Carissa Beecham is a Senior Counsel in the Firm’s Sacramento office and a member of the Litigation practice group. Ms. Beecham assists public and private-sector clients in the areas of land-use, natural resources, environmental law, water law, and general litigation. She approaches her clients’ issues with a practical, cost-effective focus to maximize client results. Based on her wide-ranging experience litigating for public and private entities, Ms. Beecham works with in concert with her clients and litigation team to deliver those results.

Ms. Beecham’s experience includes trials, writs, pre-trial discovery and motion practice, post-trial motions, appeals, and negotiating complex settlement agreements. She has particular experience litigating environmental laws, like the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), land-use disputes, consumer class actions, and complex products liability disputes. Ms. Beecham has extensive experience helping clients protect water supplies in disputes involving the application of federal and state environmental laws, including CEQA, the National Environmental Policy Act, the public trust doctrine, and state and federal endangered species laws.

Awards and Honors

• The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – Environmental (2023-2024)
• Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer (2016, 2020, 2022, 2023)

Professional Involvement

• Member, Sacramento County Bar Association
• Member, Women’s Leadership Initiative, Urban land Institute (ULI)
• Leadership Sacramento, Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce (2022)

Bar Admissions

• California

Significant Accomplishments
<ul><li>Represent south-of-Delta Central Valley Project (CVP) water service contractors in multi-party state court CEQA and Porter-Cologne action; all pretrial work and preparation of arguments for merits hearing.</li><li>Represent south-of-Delta CVP contractors in multi-party federal court proceedings regarding the ESA.</li><li>Represent south-of-Delta CVP contractors in state court validation proceeding concerning the WaterFix project.</li><li>Represent south-of-Delta CVP contractors in state court litigation concerning Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Plan and related amendments.</li><li>Represent south-of-Delta CVP contractors as amicus curiae in Yuba County Water Agency’s Ninth Circuit appeal concerning enforcement of federal Endangered Species Act’s consultation and take provisions against existing dams.</li><li>Successfully defended municipality in CEQA action challenging development approval for grocery store via demurrer and complete dismissal of Complaint; obtained prevailing party cost award for municipality.</li><li>Assisted development project owner to continue project operations pending limited remedial environmental review.</li><li>Defended municipality in complex groundwater contamination and toxic tort litigation, resulting in successful Motion for Summary Adjudication and pretrial settlement.</li><li>Represented municipality hazardous waste cleanup litigation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).</li><li>Citizens for the Restoration of L Street v. City of Fresno (Aug. 29, 2014, F066498) 229 Cal.App.4th 340 (represented City and developer in upholding substantial evidence standard for historical resources designation).</li><li>Successfully argued on behalf of amicus curiae to reverse superior court decision applying improper standard of review for designation of historical resources. Friends of Willow Glen Trestle v. City of San Jose (Aug. 12, 2016, H041563) 2 Cal.App.5th 457.</li><li>Successfully defended loan servicer in appeal of judgment of dismissal with prejudice of consumer action for wrongful foreclosure and other title disputes in favor of the servicer.</li><li>Negotiated early settlement of consumer class action matter on behalf of defendant and assisted in development and administration of settlement notification and claims process.</li><li>Defended corporation in unfair competition class action, resulting in successful demurrer and motion to strike and favorable pretrial settlement.</li><li>Successfully removed employment matter to California federal court and obtained transfer to Utah federal court for out of state defendant.</li><li>Obtained TRO and Preliminary Injunction limiting sale of collateral property pending satisfaction of loan, resulting in favorable early settlement of dispute.</li><li>Assisted internal investigation, including conducting interviews, summarizing documents, and preparing final report.</li><li>Successfully defended municipality in election law dispute, resulting in dismissal on demurrer and denial of motion for reconsideration.</li><li>Obtained favorable attorneys’ fee award for municipality and successfully defended the award on appeal.</li></ul>