Zachary Walton is a Partner of the Firm specializing in all aspects of environmental law. He represents renewable energy developers, water providers, real estate developers, manufacturing facilities and financial institutions in permitting, transactional and enforcement matters throughout California. Mr. Walton’s practice involves endangered species, water quality, water rights, hazardous waste, air quality, contaminated properties and occupational safety and health. He has extensive experience with the California Department of Fish & Game, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, California Energy Commission, all of California’s Regional Water Quality Control Boards, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, U.S. EPA, most of California’s air quality management districts, and the California Division of Occupational Safety & Health.[read more=”Read more” less=”Read less”] Mr. Walton serves on the Executive Committee of the Environmental Law Section of the State Bar of California. He regularly authors articles on environmental law and previously served on the editorial board of the California Water Law & Policy Reporter. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Walton was a partner at Paul Hastings, where he was Vice-Chair of the San Francisco Office and Co-Chair of the Climate Change and Sustainability Practice Group, and a founding partner of the San Francisco office of Downey Brand. He received a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1992, where he graduated with distinction, and a J.D. from the Vanderbilt School of Law in 1995. Mr. Walton is ranked in Chambers as Up and Coming for Environmental Law.

SSL Law Firm LLP.

From inception, SSL has embraced an innovative law firm model that has enabled us to provide extraordinary service to our clients at lower hourly rates. SSL was formed in 2001 by the members of the legal department of the former Spieker Properties (where Pamela Lakey was Vice President, Associate General Counsel), when Spieker Properties was merged into Equity Office Properties. Many of the firm’s attorneys have worked in-house for Spieker Properties or other real estate development and finance companies and home builders, and for technology and hospitality companies, giving us particular insight into our clients’ needs. Over the years, SSL has developed a strong and broad practice, with particular expertise in leasing.

Since January 1, 2010, SSL substantially expanded the scope of legal services it offers its clients to include land use and environmental law. This expansion began with the addition of nearly half the attorneys and paralegals from the former Ellman, Burke, Hoffman & Johnson law firm, who brought with them sophisticated land use, development, environmental regulation and related litigation practices. Since then, our environmental practice has expanded to include all aspects of environmental regulation in California. SSL today has grown into a full service real estate firm offering a broad selection of real estate transactional services, as well as real estate litigation, land use and environmental expertise.