General Info

Briscoe Ivester & Bazel LLP was formed in 2005 by experienced lawyers dedicated to excellence in the practice of land use, environmental, and natural resource law. Our goal is to provide outstanding client service through expertise, insight, and responsiveness. We strive to understand each client's business and goals and assemble the best talent, from inside and outside the firm, to achieve the desired results.The firm represents a wide variety of clients on issues related to compliance with local, state, and federal laws governing real estate and natural resource use and development. Our lawyers have gained special expertise in handling administrative matters with agencies exercising regulatory authority under the California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, California Coastal Act, California Water Code, California Fish and Game Code, the public trust doctrine, and local general plans and zoning ordinances, among others.With a clear understanding of the law, strong negotiating skills, and thorough preparation, members of the firm regularly guide clients through the land use and environmental regulatory maze and related court proceedings. In the course of assisting clients with land use and natural resource matters, the firm regularly handles issues regarding land title, water rights, and oil and mineral rights. The firm also has expertise in the law of the sea and international environmental law. Members of the firm are particularly well known for their broad experience in water boundaries and waterfront development.The firm's practice covers the full range of environmental issues. The firm advises clients, represents them before administrative agencies, and litigates issues relating to permitting, compliance, environmental impact review, water and wastewater discharges, stormwater, contaminated soil and groundwater, air quality, hazardous waste, toxic torts, and liabilities under the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Superfund legislation, California Porter-Cologne Act, California Coastal Act, California Fish & Game Code, California Carpenter-Presley-Tanner Hazardous Substance Account Act, California Proposition 65, and other California and Nevada statutes.Members of the firm have represented clients on issues before the Environmental Protection Agency, California State Water Resources Control Board, California Coastal Commission, California Energy Commission, local air pollution control districts, regional air quality management districts, regional water quality control boards, cities, counties, and special districts. Members of the firm are particularly well known for their expertise in Clean Water Act issues.Much of the firm's practice is devoted to litigation. Members of the firm represent clients in environmental enforcement actions brought by federal and state agencies, in citizen suits brought by private organizations, in disputes arising out of governmental efforts to regulate the development of land and natural resources, and in contractual or business disagreements arising out of real estate transactions, title insurance, and contaminated property. The firm has represented landowners, developers, title insurers, their insureds, cities and other governmental entities, wastewater dischargers, regulated industries, and public interest groups. The firm also represents condemning entities and private landowners in condemnation cases in state and federal courts.Members of the firm have handled many trials in state and federal courts as well as appeals in state and federal appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, and proceedings in international tribunals, including the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.