Environmental, Land Use Law Firm Thomas Law Group Merging with Downey Brand

September 30, 2022

Sacramento Business Journal

A Sacramento Business Journal article chronicles the recent Downey Brand merger with Thomas Law Group, adding to Downey Brand’s growing natural resources department. Founded in 2010 by Tina Thomas, Sacramento-based Thomas Law Group is known for its legal work involving land use law, entitlements, and compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.

“Tina is so well known, she is a class act, and her folks are the top in terms of technical expertise,” Scott Shapiro said, adding, “It’s a wonderful opportunity to further strengthen what is already the best natural resources department in the state.”

Joining the Downey Brand team from Thomas Law Group are Tina Thomas, attorneys Andrew Skanchy, Sam Bacal-Graves and Dustin Peterson, and legal assistants Ara Jauregui and Kendra Ledoux. Attorney Amy Higuera will join the firm’s San Francisco office. The merger is set to take effect January 1, 2023.

“We share a lot of clients and we have a lot of agency clients, which is sort of unique in our world, as well as a lot of private clients, so this will be a good match because we can do both,” Thomas said.

Read the full article below, or subscribers can view the article on the Sacramento Business Journal’s website.

By Jake Abbott, Staff Writer, Sacramento Business Journal

A prominent Sacramento environmental law and land use practice is merging with Downey Brand LLP in 2023, adding to a growing natural resources department at the region’s largest firm.

Sacramento-based Thomas Law Group was founded in 2010 by Tina Thomas and represents clients in issues involving land use law, entitlements and compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The firm’s clients include property owners, developers, builders, government agencies and trade associations.

Thomas said after making the decision to close her practice, she reached out to several firms in the area in search of the right fit for a merger, and Downey Brand ultimately made the most sense.

“We share a lot of clients and we have a lot of agency clients, which is sort of unique in our world, as well as a lot of private clients, so this will be a good match because we can do both,” Thomas said. “We are really excited to merge our practice with Downey so we can continue our work with those clients.”

Founded in 1926, Downey Brand is the area’s largest full-service law firm, with over 100 attorneys throughout its offices on Capitol Mall in Sacramento, San Francisco and Stockton. The firm’s natural resources department makes up approximately one-third of its overall practice.

“One of the things that Downey prides itself on is the breadth and depth of its natural resources department,” said Scott Shapiro, managing partner of Downey Brand. “Any time we can continue to add to that amazing practice, we look for that opportunity. Thomas Law Group is the gold standard in land use and CEQA litigation and counseling. Tina is so well known, she is a class act, and her folks are the top in terms of technical expertise. It’s a wonderful opportunity to further strengthen what is already the best natural resources department in the state.”

Joining the Downey Brand team from Thomas Law Group are Thomas, attorneys Andrew Skanchy, Sam Bacal-Graves and Dustin Peterson, and legal assistants Ara Jauregui and Kendra Ledoux. Attorney Amy Higuera will join the firm’s San Francisco office. The merger is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2023. Thomas said her team will be relocating from their offices on Capitol Mall to Downey Brand’s offices.

The latest addition builds on Downey Brand’s expansion of its natural resources department. Last year, the firm added six attorneys from San Francisco-based Goodin MacBride’s public utility regulation practice to its San Francisco office. The Thomas Law Group merger will bring the firm’s total number of lawyers in its natural resources department to 40.

“With those additions, you are seeing a concerted effort to be the dominant natural resources law firm in California,” Shapiro said.

Downey Brand is among the Business Journal’s Best Places to Work this year.