Christopher W. Garrett retired from the partnership in November 2020. A partner in the San Diego office, he practiced law with the firm since 1981. He advised clients on environmental law, municipal law, and land use law throughout California and the Western United States. He has significant experience in a variety of areas including federal, state, and local regulation of air pollution, water quality, hazardous waste, solid waste, wetlands protection, endangered species preservation, and other environmental and land use laws, including municipal law, public finance, and government contracts requirements.
Mr. Garrett served as Global Co-Chair of the Project Siting & Approvals Practice.
Mr. Garrett has particular knowledge of air pollution laws and regulations and compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In addition, he regularly counseled clients to ensure that documents prepared in compliance with these statutes could be defended in subsequent litigation. He also has extensive experience in handling litigation concerning compliance with CEQA and NEPA, representing developers, public agencies, and project opponents throughout California.
Mr. Garrett has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer by The Legal 500 2014 - 2020, and he was recognized as a 2015 California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) by the Daily Journal. Best Lawyers 2015 and 2019 named him Lawyer of the Year for Land Use and Zoning, an honor awarded to a single lawyer in a practice area. He was also recognized by the Daily Journal 2014 as one of California’s Top 50 Development Lawyers.