Sean Sherlock's practice is concentrated in environmental and land use matters, and in commercial litigation.
Representative Matters
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Environmental Land Use
- Sean represents clients in a variety of environmental and land use matters, including litigation under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), litigation involving contaminated real property under state and federal laws including CERCLA and RCRA, toxic torts, California's Proposition 65, government enforcement proceedings, and other environmental issues. He assists clients with permitting and compliance under environmental laws, including California's climate change and other green initiatives. Sean also assists clients with Brownfields development and corporate and real estate transactions involving environmental issues. Typical clients include developers, manufacturers, lenders, real estate investors, contractors, distributors, and retailers.
Commercial Litigation
- Sean represents clients in business litigation involving real estate disputes, public and private construction projects, commercial contracts, corporate and partnership rights, corporate mergers and acquisitions, trade secrets, copyrights, and other business matters.
Education
- Loyola Law School, Loyola Marymount University (J.D., 1992)
- Michigan Technological University (B.S., Chemical Engineering, with high honors, 1986)
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of California
- United States District Court, Central District of California
- United States District Court, Eastern District of California
- United States District Court, Southern District of California
- United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Professional Memberships & Activities
- State Bar of California
- National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), Legislative Affairs Committee
- Orange County Bar Association, Environmental Section
- Orange County Association of Business Trial Lawyers
- American Bar Association
Representative Presentations & Publications
- Case Study: American Trucking v. LA, Author, Law 360 (October 4, 2011)
- Good News For Calif. Developers, Author, Law360 (August 11, 2011)
- Case Study: Oasis West Realty v. Goldman, Author, Law360 (May 23, 2011)
- Warning: California Has Listed 'Wood Dust' Under Proposition 65, Daily Journal (December 2010)
- Water, Global Warming Critical Issues, Real Estate Southern California (January 2008)
- From Drugs to Tire Tread: Daubert Test to Admit Expert Testimony Applies to Technical, Not Just Scientific, Experts, Co-Author, abtl Report (Orange County), Volume I, No. 2 (May 1999)
- Cleaning Up the Mess: Dealing With Property Contamination, Journal of Property Management (January 1999)
- Dealing with Contaminated Soil, Journal of the Greater Los Angeles Apartment Association (October 1997)
- Contaminated Soil, Apartment Management Journal (October 1997)
- Lead-Based Paint Requirements for Apartment Owners and Managers, Apartment Management Journal (September 1997)
- Recent Breakthroughs in the Regulation of Underground Storage Tanks, Orange County Business Journal (March 1997)
- An Overview of Requirements Applicable to Contractors Engaged in Asbestos-Related Work
- The Long and Unexpected Reach of State and Federal Oil Spill Laws, California Environmental Insider (May 1993)
Developing News
- California Supreme Court Kills Redevelopment Agencies. Now What? (January 11, 2012)
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Strikes Down Port of Los Angeles' Clean Trucks Provision (September 27, 2011)
- New CEQA Case Undermines Common No-Growth Litigation Tactic, and Clarifies Greenhouse Gas Analysis (August 1, 2011)
- Land Use Dispute is Backdrop for California Supreme Court Decision on Attorney's Duty of Loyalty (May 16, 2011)
- California Assembly Takes Up 10-Year Statute of Repose (May 4, 2011)
- WARNING: The State of California has listed “wood dust” under Proposition 65 (December 6, 2010)
- New Case Adds Wrinkle in Evolving Law on Application of CEQA to Water Supply Process (February 3, 2009)
- Riverside County Superior Court Rules That EIR for Residential/Commercial Development Must Consider Global Warming Impacts (August 12, 2008)
- California Supreme Court Finds CALFED Adequately Evaluated Alternatives in Program EIS/EIR for Bay-Delta Program (June 9, 2008)
- New Case Explains When Supplemental Environmental Review Is Required Under CEQA (May 9, 2008)
- New Case Holds No CEQA Review Necessary for Water Supply Assessment (April 18, 2008)
- New Case Holds That Permitting Baseline Must Be Based On Actual Past Emissions, Rather Than Permitted Potential To Emit (January 17, 2008)
Professional Recognition & Awards
- Southern California Super Lawyers®, Environmental (2011)
Community Involvement
- Orange County Coastkeeper, Board Member (2008-2011)
- Serra Catholic School, Capital Campaign Committee Member
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Orange County, Volunteer Big Brother (1997-2008)
Other Professional Experience
- Environmental Specialist and Process Engineer, Chevron U.S.A.
- Products Company, El Segundo, California
