Press Releases

Sarah E. Owsowitz Focuses on the California Environmental Quality Act, Renewable Energy

For Immediate Release: Feb. 27, 2012
Media Contact: Jennifer Bowles • 951.826.8480 • jennifer.bowles@BBKlaw.com

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Best Best & Krieger LLP has hired Sarah E. Owsowitz, an environmental attorney and former deputy city attorney for San Francisco, to join its environmental law and natural resources practice as an of counsel attorney.

Owsowitz’s practice focuses on advice and litigation involving the California Environmental Quality Act, widely known as CEQA, with an emphasis on air quality, climate change, water supply, urban decay and cultural resources.

In particular, she has experience in obtaining entitlements and preparing and defending environmental impact reports for large-scale retail and residential development projects and hospital retrofits such as the Acute Care Tower Replacement Project for the Alameda County Medical Center (Highland Hospital) in Oakland.           

In addition, Owsowitz has provided CEQA and permitting counsel for wind and solar energy projects across California, from Sacramento County to San Diego County.

“Sarah comes to us with a rich background in CEQA and she’ll provide a strong anchor for our Northern California clients,” said Michelle Ouellette, a BB&K partner and member of the firm’s executive committee who also specializes in CEQA.

Prior to joining BB&K, Owsowitz worked at Cox Castle & Nicholson and Morrison & Foerster. Before that, she served for seven years as a deputy city attorney for the city and county of San Francisco. 

“I was looking to join a large, statewide land use and natural resources practice where I could work in both the public and private sectors, and I found that at BB&K,” she said.

Owsowitz received her law degree and a master’s degree in planning from the University of Minnesota in 1998.