Hanson Bridgett LLP

Samir's practice focuses on environmental litigation, advice, and counseling. He routinely advises and represents public and private entities, as well as individuals, in regulatory enforcement actions, contaminated property remediation, land use entitlement and permit proceedings, water rights, product labeling, and litigation involving natural resources and other environmental issues. Samir’s practice includes a broad range of state and federal environmental and land use laws, including the Clean Water Act (CWA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, Carpenter-Presley-Tanner Hazardous Substance Account Act, and California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (“Proposition 65”). Samir has extensive experience litigating environmental matters in federal and state courts, as well as through private arbitration. Samir also has experience litigating general commercial and business disputes.

Bar Admissions

• California
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Education

J.D., cum laude, University of California, Hastings College of the Law (2010)
B.A., with honors, The University of Texas at Austin (1997)

Significant Accomplishments

Representing global manufacturing company in 7-week arbitration to allocate investigation and remediation costs at industrial property regulated under RCRA and CERCLA

Representing federal contractor conducting Superfund site remediation in SF Bay Area

Defending public agency in CWA enforcement action initiated by environmental non-profit organization

Litigating agency approvals for development projects under CEQA

Defending multinational financial services company in capacity as trustee managing environmental investigation and remediation of contaminated property

Resolving California district attorney investigation regarding hazardous materials management and hazardous waste disposal for Fortune 500 company

Defending technology company in Cal OSHA investigation

Evaluating claims asserted by the EPA regarding liability for remediation of a former smelting facility and negotiating settlement with the EPA and other potentially responsible parties

Investigating historical domestic uranium mining and evaluating potential liability arising out of ownership or operation of abandoned mines

Defending toxic tort mass action alleging neighborhood-wide exposure to hexavalent chromium and related damages by thousands of plaintiffs

Evaluating and responding to claims asserted by successor or neighboring property owners regarding alleged soil and groundwater contamination

Defending civil enforcement action by state agency regarding discharge of hazardous waste at airport facility

Analyzing requirements of several states regarding storm water discharges and permits for air transportation facilities

Defending numerous manufacturers, distributors and retailers of consumer products in California in Proposition 65 private enforcement actions

Litigating historical water rights threatened by government actions in California, Nevada and New Mexico

Defending potential civil and criminal liability for hazardous waste discharge alleged by state regulatory agency at recycling facility