Samantha Seikkula counsels clients on all aspects of environmental law, at the intersection of legal, political, community, and public relations issues.

Samantha draws on extensive experience to guide clients on:

  • All phases of complex infrastructure and development projects, including related to renewable and conventional energy resources
  • Governmental and administrative law issues under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and other environmental regulations
  • Matters involving local and state administrative and legislative decision-making

She ensures that clients’ environmental documents under CEQA are litigation-ready and has successfully defended related lawsuits challenging the environmental review for projects she has worked on.

Samantha also helps clients evaluate potential environmental liabilities, satisfy environmental regulatory compliance, and negotiate environmental agreements for real estate and other business transactions.

A recognized leader within and outside the firm, she previously served as a leader of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Environmental Law/Land Use Section and is a former member of Latham’s Recruiting Committee and Mentoring Committee.

While in law school, Samantha externed for Judge M. James Lorenz of the US District Court for the Southern District of California.

Samantha’s experience includes:

  • Defending numerous challenges to local and state development project approvals on CEQA, Endangered Species Act, and other grounds before California trial and appellate courts
  • Obtaining and defending the approvals for the first fixed public transit system to a major events venue
  • Obtaining and defending entitlements and environmental approvals for mixed-use development projects in Southern California
  • Advising on and litigating matters involving local and state ballot initiative and referendum requirements
  • Representing a natural gas utility with regulatory actions related to a methane gas leak, including matters before the California Public Utilities Commission and the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources
  • Advising on a habitat conservation plan for a regulated public utility

Bar Qualification

  • California

Education

  • JD, University of Virginia School of Law, 2015
    Editor-in-Chief, Virginia Sports & Entertainment Law Journal
  • BA, UCLA, 2012
    cum laude, College Honors, Regents Scholar