James Rusk

James Rusk is an associate in the Real Estate, Land Use, Natural Resources and Environmental practice group in the firm’s San Francisco office.

Areas of Practice

Mr. Rusk assists clients in compliance and litigation involving complex environmental and land use regulation at the state and federal levels.  His areas of substantive expertise include the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Subdivision Map Act.  Mr. Rusk also represents clients in matters involving water rights under California law, as well as entitlements to water supplied through federal Bureau of Reclamation projects in California’s Central Valley.

Education

• J.D., University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 2007, Magna cum laude; Order of the Coif; Senior Articles Editor, Hastings Law Journal
• B.A., University of Houston, 1997

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• State Bar of California
• Bar Association of San Francisco

Articles

• "The National Environmental Policy Act: Wetlands Issues Within the NEPA Process," prepared for the CLE International California Wetlands Conference, February 26-27, 2009 (with Ella Foley-Gannon)

Real Estate & Construction Law Blog Articles

• "EPA May Use Cost-Benefit Analysis In Setting "Best Technology Available" Standards Under Clean Water Act", April 6, 2009
• "Army Corps Properly Limited Scope of NEPA Review of Section 404 Permits to Impacts of Filling Jurisdictional Waters", March 10, 2009
• "State Water Board Lifts Moratorium On New Construction in LA Region", August 5, 2008
• "State Water Board Imposes Moratorium On New Construction In Los Angeles Region", July 24, 2008
• "California Supreme Court Holds Headwaters Agreement Incidental Take Permit And Sustained Yield Plan Invalid", July 24, 2008
• "Federal Claims Court Awards $4.2M to Ranchers' Estate for Taking of Water Rights", June 20, 2008