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PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY
Chair of Downey Brand's Environmental Law Practice Management Group.
Mr. Soran serves as lead counsel for public and private parties in environmental litigation and compliance matters, including private party litigation, administrative proceedings, and government enforcement actions throughout California. This representation includes serving as lead counsel to both public entities and private parties for multi-specialty representation including environmental, real estate, and corporate matters.
EXPERIENCE
Managed all facets of complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on environmental cases involving CERCLA, RCRA, Clear Air Act, Porter-Cologne, Hazardous Substances Account Act (HSAA), Proposition 65 and environmental torts, in both state and federal courts.
Represented and advised clients in real property transactions, including environmental due diligence, site assessments, and deed restrictions for the lease, purchase or sale of real properties.
Represented parties in administrative proceedings before various Regional Water Quality Control Boards on cease and desist orders, cleanup and abatement orders, and waste discharge requirements.
Represented and advised numerous clients in air quality enforcement, compliance, and permitting matters before various state air quality management districts.
Represented underground storage tanks (UST) site owners in obtaining California LUFT fund reimbursements.
Lead attorney for evaluating and implementing soil and ground water remedial systems at sites dealing with petroleum hydrocarbons and/or chlorinated solvent contamination.
Lead attorney representing multiple large corporations in CERCLA contribution action related to remediation and closure of former municipal landfill.
Lead attorney representing municipality in defense of private party CERCLA contribution action for remediation, closure/post closure of former burn dump/landfill.
Counsel to large municipality in defending toxic tort case involving mold exposure.
Advised and represented commercial property owners in matters involving mold exposure and sick building claims.
Represented Transporter in CERCLA cost recovery litigation involving closure/post closure of hazardous waste landfill.
Counsel to waste management facility in multi-party landfill closure/post closure cost recovery litigation.
Represented major development company in action brought by the Central Valley Regional Board and the California Attorney General's Office for alleged violations of General NPDES Permit for stormwater discharges into wetlands associated with construction activity.
Lead attorney representing national energy company in defending enforcement action for discharge and placement of material into alleged wetlands.
Lead attorney representing PRP in EPA administrative action for cleanup of abandoned waste oil recycling facility, including representing PRP in Steering Committees (Chair and Vice-Chair positions).
Lead attorney organizing PRP group and responding to EPA Region IX Unilateral Administrative Orders for emergency response actions at abandoned waste oil recycling facility.
Lead attorney for multiple multi-national petroleum corporations in cost recovery action initiated by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control for abandoned waste oil/liquids recycling facility.
Common Counsel to multi-party PRP Trust conducting multi-million dollar response actions at abandoned used oil recycling facility, and conducting cost recovery efforts against hundreds of PRPs.
Represented clients in negotiations with counties (as local enforcement agencies) for site investigation, remediation and closures of petroleum contaminated sites.
Representation and defense of multi-national food corporations in cost recovery actions initiated by EPA and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.
Represented a national equipment corporation in chlorinated solvent and petroleum contamination cost recovery litigation initiated by public agency.
Represented former property owners in cost recovery and breach of contract litigation for former petroleum UST site.
Represented property owners in litigation involving chlorinated solvent soil and ground water contamination.
Represented property owners in Fish & Game Code and Water Code enforcement action involving riverbank fill and erosion measures.
Former Legal Intern for the California State Attorney General's Office, Environmental Law Enforcement Division in Oakland.
MEMBERSHIPS
State Bar of California, Real Property Law Section, Member
Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section, Member
United States District Court for the Northern, Central and Eastern Districts of California, Admitted to Practice
National Brownfield Association, California Chapter, Member
EDUCATION
Santa Clara University, School of Law (J.D., 1993)
California State University, Stanislaus (B.A., cum laude, 1990)
PUBLICATIONS
California Casualty and Insurance Litigation, Defense of Environmental Damage Claims, 1993-1996, Author.
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