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
2 related itemsSpeaking Engagements / Events
1 related items-
May 5, 2023Prop 65: What Happens in California Isn’t Staying in CaliforniaPresenter, Western Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference
Blogs
1 related items-
January 28, 2021Biden’s Inauguration Day Executive Order on Environment and Energy Regulation
CEQA Chronicles
Legal Alerts
4 related items-
November 3, 2022California Bans Regulated PFAS from Apparel, Textiles, and Cosmetics
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November 3, 2022California Plastics Recycling Legislation Significantly Expands Producer Responsibility
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November 10, 2021Congress Passes $1.2 Trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation
Infrastructure -
January 27, 2021Biden’s Inauguration Day Executive Order on Environment and Energy Regulation
Environmental Law
Publications
14 related items-
July 2023Prop. 65 Plaintiffs are “Fishing” for More…
Proposition 65: Quarterly Highlights (March & June 2023) -
February 2023EPA’s Amendments to the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Site Remediation Eliminates Certain CERCLA and RCRA Exemptions
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 3, Number 5 -
February 20232022 Prop. 65 Roundup: Over 3,100 Notices for the Usual Suspects Including Lead and Phthalates, Plus New Trends Targeting Textiles and Apparel, and Common Holiday Spices
Proposition 65: Trends and Highlights in 2022 -
November 2022Ninth Circuit Reverses District Court by Finding Congressional Authorization Allows Discretionary Releases From Twitchell Dam for Species Protection
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 33, Number 2 -
November 2022Proposition 65 Quarterly Notice – Third Quarter 2022: Citizen Plaintiff Groups Continue to Pursue Seafood, Ceramics, and Personal Care Products
Proposition 65: Trends and Highlights July 2022-September 2022 -
September 2022D.C. Circuit Dismisses Environmental Interest Groups’ Lawsuit Challenging U.S. EPA’s Approval of Oklahoma’s Coal Ash Plan under RCRA
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 2, Number 11 -
October 2021U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Eminent Domain Authority for FERC ‘Certificate’ Gas Pipeline Company Despite New Jersey’s Sovereign Immunity Challenges
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 2, Number 1 -
October 2021Ninth Circuit Continues to Uphold the Significant Nexus Test for Navigable Waters Under the Clean Water Act
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 2, Number 1 -
March 2021The D.C. Circuit Overturns EPA’s 2019 Affordable Clean Energy Rule
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 1, Number 6 -
May 2020Legal and Regulatory Framework for Brackish Groundwater Desalination and Water Recycling in Texas
Texas A&M University School of Law -
2020Pop-Up Potential: The Effect of Regulatory Laws on the Innovation of Pop-Up Restaurants
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law, Vol. 6, No 4 -
2019State Right-to-Farm Provisions
National Agricultural Law Center -
October 2018Organization for Competitive Markets Seeks Judicial Review of USDA’s GIPSA Rule Withdrawal
National Agricultural Law Center, Issue Brief Series -
August 2018Petition for Policy Change in FSIS’ “Product of U.S.A.” Label
National Agricultural Law Center, Issue Brief Series
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