Patrick F. Veasy

Counsel

Clients facing complex environmental issues rely on Patrick Veasy for his detail-oriented approach and strong analytical skills to achieve effective results.

Patrick has represented and assisted a variety of public and private sector clients in environmental compliance and enforcement matters before state agency hearing boards, as well as before state and federal courts. He routinely works on water quality matters under the California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and federal Clean Water Act in relation to administrative and judicial enforcement matters, as well as petitions challenging final agency actions. Patrick’s experience includes working on environmental review and permitting projects involving the California Environmental Quality Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act or FAST-41. Patrick also has experience working on environmental compliance and enforcement matters under the Clean Air Act. Finally, Patrick frequently assists clients on other matters involving environmental site remediation issues and toxic tort litigation, including under California’s Proposition 65.

While in law school, Patrick was a member of the Hastings Law Journal, and he also served as a judicial extern at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and the Supreme Court of California. After law school and before joining Downey Brand, Patrick worked as an associate at a national law firm.


Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

  • California Construction and Industrial Materials Association
  • Proposition 65 Clearinghouse
  • California Association of Sanitation Agencies
  • Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
  • California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
  • Sacramento Metro EDGE
  • University of Michigan Alumni Association, Sacramento Chapter, Board of Directors

Honors & Rankings

  • Best Lawyers in America©, Ones to Watch, Environmental Law, 2023-2024
  • JD Supra 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards, Food & Beverage, Top Author
  • JD Supra 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards, Food & Beverage and Environment, Top Author
  • JD Supra 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards, Food & Beverage and Product Liability, Top Author
  • Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Environmental Law, 2023
  • Externship, Honorable Ming W. Chin, Supreme Court of California, 2014
  • Externship, Honorable Phyllis J. Hamilton, United States District Court, Northern District of California, 2012
  • Hastings Law Journal, Senior Development Editor
  • CALI and Witkin Awards, Legal Writing & Research and Property

Enforcement Defense

  • Defended multiple public and private sector clients in third party citizen suits and agency enforcement actions for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act, NPDES permits for municipal, industrial, and/or storm water discharges, as well as the State’s SSO WDR for Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs).
  • Defended multiple property owners in different administrative and judicial enforcement actions alleging violations of the Clean Water Act, California’s Fish & Game Code, and Water Code involving the dredge and fill of wetlands and ponds.
  • Represented various clients in lawsuits filed under California’s Proposition 65 for failure to warn and/or the alleged unlawful discharge of chemicals to drinking water.
  • Assisted two separate electric power utilities in enforcement litigation under the Clean Air Act and related State Implementation Plans.

Environmental Review and Permitting

  • Assisted clients on major development projects involving CEQA, NEPA, FAST-41, related environmenal review, permitting, and regulatory issues, as well as multiple federal, state, and local agencies.
  • Drafted multiple petitions challenging NPDES and WDR permit requirements before the California State Water Resources Control Board.
  • Advised clients on achieving compliance with California air district permit requirements.

Final Agency Actions and Rulemakings

  • Assisted with defense of municipal client in CEQA litigation involving recycled water irrigation program.
  • Drafted multiple petitions challenging final agency actions before the California State Water Resoruces Control Board.
  • Assisted natural gas pipeline company before state environmental hearing board in plan approval permit appeal.
  • Represented municipal association in litigation challenging United States Environmental Protection Agency’s use and promotion of guidance document in NPDES permits.
  • Drafted multiple briefs challenging final agency action before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
  • Represented client in petition for review of United States Environmental Protection Agency final action before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Compliance Counseling

  • Advised multiple clients on achieving compliance with California’s Proposition 65.
  • Assisted clients on achieving compliance with California air district permit requirements.
  • Assisted client with voluntary self-disclosure of regulatory violations under United States Environmental Protection Agency Audit Policy.

Other Litigation Experience

  • Briefed demurrer in state court resulting in voluntary dismissal of complaint.
  • Briefed and assisted client at evidentiary hearing before federal district court to successfully defend against motion for preliminary injunction.
  • Represented and assisted multiple clients in all phases of pre-trial litigation, including discovery and pre-trial motion practice.

Blogs

6 related items

Legal Alerts

43 related items

Publications

65 related items

In his spare time, Patrick enjoys being outdoors and exploring new hiking trails with his wife and dog in Northern California. He is also an avid college football fan and enjoys cheering on the Michigan Wolverines every Saturday in the fall.


Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

  • California Construction and Industrial Materials Association
  • Proposition 65 Clearinghouse
  • California Association of Sanitation Agencies
  • Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
  • California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
  • Sacramento Metro EDGE
  • University of Michigan Alumni Association, Sacramento Chapter, Board of Directors

Honors & Rankings

  • Best Lawyers in America©, Ones to Watch, Environmental Law, 2023-2024
  • JD Supra 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards, Food & Beverage, Top Author
  • JD Supra 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards, Food & Beverage and Environment, Top Author
  • JD Supra 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards, Food & Beverage and Product Liability, Top Author
  • Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Environmental Law, 2023
  • Externship, Honorable Ming W. Chin, Supreme Court of California, 2014
  • Externship, Honorable Phyllis J. Hamilton, United States District Court, Northern District of California, 2012
  • Hastings Law Journal, Senior Development Editor
  • CALI and Witkin Awards, Legal Writing & Research and Property