Mr. Adams’ environmental and land use practice focuses on advising developers, public agencies, Indian tribes, and trade associations on compliance with and litigation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and other state and federal environmental impact assessment laws. He also has experience litigating land use and water rights claims. In addition, Mr. Adams assists clients in the design and development of renewable energy, sustainable forestry, and rangeland management projects.
Mr. Adams is also active in Sonnenschein’s Indian law and tribal representation practice. He advises tribal clients on a wide variety of environmental, energy, climate change, historic preservation, and gaming issues, including matters arising under NEPA, CEQA, and the NHPA. He also defends tribes against permitting and enforcement actions by state and local environmental agencies, assists tribes in developing projects designed to generate carbon offset credits, and helps draft, implement, and obtain federal certification of tribal environmental laws and regulations. In addition, Mr. Adams has drafted a variety of tribal laws in the areas of public health, building standards, and environmental quality.
During law school, Mr. Adams served on Ecology Law Quarterly, and contributed to Berkeley Planning Journal. He was also a member of the Boalt Hall Moot Court Board, and participated in the California Attorney General’s Summer Honors Program in Environmental, Public Lands, and Natural Resources law. Mr. Adams also holds graduate degrees in both City Planning and Political Science.