Sacramento 916.520.5452
Assistant Information
Linda Cortez
Phone 916.520.5294
Email
Education
- J.D., University of California at Davis School of Law, 2020
- B.A., Philosophy, University of California at Santa Cruz, 2011
Bar Admissions
- California, 2021
Court Admissions
Samuel D. Bacal-Graves
Associate
Sam Bacal-Graves helps public and private clients successfully navigate complex permitting, land use, and environmental issues.
He aids developers and agencies with a wide range of legal issues, utilizing his knowledge of California’s land use laws. Specifically, Sam’s practice includes entitlement permitting, environmental compliance, and defending project approvals in litigation. Sam has expertise with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California’s constantly changing housing laws, the Subdivision Map Act, the Mitigation Fee Act, and other planning, land use, and environmental laws.
Sam graduated Order of the Coif from UC Davis School of Law. During law school, he worked as a research assistant for Professor Christopher Elmendorf, researching issues related to California housing law and policy and as an individual tutor for first-year law students. He now teaches 3L Analytical and Persuasive Writing as a lecturer at the law school. Sam is a regular contributor to CEQA Chronicles, the industry’s leading blog on CEQA law and litigation.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
- California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
- UC Davis School of Law, Lecturer, Law 280: Analytical and Persuasive Writing, 2023-present
- UC Davis School of Law, Bar Passage Essay Grader, 2022
- UC Davis School of Law Academic Success Program, Tutor, 2018-2020
- UC Davis Business Law Journal, Editor
Honors & Rankings
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Land Use/Zoning, 2024
- Order of the Coif
- Witkin Awards for Local Government Law and Contracts
- Dean’s Merit Scholarship Recipient, King Hall School of Law
- Dean’s Honors List, University of California, Santa Cruz
- Environmental Law Certificate, 2020
- Public Service Certificate, 2020
- Pro Bono Certificate, 2020
- Entitled the largest housing project ever approved in the Central City of Sacramento in approximately six months.
- Successfully assisted in securing trial court dismissal of all three causes of action on demurrer for lawsuit challenging existing development in Madera County.
- Assisted a municipality on CEQA compliance for electric utility regulatory changes and worked with co-counsel to negotiate settlement with adverse parties.
- Assisting agency in defending several lawsuits filed under CEQA, the Subdivision Map Act, and the Planning and Zoning Law.
- Assisted an affordable housing developer in making effective use of California’s housing laws to secure approval for a project in a hostile jurisdiction.
- Advised developers on entitlement and CEQA strategies for multiple large infill developments in Sacramento.
- Contributed to successful defense of a senior memory care facility in CEQA litigation filed by neighboring homeowners.
Announcements
2 related items-
June 26, 202441 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2024 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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September 28, 2022Thomas Law Group to Merge with Downey Brand
Merger Compliments Strategic Expansion of Natural Resources Department in Sacramento and San Francisco
Blogs
11 related items-
September 10, 2024California Supreme Court Clarifies Time to Appeal Writ Decisions
CEQA Chronicles -
June 21, 2024Project’s Completion Did Not Moot CEQA Claim
CEQA Chronicles -
January 29, 2024HAA does not Mandate Approval of Housing Project Found Inconsistent with Zoning
CEQA Chronicles -
January 18, 2024Downey Brand Victory: Filing Multiple NODs does not Restart Statute of Limitations
CEQA Chronicles -
January 4, 2024Annual Legislative Update: Important Land Use Laws Taking Effect in 2024
CEQA Chronicles -
August 18, 2023Standard of Review Surprise: Fair Argument Applies Despite Prior Program EIR According to Fourth District
CEQA Chronicles -
July 12, 2023California Infrastructure Plan Passes; Governor’s CEQA and Species Reforms are Narrowed, but Signed into Law
CEQA Chronicles -
June 7, 2023AB 1000: Legislative Restrictions on New Warehouse Construction Granted Reconsideration in 2024
CEQA Chronicles -
April 10, 2023Oakland and the A’s Prevail on All but One Minor Issue in Ballpark EIR Case; Wind Mitigation Found Inadequate
CEQA Chronicles -
March 6, 2023Neighbor’s General Complaints of Environmental Concerns Insufficient to Exhaust Administrative Remedies as to CEQA Exemption Determination
CEQA Chronicles -
January 17, 2023Approval Upheld for Lafayette Affordable Housing Project Delayed for a Decade
CEQA Chronicles
Legal Alerts
2 related items-
January 25, 2024California Energy Commission Releases Draft AB 525 Offshore Wind Strategic Plan
Energy Law -
July 12, 2023California Infrastructure Plan Passes; Governor’s CEQA and Species Reforms are Narrowed, but Signed into Law
Environmental Law
Publications
4 related items-
July 2024First Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Marine Mammal Protection Act Challenge to Massachusetts Offshore Wind Project
California Land Use Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 33, Number 19 -
December 2023EPA Publishes Final Rule – Requires PFAS Reporting Under TSCA
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 34, Number 3 -
June 2023D.C. Circuit Requires EPA to Regulate Perchlorate Levels Under the Safe Drinking Water Act
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 3, Number 9 -
June 16, 2023Governor’s Infrastructure Plan: Legislature Finds Modest CEQA Reforms too Complex for a Vote this Year
Daily Journal
Before pursuing a career in law, Sam was a Director of Coffee and Director of Operations for a local coffee roaster and chain of cafes in Santa Cruz. He still has a love of food and cooking, and maintains a vegetable garden. He also enjoys cycling and spending time outdoors with his dog.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
- California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
- UC Davis School of Law, Lecturer, Law 280: Analytical and Persuasive Writing, 2023-present
- UC Davis School of Law, Bar Passage Essay Grader, 2022
- UC Davis School of Law Academic Success Program, Tutor, 2018-2020
- UC Davis Business Law Journal, Editor
Honors & Rankings
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Land Use/Zoning, 2024
- Order of the Coif
- Witkin Awards for Local Government Law and Contracts
- Dean’s Merit Scholarship Recipient, King Hall School of Law
- Dean’s Honors List, University of California, Santa Cruz
- Environmental Law Certificate, 2020
- Public Service Certificate, 2020
- Pro Bono Certificate, 2020