Alexandra L. Lizano

Associate

Alexandra Lizano ("Ally") combines specialized knowledge of environmental law with close attention to detail to guide clients through an ever-changing legal and regulatory landscape.

Ally represents various public and private sector clients in environmental compliance and enforcement matters. She regularly helps her clients navigate environmental statutes, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Air Act (CAA) Risk Management Program, the state statutory counterparts, and implementing regulations. Ally represents and assists clients in enforcement matters before state and federal agencies, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the State Water Resources Control Board and its regional water quality control boards, and the Department of Toxic Substances Control. She frequently assists clients on matters involving environmental site remediation and environmental due diligence. Ally also helps clients throughout the supply chain (importers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers) comply with and litigate claims under California’s Proposition 65. In her Proposition 65 practice, Ally focuses on consumer products such as apparel, household goods, and food products. Across various subject matters, Ally assists and represents clients in pre-trial litigation lawsuits in state and federal courts in California.

Ally has an Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning degree, which gives her an advanced understanding of natural sciences relevant to environmental matters. Before joining Downey Brand, Ally was a summer law clerk for the United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division and a law student research fellow at the National Agricultural Law Center. These experiences contribute to her unique skillset in conducting precise legal research across various environmental subjects.

Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

  • Environmental Law Institute
  • Groundwater Resources Association
  • Proposition 65 Clearinghouse
  • Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court, 2021-2022
  • Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
  • California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
  • Sacramento Metro EDGE
  • Texas A&M Agriculture Law Society, President and Co-Founder, 2018-2020
  • Cal Aggie Alumni Association, Lifetime Member
  • Kappa Kappa Gamma, Active Alumna
  • Texas A&M University School of Law Alumni Bar Passage Mentor, 2021
  • Texas A&M Journal of Property Law, Executive Editor, 2019-2020

Honors & Rankings

  • Environmental Law Institute, Emerging Leaders Initiative
  • Earned Texas A&M University School of Law concentrations in environmental and water law
  • Order of the Coif
  • National Order of the Scribes Award for Outstanding Legal Writing while in Law School, 2020
  • Texas A&M Journal of Property Law Awards for “Outstanding Editor of the Year,” “Aggie Law Distinction of Excellence,” and “Candidate’s Award,” 2020
  • Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Scholarship Recipient, 2019
  • Dean’s List, 2017-2020
  • UC Davis College of Agriculture and Environmental Science Student Commencement Speaker, 2017

Litigation

  • ​Experience in pre-trial litigation, including discovery and pre-trial motion practice.
  • ​Assisted and represented retailers and manufacturers of consumer products (including food products) in complex and non-complex Proposition 65 litigation in various California state courts.
  • Assisted representing a pharmaceutical company in breach of contract arbitration.
  • ​Assisted representing fireworks company in complex civil groundwater contamination damages litigation in California state court.
  • ​Assisted representing municipal entities with writ challenges of NPDES permit provisions.
  • ​Represented current landowner in groundwater contamination litigation against former landowner in federal court in California.

Compliance Counseling

  • Counseled clients regarding the applicability of various environmental laws.
  • Advised domestic and international manufacturers and retailers of consumer products (including food products) on compliance with Proposition 65.
  • Assisted in counseling a client on funding options for groundwater remediation.
  • Assessed the scope of a settlement agreement to assist client with risk management.
  • Assisted arguing that California Insurance Code covered client’s environmental claim.
  • Assisted regional grocer in developing Standard Operating Procedure for Proposition 65 compliance.
  • Assisted in counseling developer regarding options for potential purchase of a contaminated site.
  • Reviewed land use covenants entered between clients and Regional Water Boards, Department of Toxic Substances Control, and municipalities to counsel clients regarding scope of permissible property uses.
  • Assisted client in obtaining a variance from a Regional Water Board land use covenant.
  • Facilitated negotiations for Proposition 65 settlements for consumer products (including food products) for various clients.
  • Researched and assisted developing regional grocer Standard Operating Procedure for transportation of hazardous waste to comply with RCRA and California Department of Toxic Substances Control regulations.
  • Reviewed right-of-way agreements across dozens of adjacent parcels to determine scope of opportunities for easement holder.
  • Advised municipal water district on risk of claim for tortious interference.
  • Counseled grocer and retailer clients on compliance with California’s Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act.

Announcements

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Speaking Engagements / Events

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Blogs

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Legal Alerts

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Publications

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Outside of the office, Ally practices yoga and cycling. She is originally from the East Bay and frequently returns home to visit with her family and enjoy the Mount Diablo area.

Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

  • Environmental Law Institute
  • Groundwater Resources Association
  • Proposition 65 Clearinghouse
  • Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court, 2021-2022
  • Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
  • California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
  • Sacramento Metro EDGE
  • Texas A&M Agriculture Law Society, President and Co-Founder, 2018-2020
  • Cal Aggie Alumni Association, Lifetime Member
  • Kappa Kappa Gamma, Active Alumna
  • Texas A&M University School of Law Alumni Bar Passage Mentor, 2021
  • Texas A&M Journal of Property Law, Executive Editor, 2019-2020

Honors & Rankings

  • Environmental Law Institute, Emerging Leaders Initiative
  • Earned Texas A&M University School of Law concentrations in environmental and water law
  • Order of the Coif
  • National Order of the Scribes Award for Outstanding Legal Writing while in Law School, 2020
  • Texas A&M Journal of Property Law Awards for “Outstanding Editor of the Year,” “Aggie Law Distinction of Excellence,” and “Candidate’s Award,” 2020
  • Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Scholarship Recipient, 2019
  • Dean’s List, 2017-2020
  • UC Davis College of Agriculture and Environmental Science Student Commencement Speaker, 2017