Thomas Law Group to Merge with Downey Brand
September 28, 2022
Merger Compliments Strategic Expansion of Natural Resources Department in Sacramento and San Francisco
(SACRAMENTO, CA) Downey Brand, a leading full-service law firm highly regarded for its expertise in natural resources, water, energy, land use, and environmental matters (in addition to litigation and corporate law), is pleased to announce that preeminent land use and environmental law firm Thomas Law Group will merge with the firm effective January 1, 2023. Joining the firm’s Sacramento office will be veteran attorney and Thomas Law Group founder Tina Thomas, attorneys Andrew Skanchy, Sam Bacal-Graves, Dustin Peterson, and legal assistants Ara Jauregui and Kendra Ledoux. Attorney Amy Higuera will join the firm’s San Francisco office.
Thomas Law Group is recognized statewide for its expertise in representing clients administratively and before trial and appellate courts in land use law, entitlements, and importantly, compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Clients range from property owners, developers, and builders, to government agencies and trade associations, and are parties to some of the most notable land use and development projects in the Sacramento region and throughout California. Tina Thomas founded Thomas Law Group in 2010 after a 28-year stint as the managing partner at Remy, Thomas, Moose and Manley, LLP.
“Tina is one of the top land use and environmental law attorneys in the State,” said Downey Brand Managing Partner Scott Shapiro. “We couldn’t be happier to welcome her and the talented team from Thomas Law Group to Downey Brand.” Christian Marsh, a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and senior land use partner in the San Francisco office added, “the addition of the Thomas Law Group builds on the incredible momentum we have had in the last six years in growing our statewide land use practice and our San Francisco office. They perfectly complement the team. We are thrilled. ”
“I am honored to be merging my practice with Downey Brand’s practice. Together we can establish important precedents in environmental and land use law,” said Tina Thomas. “We have mutual clients, and we are confident that the synergies between our practices and the added breadth of Downey Brand’s expertise in water, environment, and energy will benefit our clients immensely.”
The merger of Thomas Law Group builds on last year’s notable addition of energy and public utility attorneys Thomas MacBride, James Squeri, Michael Day, Brian Cragg, and Megan Somogyi, previously with Goodin MacBride, to the firm’s San Francisco office. And the merger marks another strategic expansion of the firm’s natural resources department—one of the largest and most diverse natural resources and environmental practices in California.
More About Downey Brand and Its Natural Resource Department
Founded in 1926 in California’s capital city, Downey Brand is a leading full-service law firm well-known for its deep industry knowledge in natural resources, as well as its breadth of business practices and litigation strength. With over 100 attorneys, it is the largest law firm based in Sacramento, with additional offices in San Francisco and Stockton.
The firm’s Natural Resources Department, with nearly 40 attorneys, is a well-coordinated, multi-disciplinary team with deep experience handling litigation and regulatory compliance in a broad spectrum of specialties, including all aspects of water, land, and air. Areas of expertise within the department include water rights, flood protection, energy, public utility regulation, land use, environment, water quality, endangered species, hazardous waste and toxins, and air quality and climate change. For more information, visit www.downeybrand.com.
Press Coverage Regarding Merger
9/29/2022 Sacramento Business Journal – Environmental, Land Use Law Firm Thomas Law Group Merging with Downey Brand