Overview

About Tim

Tim Taylor is one of Sacramento’s best-known environmental and land use lawyers. He helps residential, commercial, and industrial developers achieve compliance with California’s numerous land use and environmental laws, with a particular focus on the California Environmental Quality Act and related litigation. During his more than 30-year career, Tim has also dealt with various federal environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water Act, along with representing clients in a wide range of natural resource and tribal matters. He also represents numerous public agency clients on state planning, zoning, development, and environmental law matters.

Tim served as the office managing partner for the firm’s California offices from 2009 to 2014 and was a member of the firm’s Executive Committee for much of that time. He was selected by Best Lawyers^® as the Sacramento Environmental Law “Lawyer of the Year” in 2012, 2015, and 2023 and Sacramento Land Use and Zoning Law “Lawyer of the Year” in 2013.

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Experience

Tim represents numerous development interests in residential, commercial, and industrial matters, as well as public agency clients on matters concerning state planning, zoning, and development laws; the California Environmental Quality Act; and related federal and state environmental statutes. Expand to Read More + See Less -

Honors

Honors & Activities

Professional Honors and Activities

Fellow, American College of Environmental Lawyers, 2022–present
Named by Best Lawyers^® as Environmental Law “Lawyer of the Year,” Sacramento, 2012, 2015, and 2023; and Land Use and Zoning Law “Lawyer of the Year,” Sacramento, 2013
Included in The Best Lawyers in America^® (currently: Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law), 2009–2023
Named to Lawyers of Color’s inaugural Nation’s Best list (recognizing minority law firm partners and senior-level corporate counsel), 2019
Listed in Northern California Super Lawyers^®, (Environmental Litigation, Land Use, Environmental), 2005–2006, 2009–2019
Listed in Sacramento Magazine’s Top Lawyers, 2015–2022
Visiting professor, University of California, Davis, School of Law, 1994–2009; Lecturer, 2010–present
Past chair, Executive Committee, State Bar of California Environmental Law Section and CEQA Review Committee, 1992–2005
Co-Chair, Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite, 1999
Former member, Research Screening Committee, State of California Air Resources Board
Strategic Planning Advisory Committee, State Department of Toxic Substances Control
City of Davis Transportation Commission
Member, Davis Urban Development Agricultural Buffer Task Force

Awards and Honors

Public Servant of the Year, City of Davis Thong Hy Huynh Memorial Award, 2012

Civic Activities

Member, Advisory Board of Directors, California Environmental Law & Policy Center, UC Davis School of Law
Founding member, Board of Directors, and Vice Chair, Nehemiah Corporation of America, 1994–2006
Member, Board of Trustees, Davis Joint Unified School District, November 2005–present
Served on the boards of several nonprofit community organizations

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Insights & Presentations

Tim has lectured for the University of California, Davis Extension; the State Bar of California; the State Bar of California Environmental Law Section; the Sacramento County Bar Environmental Law Section; the California Chapter of the American Planning Association; the Association of Environmental Professionals; the League of California Cities; and numerous other groups on environmental, land use, and urban planning topics.
“Onshore Permitting Requirements for Offshore Wind Projects in California” (co-author), Windpower Engineering & Development, July 27, 2020
“Offshore wind’s westward expansion” (co-author), Wind Systems, September 15, 2019
“Is California next in line for offshore wind?” (co-author), Windpower Engineering & Development, July 31, 2019
“California High Court Case Has Not Made CEQA Obsolete,” (co-author), Law360, August 2014
“Sacramento Railyards: How the City of Sacramento is Facilitating Development of the Largest Brownfield Infill Site in America” (co-author), California Real Property Journal, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2011
“State Supreme Court Sets Environmental Baseline” (co-author) The Daily Journal, April 1, 2010
“The California Environmental Quality Act: Assessment and Recommendations” (co-author)
“The Endless Quest: Pursuing the Elusive Administrative Record in CEQA and Related Mandamus Proceedings” (co-author), Environmental Law News, Vol. 14, No. 1, Summer 2005