Donald E. Sobelman

Donald Sobelman is a partner with Barg Coffin Lewis & Trapp, LLP. His practice focuses on environmental and land use litigation, compliance with environmental and land use regulations, and the development and implementation of investigative and remedial actions addressing soil and groundwater contamination.

Donald’s professional expertise includes:

Representing clients in legal actions asserting environmental claims, including cost-recovery claims under federal and state statutes (including CERCLA, RCRA, HSAA, and the Polanco Redevelopment Act), toxic tort claims, common law claims (nuisance, trespass, and indemnity), and claims under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65)
Defending clients against Clean Water Act citizen suits alleging violations of the California General Permit for storm water discharges
Advising clients with respect to perchloroethylene (PCE) and perchlorate contamination, including soil and water remediation and compliance with drinking water standards
Representing clients in front of local government agencies with regard to land use approvals, including development agreements, zoning amendments, and general plan amendments
Representing clients in all aspects of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) project review process, including preparation, review, and analysis of negative declarations, draft environmental impact reports (DEIRs), comment letters, and responses to comments/final environmental impact reports (FEIRs)
Prosecuting and defending litigation under CEQA and the California Planning and Zoning Law
Advising clients on record retention requirements and issues arising under local, state, and federal environmental laws and regulations
Prosecuting and defending challenges to ballot initiatives on land use issues
Handling environmental insurance coverage matters, including advice to clients, negotiations with insurers regarding defense and indemnity of claims, and litigation of complex coverage disputes

Education

Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1996
University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., English, 1991, summa cum laude
- Phi Beta Kappa
- National Merit Scholar, UC Regents Scholar, and UCLA Alumni Scholar