Robert J. Uram

Robert J. Uram is a partner in the Real Estate, Land Use and Environmental Practice Group in the firm's San Francisco office.

Areas of Practice

Mr. Uram has more than 30 years of experience as a natural resource specialist.  He is a nationally-recognized expert in federal administrative law and many state and federal natural resource laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the California Surface Mining and Reclamation Act, the wetland provisions of the Clean Water Act, Federal Land Policy and Management Act,  National Forest Planning Act, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act and the Mining Law of 1972.  His current practice focuses almost exclusively on wetlands, water quality, endangered species issues, windpower projects, and includes both permitting and litigation.  He specializes in wetlands and related state and federal laws, including NEPA, working extensively with land developers, master plan communities, and home builders. Mr. Uram frequently serves as team leader and coordinator for complex wetlands permitting projects and provides leadership to the interdisciplinary teams needed to successfully comply with the wetlands and endangered species requirements of State and federal law and has helped to develop projects with more than 100,000 homes and associated roads, schools and commercial and office development.  Mr. Uram played a key role in the development of Regional HCP/NCCPs in Southern California and participated in the development of  the NCCP program.  He frequently lectures on both wetland and endangered  species issues.  He is also an experienced NEPA lawyer who advises clients on Global Climate Change issues including possible effects of AB 32. 

President Clinton appointed Mr. Uram as Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement in 1993.  He served in that post until September 1996. Prior to being the Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Mr. Uram was a partner at McCutchen, Doyle, Brown and Enersen in San Francisco.  He also worked at the Department of the Interior (1973-1983) where he advised the Bureau of Land Management on federal land use planning and mineral development, oil and gas leasing and Indian law.  From 1979 to 1980, Mr. Uram served as the Associate Solicitor for Surface Mining where he served as chief counsel for the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. From 1983 until 1985, Mr. Uram was Counsel and Partner at White, Koch, Kelly & McCarthy in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His practice included representing clients in water law, zoning, timber and mining issues.

Education

• J.D., Northwestern Law School, 1973, cum laude
• B.A., University of Pennsylvania, 1969

Admissions

• California
• New Mexico
• Pennsylvania

Representative Matters

Represented developer Hayward 1900 Inc. throughout the development process for a master planned community in the Walpert Ridge area of the Hayward hills. The project consists of 614 homes, featuring a championship golf course and Hayward's first new public elementary school in 40 years. Mr. Uram helped secure the project's local land use approvals, including CEQA compliance and wetlands and endangered species permits.

Represented Windemere BLC in obtaining approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the California Dept. of Fish & Game and the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. Mr. Uram developed and executed the wetlands and endangered species and water quality permitting strategy for this community of 5,000 homes. One aspect of his work was to successfully challenge the designation of Windemere as critical habitat for the red-legged frog.

Represented Diablo Grande LP in connection with a large master planned community, consisting of 1,980 residential units, a town center, shopping center, a resort complex and two golf courses. In addition to obtaining authorizations from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Regional Water Quality Control Board and the Dept. of Fish & Game, Mr. Uram successfully defended the project in federal litigation challenging the Corp's permit. Mr. Uram also represents the developer in connection with local authorizations including CEQA compliance and negotiation of a settlement which ended a cycle of CEQA litigation.

Represented The Irvine Company through the permitting process for the Shady Canyon Golf Course and Residential Development Project in the City of Irvine in Orange County, California. The 1,080-acre project included the development of 400 residential homes and an 18-hole golf course.

Honors

• AV® rating, Martindale-Hubbell®. This is the highest rating an attorney can receive for legal quality and ethics.
• Best Lawyers in America, 2008
• Northern California Super Lawyers, San Francisco Magazine, 2007

Articles

• Ninth Circuit Raises the Level of Protection Afforded to Critical Habitat, September 29, 2004
• Statewide Listing of California Tiger Salamander As A Federal Endgangered Species Took Effect on September 3, 2004, Critical Habitat Proposed, September 29, 2004
• Major New ESA Decision Limits Mitigation the Services May Require, August 5, 2004
• California Tiger Salamander Not Threatened With Extinction, November 17, 2003
• New Court Decision On Section 7 Issues, December 21, 2001
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Narrows the Impact of Recent Court Decisions That Attempt to Limit Clean Water Act Jurisdiction, March 15, 2001
• Solid Waste Energy Of Northern Cook County v. United States Army Corps Of Engineers, January 10, 2001
• Organic Certification Merits Careful Attention Under Impending Law, September 10, 1998
• Substantive Requirements of the Endangered Species Act, July 10, 1998
• Substantive Requirements of the Endangered Species Act, July 10, 1997

• Uram, R., "The Evolution of the Practicable Alternatives Test," Natural Resources & Environment, American Bar Association, Vol. 7, No. 1, Summer 1992.
• Uram, R., Chapter VIII Federal And State Wetland Regulation and Chapter IX Endangered Species Act, Curtin, "California Land-Use and Planning Law."

Speeches

• Uram, R. "Special Area Management Plans/Master Streambed Alteration Agreements (SAMP/MSAA) – Watershed Approaches to Permitting." CLE International Wetlands Conference, 2005.
• Uram, R. "Status of the California Tiger Salamander." CLE International ESA Conference, 2005.
• Uram, R. "Overview of Wetlands Regulation." CLE International Wetlands Conference, 2004.
• Uram, R. "Permitting Requirements & Options under the Endangered Species Act." CLE International ESA Conference, 2003.
• Uram, R. "The Essential Elements of a Biological Opinion." CLE International ESA Conferences, 2002 - 2003.

Events

• Land Use & Climate Change Conference, July 16, 2008