David K. Brown

Associate

David K. Brown focuses his practice on environmental litigation and regulatory compliance. He represents corporate and municipal clients in matters arising under federal and California state and local environmental statutes, including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Hazardous Substances Account Act (HSAA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Extended Profile

David graduated from Harvard Law School in 2011 where he was a senior editor of the Harvard Negotiation Law Review, a member of the Student Association of Law and Mind Sciences, and a participant in the 2009 Ames Moot Court Competition. During his first summer as a law student, David served as a clinical fellow in the Post-Foreclosure Eviction Defense Housing Clinic at the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School, where he assisted low-income tenants and worked with community partners in support of legislative and other law reform initiatives to improve housing conditions.

selected representations

Representing a chemical company and former landowner in connection with sediment contamination at the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Site in Washington
Representing a group of waste generators investigating and remediating the closed Ascon Landfill in California
Representing an automobile dealer support company in a property contamination lawsuit related to the former South Dayton Dump and Landfill in Ohio
Representing an industrial company and landowner in connection with sediment contamination at the Portland Harbor Superfund Site in Oregon
Representing a municipal water district in a rate validation lawsuit, which included claims under the California Water Code and allegations of breach of contract and fiduciary duty
Representing various clients in administrative enforcement actions brought by the US Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board under greenhouse gas emissions regulations and consumer products regulations
Representing various clients in administrative enforcement actions brought by California Regional Water Quality Control Boards under the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act
Counseling various clients regarding federal and state environmental permitting requirements applicable to major construction projects
Obtained a favorable settlement for a chemical company in a stormwater citizen suit brought under the Clean Water Act
Obtained a favorable settlement for a former aeronautical products manufacturer in a multiparty toxic tort lawsuit
Integral member of a team that obtained a favorable settlement for an oil and gas company in a multimillion-dollar property contamination case
Significant experience drafting and filing motions in federal and state courts

Education

Harvard Law School, 2011, Juris Doctor
University of California, Los Angeles, 2005, Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude

Admissions

California
US District Court for the Central District of California

Awards and Affiliations

Rising Star, Industry focus: Environment: Regulatory, The Legal 500 US (2019)

American Bar Association

Los Angeles County Bar Association

Hispanic National Bar Association

Senior Editor, Harvard Negotiation Law Review (2009–2010)

Best Appellee Brief, Harvard Law School First-Year Ames Moot Court Program, Sec. 7B (2009)

Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society (2005)