Andrew Oelz is a member of the firm’s environment and natural resources practice. Mr. Oelz counsels clients on all aspects of land use and environmental laws, including permitting, entitlements and environmental review for complex government projects, commercial projects, and conventional and renewable energy projects. His experience extends to issues involving federal, state and local environmental protection laws, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), California Coastal Act, and Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA).
Mr. Oelz’s transactional practice covers a broad spectrum, including negotiating representations, warranties, indemnities and the transfer of environmental liabilities in traditional transactional contexts, as well as financial restructuring matters. Mr. Oelz’s transaction experience includes significant energy matters, including oil and gas assets, coal mines, gas station portfolios, and electric generation facilities, including the then-largest photovoltaic solar facility in the world. Mr. Oelz also advises clients on security disclosure matters, including emerging issues related to climate change disclosures.Mr. Oelz also represents clients, from large corporations to local agencies, in litigation before both federal and state courts.
He advised the city of Los Angeles on state law matters related to its long-range master plan to modernize and upgrade Los Angeles International Airport, then defended the city from CEQA actions challenging the final plan. Mr. Oelz also advised and defended major private developers in both northern and southern California concerning proposed residential developments. He defended a major commercial retailer from CEQA litigation challenging the impact of a proposed development on climate change. Mr. Oelz also represented industrial and energy companies in administrative proceedings before local air districts. Mr. Oelz represents his clients in a variety of contexts, including writ of mandate proceedings, civil rights enforcement (42 U.S.C. § 1983), multiparty toxic tort, and Proposition 65 enforcement.
Mr. Oelz received his B.A. cum laude in environmental studies from the University of Vermont in 1994, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He received his J.D. cum laude in 2001 from the University of California, Davis School of Law.
Education:
- J.D., University of California, Davis, School of Law, cum laude, 2001
- B.A., University of Vermont, cum laude, 1994
Bar Admissions:
- California
Cost
Rate : $$$
