BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE

CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW/JURIS DOCTOR, CUM LAUDE, 1978

KAHN, SOARES, & CONWAY/OF COUNSEL/ 2011-present

*Of Counsel at a medium law firm with offices in Hanford and Sacramento, California.

*Represent large businesses and agricultural clients in environmental and regulatory matters.

*Assist businesses in air pollution permitting matters and violation/enforcement matters.

*Represent clients in litigation under the Federal Clean Air Act, California Clean Air Act, and the California Environmental Quality Act.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY UNIFIED AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT/DISTRICT COUNSEL/ 1993-2011

*Chief Counsel for 15 member governing board of elected officials governing 8-county air pollution control district.  Largest territorial air district  in the United States.

*Advised/litigated complex cases under Federal Clean Air Act, California Clean Air Act, California Environmental Quality Act, land use matters, and the like.

*Handled many complex cases of first impression in state and federal courts.

*Advised and represented District in labor matters, employee relations, discrimination matters,  and business matters.

*Represented District in regulatory matters before state and federal agencies.

*Prosecuted air pollution violation cases.  Recovered millions of dollars of fines and penalties from pollution violators.

FRESNO COUNTY COUNSEL/CHIEF TRIAL DEPUTY/ 1983-1993

*Supervised litigation unit in 20 attorney office.

*Lead attorney in complex or politically sensitive cases.

*Extensive experience in environmental law, land use, eminent domain, civil rights, labor relations, and general litigation.

*Legal advisor to predecessor air pollution control district.

MADERA COUNTY COUNSEL/DEPUTY COUNTY COUNSEL/ 1980-1983

*Represented county and departments in labor law, civil rights cases, false arrest, tort defense, writs of mandate and habeas corpus.

*Represented county sheriff and corrections department in civil rights cases.

PRIVATE PRACTICE/ 1979-1980

*Associate in small law firm, general litigation.