Jeffrey Lawson
Shareholder and Chair, Environmental Group; Member, Real Estate & Land Use, Business Litigation and Employment Groups


tel. 408.573.5700

Jeffrey Lawson

Jeff Lawson is a shareholder of Silicon Valley Law Group, where his practice focuses on compliance and litigation related to environmental law and land use. He also litigates complex commercial cases. Jeff serves the petroleum, manufacturing, water, agriculture, transportation, financial services, real estate, and semiconductor industries.  Recognized by Law & Politics Media and San Francisco Magazine as one of "Northern California's Super Lawyers", from 2004 to the present.  He serves as a mediator in environmental and commercial disputes.

Representative Clients

• Foothill/DeAnza Community College District
• Sobrato Development Company
• LSI Logic
• Thermionics
• FedEx
• Reed & Graham
• South County Housing
• Great Oaks Water Co.

Representative Engagements

• Represented a major developer who built an apartment complex on top of a former chemical plant. The developer had been assured the property had been cleaned, but later found it had not. Jeff sued the previous developer, the environmental consulting company, the chemical manufacturing company, the chemical supplier and several high profile technology companies that were prior lessees on the property. Jeff earned a complete victory. The defendants took responsibility for clean up of the property into the future, paid $13 million in cash, and have incurred additional clean up obligations upwards of $26 million.
• Represented a small manufacturing company in a criminal enforcement action, when its President was sued for violations of health and safety code violations. After extensive criminal law and motion practice, Jeff settled the case for a reasonable civil fine and no criminal conviction.
• Represented the former owners of a shopping center. PCE contamination was discovered by a later owner from a dry cleaner tenant on the property. Jeff successfully defended the former owners and obtained insurance coverage to pay for the defense.
• Represented a high tech manufacturing company whose property was bought by developers and developed into condominiums. In the course of development, solvent contamination was discovered. The developer sued Jeff's client for millions. Jeff negotiated a complete insurance defense, and achieved a favorable settlement, with his client shouldering no responsibility for the clean up.

Reported Cases

• Great Oaks Water Co. v. Santa Clara Valley Water District, (2009) 170 Cal. App. 4th, 956 (Applicability of CEQA to Groundwater Charges.)
• Kelsoe v. State Water Resources Control Board, (2007)153 Cal. App. 4^th 569 (Perfect compliance is not required for eligibility under the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Clean Up Fund.)
• Canal Street, Ltd. et al. v. Robert A. Sorich et al., (2000) 77 Cal. App. 4th 602 (Settlement tolls five-year period to reduce action to judgment overruling Varwig v. Leider (1985) 171 Cal. App. 3d 312.)
• Boyce v. Bumb, (1996) 944 F. Supp 807. (Innocent Party May Maintain a Claim for Full Cost Recovery Under CERCLA.)
• Camellia Park HOA v. Greenbriar Homes Co., (1995) 882 F. Supp 150. (Recoverability of attorney fees under RCRA.)
• In the Matter of: Gilroy Associates, (1993) TSCA Appeal No. 92-6 Environmental Appeals Board (Mistake of fact is a defense to a PCB violation under Toxic Substances Control Act.)
• Capogeannis v. Superior Court, (1993) 12 Cal. App. 4th 668 (Applicability of Torts of Continuing Nuisance and Continuing Trespass to Former Owners of Contaminated Property.)
• Williams v. Leybold Technologies, Inc., (1992) 785 F. Supp 765 (Application of Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act to Manufacturer.)

Education

• J.D., University of California, Los Angeles School of Law
• B.A, with great distinction, San Jose State University

Admissions

• California
• Washington D.C.
• Federal District Courts of the Northern, Eastern, Central and Southern Districts
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

Special Recognition

• "Northern California Super Lawyers," San Francisco Magazine and Law & Politics Media

Community

• Member, Board of Directors, Friends of the Guadalupe (1994-2004)
• Member, Rotary Club of San Jose
• Brigadier General, California Air National Guard (retired)