Sacramento 916.520.5377
Assistant Information
Wendy Honey
Phone 916.520.5329
Email
Education
- J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 2019
- B.S., magna cum laude, Santa Clara University, 2015
Bar Admissions
- California, 2019
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
Monica Browner
Senior Associate
Clients rely on Monica Browner's pragmatism and dynamic approach to complex environmental issues to minimize uncertainty in a constantly changing regulatory landscape. Using her analytical skills and knowledge of state and federal environmental law, Monica helps them navigate a broad range of legal issues including compliance with various environmental laws and regulations.
Monica guides private and public sector clients through the complex web of federal and state environmental laws and regulations. She litigates in both state and federal court and provides compliance advice involving several environmental statutes, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and the state statutory counterparts. Monica routinely works with various state regulatory agencies, including the State Water Resources Control Board, California Air Resources Board, and the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), to ensure the best possible outcomes for her clients.
While attending University of Michigan Law School, Monica served as president of the Women Law Students Association and volunteered as a coach for a high school mock trial team. Before law school, Monica helped grow a start-up property management company in the Bay Area from a tiny operation run out of a small garage into a successful 40+ employee company managing millions of dollars in assets throughout California and Washington.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Environmental Law Institute
- Chemical Industry Council of California
- Association of Women in Water, Energy and the Environment
- American Bar Association, Environment, Energy and Resources Group
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
- California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
- Sacramento Metro EDGE
- University of Michigan Law School, Women Law Students Association, Former President, 2017-2018
- Counsels clients regarding the applicability of various environmental laws.
- Assists clients in active litigation, including drafting written discovery, taking and defending depositions, and engaging in pre-trial motion practice.
- Assisted with facilitating a large settlement with the Department of Toxic Substances Control involving claims for recovery of response costs at various landfills in California.
- Assisted in representing a chemical manufacturing company in a breach of contract arbitration.
- Assisted in representing a fireworks company in a complex civil dispute involving allegations of groundwater contamination.
- Litigated and settled various disputes involving Proposition 65 claims.
- Assisted client in conducting an environmental compliance audit.
- Assisted in counseling a client on the current state of water quality trading programs throughout the country.
Announcements
1 related items-
January 2, 2020Downey Brand Welcomes Two New Associates to Sacramento Office
Legal Alerts
6 related items-
March 22, 2024EPA Adds Extensive New Amendments to its Risk Management Program in Final Rule
Environmental Law -
February 6, 2024US EPA Proposes Rules to Expand Cleanup of PFAS at Hazardous Waste Sites
Environmental Law -
November 20, 2023Court of Appeal Upholds County of Monterey’s Management of Groundwater in Landmark SGMA Case
Water Law -
November 18, 2022CARB Releases its 2022 Scoping Plan Update to Achieve Ambitious State Goal of Carbon Neutrality
-
April 21, 2020U.S. Supreme Court Preserves Potential State Court Superfund Site Claims – But Remedial Actions Requires EPA Approval
Environmental Law -
December 2, 2019U.S. Supreme Court Watch (ARCO v. Christian): Can Private Parties Sue For More Clean Up Than EPA Requires?
Environmental Law
Publications
13 related items-
December 2023Governor Newsom Signs Major Climate Change Disclosure Laws for Corporate Accountability
California Land Use Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 33, Number 3 -
June 2023District Court in Washington Affirms Parties Cannot Contractually Avoid CERCLA Liability to the U.S. Government
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 3, Number 9 -
December 2022Monsanto Petitions for Eleventh Circuit En Banc Review After Losing FIFRA Preemption Argument Against State Law Failure to Warn Claim
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 3, Number 3 -
February 2022Tenth Circuit Decision Reinforces Federal Clean Air Act Citizen Suits Against Mobile Sources
Environmental, Energy, & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 2, Number 5 -
July 2021U.S. Supreme Court Decision Broadens Federal Appellate Review of Remand Orders in a Blow to Plaintiffs Bringing Nuisance Actions in Climate Change Cases
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 1, Number 10 -
May 25, 2021Ruling May Give Oil Companies Upper Hand in Climate Change Cases
Daily Journal -
February 2021U.S. EPA Finalizes Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations for Aircraft Engines
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 1, Number 5 -
September 15, 2020DTSC Overhaul, Other Environmental Bills, Await Signature
Daily Journal -
June 10, 2020Climate Change Cases Can Move Forward in State Courts, But Will They Be Successful?
Daily Journal -
May 11, 2020Ruling Creates Certainty and Uncertainty at Current and Future Superfund Sites
Daily Journal -
March 2020Tenth Circuit Affirms U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Lack of Discretionary Authority to Operate Dams Along the Rio Grande Under the Endangered Species Act
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 30, Number 6 -
December 20, 2019California Heads Into the Next Decade With Over 100 New Environmental Laws
Daily Journal -
November 7, 2019Will Climate Change Nuisance Cases Be Tried in State Court?
Daily Journal
Monica is an avid hiker and particularly enjoys the trails in Yosemite National Park. She also loves to travel and has had the privilege of visiting over 20 countries so far.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Environmental Law Institute
- Chemical Industry Council of California
- Association of Women in Water, Energy and the Environment
- American Bar Association, Environment, Energy and Resources Group
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
- California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
- Sacramento Metro EDGE
- University of Michigan Law School, Women Law Students Association, Former President, 2017-2018