G. Braiden Chadwick is a partner in Downey Brand's Energy Land Use and Minerals Group. His state-wide practice focuses on representing commercial, residential and industrial project proponents before local, regional, state and federal administrative agencies in connection with use permits and other entitlements. He handles all aspects of environmental compliance, land-use permitting and any resulting litigation. His permitting work extends from California's largest ski resorts, to residential developers, oil gas and energy companies, wineries and mining companies.

Experience

Braiden is responsible for reviewing a wide array of environmental documents for legal sufficiency, including mining reclamation plans, revegetation plans, Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) on behalf of residential, commercial and industrial projects subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and/or the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). He is responsible for obtaining land use entitlements such as conditional use permits, building permits, general plan amendments, county line adjustments, subdivision maps and zoning changes.

In the area of oil and gas development, Braiden has experience preparing oil, gas, mineral and geothermal title opinions, including drill site, supplemental, acquisition and division order title opinions. Additionally, Braiden has represented and advised companies seeking exploratory and operational drilling permits on both public (state and federal) and private lands.  He also has experience negotiating wind, mineral, and geothermal leases.

Braiden also has extensive experience before State and Federal courts, including First and Third California District Courts of Appeal with published cases in both districts interpreting the Permit Streamlining Act and California's open range laws. He has also drafted appellate briefs before the California Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of the California Coastal Commission.

The following is a sampling of some of his engagements:

• Successfully defended one of California's largest ski resorts in an appeal of its subdivision map and development plans. 

• Represented landowners and developers before the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) for proposed development, as well as defending existing land uses when challenged through the TRPA Administrative Determination process.
• Counseled public agencies on the California Coastal Act and the Subdivision Map Act.
• Advised multinational mining companies on technical requirements of mining operations, zoning, conditional use permits and determining vested rights status.
• Secured numerous land-use entitlements, including General Plan Amendments, Conditional Use Permits, Rezones, and Community Plan Amendments on behalf of developers and landowners.
• Counseled mining companies regarding compliance with the California Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA).
• Successfully relocated County boundary lines to resolve jurisdictional conflicts and facilitate development plans.
• Represented mining companies, developers and landowners on a variety of Williamson Act issues, including compatible uses and petitions for cancellation of Williamson Act contracts.
• Assisted developers and mining companies in complying with California Lake and Streambed Alteration requirements and obtaining permits for same.
• Represented clients before the California Energy Commission in conjunction with Applications for Certification.

 

General
Former Judicial Extern to the Honorable Judge Ellen Carroll, United States Bankruptcy Court, Los Angeles

Former Law Clerk for the California Attorney General's Office, Tort and Condemnation Division, Los Angeles

Former Law Clerk for the United States Department of Justice, Office of the U.S. Trustee, Los Angeles

Published Opinions
36 Cal.4 th 1 (2005)
139 Cal.App.4 th 812 (2006)

MEMBERSHIPS

Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy, Member

Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member

Sacramento County Bar Association, Appellate Law Section, Member

Orange County Bar Association, Member

California State Bar, Environmental and Real Property Law Sections, Member

Urban Land Institute, Member

Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Member

North State Building Industry Association, Member

EDUCATION

Loyola Law School (J.D., 2003)

University of Utah (B.A., 2000)

   

PRESENTATIONS

J. Reuben Clark Law Society National Conference, “Practitioners Speak About Service for Good in Practice Areas” Salt Lake City, Utah 2010, Presenter, Panelist

American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL), “Federal Mining Law Year In Review,” Reno, Nevada 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, Presenter

California Building Industry Association (CBIA), “Water Supply, Greenhouse Gas and other Cutting Edge CEQA Issues” (2008), Presenter, Panelist