Environmental Issues in California Land Use Transactions

Gordon E. Hart is a partner in the Real Estate practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s San Francisco office. He focuses on environmental and land use law, and government advocacy. His practice includes permitting, enforcement, transactional and litigation issues on behalf of real estate developers, energy project developers, commercial property owners, public agencies, manufacturers, and environmental service and waste management companies. 

Experience 

Mr. Hart's work on behalf of clients encompasses the following:

• Obtaining and renewing permits, authorizations and entitlements from local, state and federal agencies under various state and federal land use and environmental laws;
• Supervising the preparation of environmental impact reports and statements, remedial action plans, risk management plans, and similar plans and reports;
• Defending against litigation challenging projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and other state and federal planning and environmental statutes;
• Supervising environmental due diligence efforts, drafting and negotiating environmental provisions in purchase and sale agreements, land use covenants and other property transfer and documents;
• Drafting and negotiating environmental remediation contracts and environmental insurance policies;
• Defending environmental enforcement actions brought by state and federal regulatory agencies and negotiating consent decrees and other enforceable agreements;
• Lobbying the California State Legislature and executive agencies on legislative and regulatory proposals.

Speaking Engagements and Publications

• Author of "Brownfields Redevelopment at Closed Military Bases," a chapter in the American Bar Association's handbook, Environmental Aspects of Business and Real Estate Transactions (3rd Ed. 2004).

Professional and Community Involvement 

• Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Hart served in several capacities on the staff of the California State Legislature. Those positions included serving as  senior consultant to the Senate Toxics and Public Safety Management Committee, as counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and as counsel to the Speaker of the Assembly.
• He has served on numerous local and state agency advisory committees related to land use, transportation, hazardous waste and other environmental issues over the last twenty-five years.

Education

• McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, graduated first in class, 1994 (Order of the Coif and Order of the Barristers)
• Fellow in Public Affairs with the Coro Foundation, 1985-1986
• Reed College, B.A. in Political Science, 1984

Practice Areas

• Land Use
• Environment and Energy
• Sustainability and Global Climate Change
• Real Estate
• Real Estate Acquisitions and Dispositions
• Government Affairs
• Real Estate Development and Construction

Admissions

• California Bar

Education

• University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D., 1994
• Reed College, B.A., 1984