Overview

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

Tim is a fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers. He has been included in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2009 and was selected by Best Lawyers® as the Sacramento Environmental Law “Lawyer of the Year” for multiple years and Sacramento Land Use and Zoning Law “Lawyer of the Year” in 2013. 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.

Education

University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, J.D., 1986

University of California, Los Angeles, M.A., Architecture and Urban Planning, 1986

Dartmouth College, B.A., 1981

Admissions

California

United States District Court for the Eastern District of California

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.

Insights

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.
  • “Offshore Wind in the United States” (co-author), Chapter 4, The Law of Wind: A Guide to Business and Legal Issues, Stoel Rives LLP, Ninth Edition, 2022
  • “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

Recognition

  • 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® (Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law), 2009–present
  • 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 Sactown Magazine’s Top Lawyers, 2024
  • Listed in Sacramento Magazine’s Top Lawyers, 2015–present
  • Public Servant of the Year, City of Davis Thong Hy Huynh Memorial Award, 2012

Affiliations

Professional

  • American College of Environmental Lawyers, Fellow, 2022–present
  • University of California, Davis, School of Law, Visiting professor, 1994–2009; Lecturer, 2010–present
  • Past chair, Executive Committee, State Bar of California Environmental Law Section and CEQA Review Committee, 1992–2005
  • Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite, Co-Chair, 1999
  • Former member, Research Screening Committee, State of California Air Resources Board
  • State Department of Toxic Substances Control, Strategic Planning Advisory Committee
  • City of Davis Transportation Commission
  • Davis Urban Development Agricultural Buffer Task Force, Member

Civic

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