Christopher Guillen

Background

About Christopher Guillen

Natural resources shareholder combining expertise in land use, CEQA and water resources issues. Specialized experience in due diligence, transactions, permitting and litigation. A committed team leader with an innovative, business-oriented approach to representation and advocacy. With combined experience in regulation and litigation, Chris Guillen acts as a trusted advisor on complex natural resources projects. His expertise spans the intersection of land use and water law, with a particular emphasis in the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Chris relies on his unique experience to provide strategic counsel on all issues pertaining to water rights, including water-related litigation, water transactions, compliance with state regulations and water right permitting issues. His clients range from public water agencies to corporations and private property owners. Chris also advises landowners, developers, agricultural interests and energy companies on environmental review under CEQA and land use permitting requirements during all phases of project development and litigation. Examples of his work include: due diligence on housing developments, representing a landowner in a comprehensive groundwater adjudication, challenging overly restrictive land use ordinances, defending cannabis cultivators against appeals of land use permits and helping clean energy developers entitle their projects and withstand litigation when necessary. Chris maintains a robust pro bono practice and sits on the firm’s Pro Bono Committee.