Sophia J. Rowlands

Associate

621 Capitol Mall
18th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Areas of Law:

Land Use, Mining, Energy, Natural Resources, CEQA, Climate Change

Admitted to Practice in:

California

Experience

Advised clients on compliance with California's Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA).

Assisted in drafting and securing approval of amended reclamation plan for 500 acre aggregate mine.

Litigated CEQA writ petitions and administrative appeals in multiple counties.

Assisted in the preparation of numerous CEQA documents, and provided comment letters on sufficiency of CEQA documents for mining, residential, and open space projects.

Represented clients in public hearings, including planning commission, city council, board of supervisors and regulatory agency hearings.

Prepared and reviewed documents for submission to the California Energy Commission in connection with solar power plant siting projects.

Drafted conservation and agricultural easements and related documents.

Reviewed and prepared oil and gas leases and assignments.

Written extensive research memorandums on issues related to recent developments in the law concerning natural resources, land use, and climate change.

General
Former judicial extern to Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr., United States District Court for the Eastern District of California.

MEMBERSHIPS

United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Admitted to Practice

State Bar of California , Environmental and Business Law Sections, Member

Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section, Member

American Bar Association, Member

California Construction and Industrial Materials Association, Member

American Quarter Horse Association, Member

EDUCATION

University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (J.D., With Highest Honors, Order of the Coif, 2007)
California Polytechnic State University (B.S., 2003)

PUBLICATIONS

McGeorge Law Review, “Chapter 417: Contraceptives and Conscience Find Compromise in California,” Vol. 37, 2006, Author

McGeorge Law Review, “Cole's Law Confronts Constitutional Issues: Expanding the Availability of Closed-Circuit Child Testimony in the Face of the Confrontation Clause,” Vol. 37, 2006, Author

McGeorge Law Review, Former Chief Articles Editor and Legislative Review Staff Writer

CHARITABLE

Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, Board Member