Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP was founded in 1980 by three former members of the state Attorney General’s office. Our first case culminated in a unanimous decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in Agins v. Tiburon, 447 U.S. 255 (1980), which upheld the ability of cities and counties to protect open space. Since that time, our attorneys have achieved an exceptional record of victories in the U.S. and California Supreme Courts, in lower federal and state courts, and before a wide range of state and federal administrative agencies. Outside of court, we have brought our clients success in a variety of complex, and often highly controversial, matters.

This track record, along with our singular focus on providing well-reasoned, clear, and practical advice to our clients, has garnered Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger its well-deserved reputation as the “go-to” firm for organizations, community groups, and public agencies alike. We believe this mix of clients gives us a unique perspective on the constraints and opportunities that environmental laws create for parties on opposite sides of frequently contentious issues. In many situations, this approach also gives us the experience, contacts, respect, and relationships to develop, negotiate, and implement creative solutions to seemingly insoluble problems.

We take pride in the fact that we frequently are able to achieve these solutions without the need for any court proceedings, even where litigation initially was thought to be inevitable. We also take pride in the number of referrals and accolades we receive, not only from our current and past clients, but also from our colleagues and opposing counsel.

Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger is majority women-owned, and it is certified as both a green business and a small business enterprise. Our team of more than fifty lawyers provides interdisciplinary and integrated legal representation across the full spectrum of land use, environmental, renewable energy, and public agency law. The firm’s focus on land use and environmental law has earned us numerous prestigious “California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY),” “Best Lawyers in America,” and “Best Law Firms” Awards. Firm lawyers are also a regular presence on the Northern California list of Super Lawyers.

As part of our commitment to providing full-service representation to our clients, we also have urban planners on staff who work hand-in-hand with our attorneys to cost-effectively address the full range of land use and environmental issues.

After more than four decades rooted in Hayes Valley, the firm relocated to San Francisco’s Financial District in early 2026. We plan to continue our work for decades to come as one of California’s preeminent environmental, land use, and public interest law practices.