Updates and Articles
Press Release: Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP Celebrates 40 Years of Serving the Public Interest
Law firm specializes in government, land use, renewable energy and environmental law; 40th Anniversary website launched. San Francisco, Calif. – The law firm Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP is celebrating 40 years of service as one of the nation’s preeminent progressive public interest law firms. Since 1980, Shute, Mihaly & Weinberg LLP has specialized in government, land use, renewable energy and...
Read MoreSMW Attorney on Faculty of Land Trust Alliance Advanced Legal Symposium
On June 10, 2021, Tamara Galanter spoke on amendments to conservation easements and the use of building areas in conservation easements at the Eighth Symposium on Advanced Legal Topics in Land Conservation sponsored by the Land Trust Alliance. As a faculty member, Tamara joined seven other leading legal experts and practitioners to educate more than 200 attendees throughout the United States on emerging issues in land...
Read MoreDaily Journal Article: Restoring California’s Leadership in Setting Tailpipe Emissions Standards
Firm members Lauren Tarpey and Matthew Zinn outlined the historic rationale for California’s Clean Air Act waiver from federal preemption in a recent article for the Daily Journal: Restoring California’s leadership in setting tailpipe emission standards (paywall). Following the EPA’s announcement that it will reconsider a Trump era decision to revoke California’s waiver, the article outlines the history behind California’s...
Read MoreVerdict in Chauvin Trial is “First Step Towards Justice”
We breathed a sigh of relief on hearing the results of the Derek Chauvin trial in which he was found guilty of murdering George Floyd. But this verdict underscores the work that remains to be done to dismantle the systemic racism that perpetuates violence on Black and Brown people in this country. We agree with Minnesota Attorney General Ellison: "I would not call today's verdict justice, however, because justice implies...
Read MoreDesigning Cities with Birds and Stargazers in Mind
Cities across California are adopting measures to ensure buildings do not pose threats to bird safety, often pairing these measures with those that reduce sources of nighttime light pollution.
Read MoreOptimizing the Siting and Design of Distributed Energy Resources
Utilities provide integration capacity maps that can help customers and developers optimize the placement of distributed energy resources like solar generation and electric vehicle chargers. The California Public Utilities Commission recently decided to require improvements to the maps, which will unlock new uses that can aid public agencies’ decarbonization efforts.
Read MoreWhen Does Civic Discourse Cross the Line to Harassment?
Public agencies must walk a careful line in trying to police expressions of public opinion, even when members of the public target officials and employees as proxies for their frustration. This article discusses how to keep civic engagement constructive while protecting officials and employees from harassment.
Read MoreSMW Attorneys Recognized Among Top Environmental & Energy Lawyers in the US
Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger is honored to announce that twelve of our partners were recently named to Lawdragon News’ inaugural list of the top 500 environmental and energy lawyers in the United States. Kevin P. Bundy, Ellison Folk, Tamara S. Galanter, Ellen J. Garber, Winter King, Robert “Perl” Perlmutter, Gabriel M. B. Ross, Andrew W. Schwartz, Sky C. Stanfield, Richard Taylor, William J. White and Matthew D. Zinn...
Read MoreSMW Stands with AAPI Communities
Racism and violence against people of Asian descent have a long history in this country, as do gender-based violence and attacks on immigrant communities. Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger condemns white supremacy, anti-Asian racism, and sexist and sexual violence against Asian American women. We express solidarity and support members of the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. We further commit to...
Read MoreShute, Mihaly & Weinberger Celebrates New Partners Seph Petta And Edward Schexnayder
Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP is proud to announce the addition of two new partners, Joseph “Seph” Petta and Edward Schexnayder. Both attorneys were associates of the firm before joining the partnership. “Seph and Edward have both made significant contributions to our firm’s work since joining our practice. We are thrilled to add them to our partnership,” said Richard S. Taylor, Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger’s...
Read MoreEDF, Sierra Club, and Environmental Working Group Sue over Trump EPA’s Evaluation of Dangerous Chemical 1,4-Dioxane
The Environmental Defense Fund, Sierra Club, and Environmental Working Group have filed suit in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s risk evaluation for the dangerous chemical 1,4-dioxane, a likely human carcinogen identified as toxic to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. The evaluation was issued in the final days of the Trump Administration. 1,4-dioxane has...
Read MoreShute, Mihaly & Weinberger Adds to Growing Chorus of Calls for Pres. Trump’s Removal
Like many of our colleagues in the legal community across the country, we at Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP are alarmed by the mob attack on the US Capitol building on January 6, 2021 and President Trump’s role in spurring on this violent crowd. In response to this disturbing event, our national leadership must take immediate action to reinforce our country’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law. It is in...
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