Special Promotional Feature
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SmithTrager LLP
Environmental, Natural Resources, Water, Construction, Litigation
In December 2008, Diane R. Smith and Susan M. Trager merged their extensive experience and thriving practices encompassing ever-changing environmental, engineering and construction, land use and water-related legal matters.
Two years later, Irvine-based SmithTrager LLP, a woman-owned law firm with offices in Irvine and Berkeley, seems comparatively visionary.
And fun.
As cerebral as the work is, the array of legal projects Smith has worked on for the last three decades keeps her enthusiasm pegged.
One intriguing project involved a dispute in the Middle East over the installation of an underground 8-foot-diameter sewer line. The case was riddled with numerous archaeological, technical and legal challenges.
“We currently handle projects involving multiple parties, soil and groundwater cleanups, operating facility closures, endangered species and contractual disputes,” Smith said. “We also work at the cutting edge, where trusts and estates meet environmental laws.”
Smith said her practice involves about 50 percent construction and 50 percent environmental law. However, water quality matters are of particular interest.
An avid scuba diver with a fervent interest in water quality, Smith has participated in projects throughout the United States, United Arab Emirates, North Africa, Indonesia and Latin America.
She negotiated and consulted through the energy crisis of the 1970s and is hopeful that this time, development of alternative energy and other measures to control emissions will achieve environmental quality, energy independence and intelligent, appropriate regulation. If it does, the next decade will be one of the most exciting times to be an environmental and construction lawyer, she added.
Smith is a member of the national arbitration and mediation panels of the American Arbitration Association, frequently hearing complex construction disputes. Having experience in a broad range of fields, she enjoys the challenge of correctly deciding cases instead of advocating for one side.
“But it’s all good,” said the Berkeley-educated lawyer. “It’s gratifying to drive by a piece of property and think, ‘I had something to do with that.’”
THE FEATURED LAWYERS:
Robinson, Calcagnie & Robinson • Hollins | Schechter
Mike Brewer • Jeffrey R. Matsen • Tom Stabile and John Cowhig
Jeffrey A. Milman, Esq. • Dombrow & Dombrow • Klein & Wilson
Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara LLP • Ardent Law Group, P.C.
David Ezra | Berger Kahn • SmithTrager LLP • Darlynn Morgan
Ron Cordova • Grant, Genovese & Baratta LLP • William Buus
Kelly Zinser • John Tehranian • Giavanna C. DePrima, Esq.
Don D. Sessions • Darren Aitken • Christopher P. Wesierski
W. Douglas Easton • Richard G. Heston, Esq. • Brian Chew
The Law Offices of Kerr & Sheldon • Krutcik & Georggin
Violet P. Woodhouse • Adina T. Stern • Aegis Law Firm
Brian T. Pedigo • Sedgwick Detert Moran & Arnold LLP
Shulman Hodges & Bastian LLP • Stoody, Mills & Doyle
Thomas H. Cadden and H. Daniel Fuller • Lisa Hughes
Rydstrom Law • Larry A. Walraven • Robert Gerard
Mower, Carreon & Desai, LLP • Timothy G. McFarlin
Mark Peacock • Serge Tomassian • Gary Highland
Megan K. Pionkowski, Esq. • Brian A. Bayati
Beau James Nokes & Shari Elizabeth Nokes
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In December 2008, Diane R. Smith and Susan M. Trager merged their extensive experience and thriving practices encompassing ever-changing environmental, engineering and construction, land use and water-related legal matters. Two years later, Irvine-based SmithTrager LLP, a woman-owned law firm with offices in Irvine and Berkeley, seems comparatively visionary. And fun. As cerebral as the work is, the array of legal projects Smith has worked on for the last three decades keeps her enthusiasm pegged. One intriguing project involved a dispute in the Middle East over the installation of an underground 8-foot-diameter sewer line. The case was riddled with numerous archaeological, technical and legal challenges. “We currently handle projects involving multiple parties, soil and groundwater cleanups, operating facility closures, endangered species and contractual disputes,” Smith said. “We also work at the cutting edge, where trusts and estates meet environmental laws.” Smith said her practice involves about 50 percent construction and 50 percent environmental law. However, water quality matters are of particular interest. An avid scuba diver with a fervent interest in water quality, Smith has participated in projects throughout the United States, United Arab Emirates, North Africa, Indonesia and Latin America. She negotiated and consulted through the energy crisis of the 1970s and is hopeful that this time, development of alternative energy and other measures to control emissions will achieve environmental quality, energy independence and intelligent, appropriate regulation. If it does, the next decade will be one of the most exciting times to be an environmental and construction lawyer, she added. Smith is a member of the national arbitration and mediation panels of the American Arbitration Association, frequently hearing complex construction disputes. Having experience in a broad range of fields, she enjoys the challenge of correctly deciding cases instead of advocating for one side. “But it’s all good,” said the Berkeley-educated lawyer. “It’s gratifying to drive by a piece of property and think, ‘I had something to do with that.’” THE FEATURED LAWYERS:
Robinson, Calcagnie & Robinson • Hollins | Schechter Mike Brewer • Jeffrey R. Matsen • Tom Stabile and John Cowhig Jeffrey A. Milman, Esq. • Dombrow & Dombrow • Klein & Wilson Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara LLP • Ardent Law Group, P.C. David Ezra | Berger Kahn • SmithTrager LLP • Darlynn Morgan Ron Cordova • Grant, Genovese & Baratta LLP • William Buus Kelly Zinser • John Tehranian • Giavanna C. DePrima, Esq. Don D. Sessions • Darren Aitken • Christopher P. Wesierski W. Douglas Easton • Richard G. Heston, Esq. • Brian Chew The Law Offices of Kerr & Sheldon • Krutcik & Georggin Violet P. Woodhouse • Adina T. Stern • Aegis Law Firm Brian T. Pedigo • Sedgwick Detert Moran & Arnold LLP Shulman Hodges & Bastian LLP • Stoody, Mills & Doyle Thomas H. Cadden and H. Daniel Fuller • Lisa Hughes Rydstrom Law • Larry A. Walraven • Robert Gerard Mower, Carreon & Desai, LLP • Timothy G. McFarlin Mark Peacock • Serge Tomassian • Gary Highland Megan K. Pionkowski, Esq. • Brian A. Bayati Beau James Nokes & Shari Elizabeth Nokes |
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