Overview
Lisa is the Chair of the Environmental Department at Richards, Watson & Gershon. She specializes in representation of private and public sector clients in environmental litigation, including prosecution and defense of contaminated property cleanups, cost recovery cases, environmental insurance coverage claims, and defense of Proposition 65 claims. Lisa also represents clients on a wide variety of complex business litigation, employment litigation, real estate issues, pipeline franchise matters, and utility users’ tax disputes.
Work for Clients
Lisa has handled major litigation arising under CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act, as well as environmental claims based on California law, nuisance, and trespass. She has acted as lead attorney for joint defense groups in complex multiparty litigation. Lisa obtained summary judgment for her client in the leading case on passive migration and appeared before an en banc panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in an action alleging environmental contamination resulting from the discharges of storm water.
Lisa has handled a variety of claims arising under Proposition 65, including defense of complaints asserted against one of the largest beauty retailers in the United States. Her representation has included claims related to the presence of Di-n-butyl Phthalate (DBP) in nail products, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in cosmetic cases, coconut oil diethanolamine condensate (cocamide DEA) in shampoo and liquid soaps, benzophenone in sunscreens, and, acrylamide in roasted coffee.
Lisa has negotiated environmental provisions in leases and purchase and sale agreements, with a focus on environmental indemnity provisions.
Lisa has handled a variety of matters involving environmental contamination in soil and groundwater. She has represented clients in front of federal and state environmental agencies, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region IX, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, the State Water Resources Control Board, and the Regional Water Quality Control Boards. She has experience with remediation agreements and consent decrees, as well as oversight of environmental remediation projects.
Lisa has represented numerous clients in matters related to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, notices of violation, and matters pertaining to Total Maximum Daily Loads, including negotiation of a tolling agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board. She has succeeded in having notices of violation issued to clients rescinded. In October 2015, she was successful in having her client (a port) removed from an EPA Oil Pollution Act/Clean Water Act Section 311 Order For Removal, Mitigation or Prevention of a Substantial Threat of Oil Discharge.
Honors & Awards
Top Rated Environmental Lawyer by Super Lawyers, 2012-2019
Professional and Community Affiliations
Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
Past Chair, Los Angeles County Bar Environmental Section Executive Committee
Former Member, Los Angeles County Bar Environmental Section Executive Committee
Experience
PUBLISHED OPINIONS
- Carson Harbor Village, Ltd. v. Unocal Corporation, 287 F. Supp.2d 1118 (C.D.Cal. 2003); Carson Harbor Village, Ltd. v. Unocal Corporation, 270 F.3d 863 (9th Cir. 2001), cert. denied, Carson Harbor Village, Ltd. v. Braley, 535 U.S. 971 (2002) [prior opinions published at 227 F.3d 1196 (9th Cir. 2000) and 990 F.Supp. 1188 (C.D. Cal. 1997)] - leading case on passive migration before an en banc panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in an action alleging environmental contamination resulting from the discharges of storm water.
HIGHLIGHTED REPRESENTATIONS
- Crimson Pipeline Management et al. v. Herzog Contracting Corp., et al. Representation of Port of Long Beach as to Oil Pollution Act, nuisance and trespass claims in connection with a multi-million dollar remediation associated with oil spill to the ocean and resulting EPA order regarding remediation.
- Carson Harbor Village Mobile Home Park v. County of Los Angeles, et al. Obtained summary judgment for the City of Carson on Clean Water Act, CERCLA, RCRA and common law claims, and contribution and indemnity cross-claims, based on a claim that storm water and urban run-off was the cause of lead contamination on a property.
- Deubler v. Del Laboratories, Inc. Defense of nationwide beauty retailer as to Proposition 65 litigation related to presence of Di-n-butyl Phthalate (DBP) in nail products.
- Held, V. Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. Defense of nationwide beauty retailer as to Proposition 65 litigation related to presence of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in toiletry cases/bags and cosmetic cases/bags.
- Phillips Petroleum Co. v. County of Los Angeles, et al., and Shell Oil Company, et al. v. County of Los Angeles, et al. Defense of 13 cities in CERCLA action regarding the alleged disposal of municipal waste at the Cal Compact Disposal Site in Los Angeles County.
- Mira Mesa Square v. Lee, et al. Representation of dry cleaner in litigation in San Diego involving alleged contamination of soil and groundwater.
- City of Brea v. Shawnan Corporation, et al. Representation of City of Brea in action against contractors and consultants to recover cost overruns and overcharges relating to remediation and removal of hydrocarbon contamination at a former oil producing property.
- City of Brea v. Esco Rubber Products. Represented City of Brea in action to recover environmental response and remediation costs.
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center v. Atlantic Richfield Company, et al. Representation of property owner in complex multi-party litigation under CERCLA by adjacent property owner.
- Pueblo Nuevo Development v. Chevron U.S.A. Inc., et al. Representation of non-profit organization in recovery of money spent to remediate soil associated with Chevron service station.
- Pacific Gateway Distribution Center, LLC v. Rosen’s Electrical Equipment Company. Representation of recycler of transformers in litigation by adjacent property owner for alleged PCB contamination.
- Southern California Water Company v. Aerojet-General Corporation, et al. Obtained dismissal on behalf of potentially responsible party accused of environmental violations.
News
Practice Areas
Education
J.D., Honors, University of Texas School of Law
M.B.A., High Honors, University of Texas Graduate School of Business
B.A., High Honors, University of Texas at Austin
