Megan V. Unger

Land Use and CEQA

• Assisting in representing Norway-based aquaculture corporation in connection with redevelopment of contaminated pulp mill site in Northern California to construct large state-of-the-art on-shore aquaculture facility to raise Atlantic Salmon.
• Assisting in representing the University of California in development of the Long Range Development Plan for the University of California, Santa Cruz.
• Assisting in representing large utility in Northern California in connection with entitlements for large-scale vegetation removal and management along high-power utility lines for purposes of fire prevention.
• Successfully opposed approvals for a gun and ammunition shop in historic downtown Torrance on behalf of a community member in the City of Torrance.
• Assisted in a successful appeal in a CEQA challenge to an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared in support of water rights proceedings before the State Water Resources Control Board. In line with our appeal, the EIR was upheld in full.
• Assisted in representing the largest municipal utility in the United States in an action challenging CEQA exemptions for the condemnation of three solid waste landfills and appurtenant water rights in the Owens Valley. We prevailed at trial and on appeal.
• Assisted in the successful defense against a challenge to the county’s urgency ordinance that was adopted to prohibit groundwater pumping for unlawful cannabis cultivation. The writ petition asserted claims under the California constitution, reasonable use doctrine, and Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
• Assisting in advising a city on the redevelopment of the Navy’s former Point Molate Fuel Depot, including the review and negotiation of all entitlements (development agreement, zoning and general plan amendments, subdivision map, and design review) and CEQA compliance for a 276-acre mixed-use development project involving residential, commercial, civic, parks and open space, and transportation uses.
• Assisting in advising the client on all aspects of permitting and replacement of a 123-mile oil pipeline, including CEQA and NEPA review, state and federal endangered species and clean water act compliance, and tribal and historical resources. The project is one of the only major infrastructure projects in California actively proceeding under the federal FAST-41 program.
• Contributed to successfully defending against a motion for attorneys’ fees arising out of a denial of a Petition for Writ of Mandate on behalf of a sand mining company.
• Assisted in the representation of a Muslim community group in connection with CEQA compliance and litigation arising out of an application to construct a religious and community center in San Martin, California.
• Assisted in counseling a waste management company regarding the regulation enforcement histories of sites similar to their own.
• Assisted in compiling and tracking housing-related legislation.
• Representing a private club seeking entitlements to divert surface water from an on-site stream in order to reduce the need for municipal water supply.

Renewable Energy

• Assisted in advising a developer on regulatory strategies under NEPA and CEQA for the development of thermal-solar power plants in California and Nevada with a planned output of 750 megawatts.

Utilities

• Assists in representing investor-owned utilities and independent natural gas and electric service providers in utility general rate cases and other CPUC proceedings addressing utility rates and costs borne by market participants.

Announcements

1 related items

---

Blogs

9 related items

Publications

8 related items

Megan was born and raised in the Bay Area and spends her time outside of the office playing with her Whippet puppy, attending Oakland Roots soccer games, listening to podcasts, playing soccer in an indoor women’s league, and traveling.

---

Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

• Bar Association of San Francisco, Barristers Environmental, Land Use and Real Estate Section, Member, 2022-present
• Association of Environmental Professionals, 2021-present
• Women in Environment, Bay Area Mentoring Program, 2021-present
• Conference of California Public Utility Counsel
• UC Hastings Environmental Law Society (HELA) Mentor, 2021-present
• UC Hastings Alumni Bar Passage Mentor, 2021
• UC Hastings Women’s Law Society, Student Mentor, 2018-2020
• Biden for President, Campaign Volunteer, 2020
• Hastings Law Journal, Articles Editor and Diversity Committee member

---

Honors & Rankings

• Order of the Coif
• UC Hastings Honor Society, 2017-2020
• CALI Awards for Highest Score in Legal Research & Writing, American Indian Law, and Criminal Law
• Witkin Awards for Highest Grade in Torts and Food Justice
• Dean’s Recognition for Professional Development, University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 2018
• Program Scholar Award, Environmental Studies, Loyola Marymount University, 2014
• Dean’s List, Loyola Marymount University, 2010-2014