Best Best & Krieger is a nationally recognized leader in natural resources and environmental law.

Whether the project involves water rights, water quality, compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), endangered species, air quality or hazardous waste, we are the leader in the evolving areas of natural resource and environmental law.

Some of our work is for public entities such as cities and water districts, as we offer them common-sense strategies to approve and defend public and private projects. In fact, environmental litigation for public and private clients is approximately half of our total practice, engaging nearly a quarter of the firm’s lawyers. We have an equally substantial practice facilitating permits and other transactions for development projects, including not only housing, transportation and reuse projects, but also solar, geothermal and other energy proposals.

Our ability to handle the complete CEQA environmental approval process for large scale public-private development is recognized throughout California. Our lawyers assist hundreds of private and public agency clients through all aspects of the CEQA and land use entitlement process, from document preparation to any subsequent litigation. We also represent clients with pre-project planning and strategy -- before CEQA is triggered -- to minimize legal and project costs and to improve clients' environmental documents. 

BB&K is counsel of choice for public agencies that collectively provide water to more than two-thirds of California’s population. Our water law reputation is so substantial that we have brokered water rights disputes between states and have developed water policies internationally. We regularly advise public and private clients across California on water supply allocation and planning; acquisition, development, and maintenance of surface and ground water rights; and regional water management.

Our firm has established preeminence in many other areas of environmental and natural resource representation, including: 

• Endangered species regulation under the California and Federal Endangered Species Acts and the Natural Community Conservation Planning Act.
• Comprehensive assistance with hazardous waste issues, from Phase I, II and III site audits to litigation aimed at recovering the costs of site remediation.  
• Service as special litigation counsel for the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) on air quality issues.
• Facilitating a wide variety of permitting issues that involve everything from wetlands use to utility sitting and approval before the California Public Utilities Commission.

For additional information, please contact Jeff Ferre, Environmental Law & Natural Resources practice group leader.