local land use regulations.

●  Jointly represented the California High-Speed Rail Authority with the California Attorney General’s Office to defend the Authority’s environmental review for individual project segments of the future statewide high-speed train system;

●  Successfully defended the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board in litigation challenging the environmental review for the Board’s electrification and modernization project to improve the Caltrain commuter rail service on the San Francisco Peninsula;

●  Successfully defended the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission’s CEQA compliance for a freight rail service contract assignment and rail repair work, upheld by the Santa Cruz County Superior Court;

●  Representing landowners in Folsom and Roseville in the environmental review and subsequent implementation of specific plans for future residential and commercial development.

●  Defended the San Mateo County Community College District in cases challenging facility improvements at the College of San Mateo. In 2016, the California Supreme Court decided in the District’s favor a key question regarding the standard of review for agency decisions to rely on CEQA’s subsequent review provisions.

●  Defended the City of Monterey’s approval of a city-wide streetlight replacement project for energy efficiency in litigation challenging the City’s reliance on a categorical exemption from CEQA, upheld by the Sixth District Court of Appeal.

●  Represented Renewable Energy Systems (RES) Americas in successfully navigating CEQA, CESA, and local land use entitlement processes to obtain a conditional use permit in November 2008 for a new 103-MW wind power project on private land in Shasta County. Ms. Teller assisted RES in developing a strong biological and cultural resources mitigation program, working cooperatively with the County of Shasta, resource agencies, and environmental and tribal interests to avoid litigation after project approval.

United Neighborhoods for Los Angeles v. City of Los Angeles (2023) 93 Cal.App.5th1074

Claremont Canyon Conservancy v. Regents of the Univ. of Cal. (2023) 92 Cal.App.5th 474 (for amicus)

Save the Hill Group v. City of Livermore (2022) 76 Cal.App.5th 1092

Hollywoodians Encouraging Rental Opportunities v. City of Los Angeles (2019) 27 Cal.App.5th 768

Georgetown Preservation Society v. County of El Dorado (2018) 30 Cal.App.5th 358

Westsiders Opposed to Overdevelopment v. City of Los Angeles (2018) 27 Cal.App.5th 1079

Friends of the College of San Mateo Gardens v. San Mateo County Community College Dist. (2017) 11 Cal.App.5th 596

Friends of the College of San Mateo Gardens v. San Mateo County Community College Dist. (2016) 1 Cal.5th 937

Save Our Big Trees v. City of Santa Cruz (2015) 214 Cal.App.4th 694 • Keep Our Mountains Quiet v. County of Santa Clara (2015) 236 Cal.App.4th 714

Citizens for a Green San Mateo v. San Mateo County Community College District (2014) 226 Cal.App.4th 1572

California Clean Energy Committee v. City of Woodland (2014) 225 Cal.App.4th 173

Habitat and Watershed Caretakers v. City of Santa Cruz (2013) 213 Cal.App.4th 1277

Tomlinson v. County of Alameda (2012) 54 Cal.4th 281

California Native Plant Society v. City of Rancho Cordova (2009) 172 Cal.App.4th 603.

Shasta Resources Council v. U.S. Dept of Interior (E.D.Cal. 2009) 629 F.Supp.2d 1045

Vineyard Area Citizens for Responsible Growth, Inc. v. City of Rancho Cordova (2007) 40 Cal.4th 412

Friends of the Sierra Railroad v. Tuolumne Park and Recreation Dist. (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 643

Save Our Neighborhood v. Lishman (2006) 140 Cal.App.4th 1288

The Pocket Protectors v. City of Sacramento (2004) 124 Cal.App.4th 903

Sierra Club v. County of Napa (2004) 121 Cal.App.4th 1490

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