Welcome to Our New Executive Committee Members

The Executive Committee for the Environmental Law Section (ELS) is comprised of 17 members who serve staggered three-year terms. We also have a Liaison who sits on the Executive Committee for the New Lawyers Section (NLS) and serves a two-year term.

Welcome to our three new ELS Executive Committee members.  You can read more about them in the next edition of our journal publication Environmental Law News.

Executive Committee Members

Nicholas Sanchez, Assistant Chief Deputy Counsel-Major Prosecutions, South Coast Air Quality Management District

South Coast AQMD is one of thirty-five California air districts responsible for regulating air pollution from stationary sources. South Coast AQMD attorneys have responsibilities similar to a city attorney or county counsel, including legislation and rulemaking, grant and contract review, public meeting and agenda compliance, employment law, and enforcement and prosecution. I lead the agency’s resolution of enforcement matters by settling and prosecuting violations of air district rules and permits, and represent the District in court, public hearings, and meetings. My assignments range from negotiating a settlement for public nuisance odors emanating from a landfill, reviewing a CEQA document, to appearing in superior court to defend an administrative writ or seeking injunctive relief before the independent South Coast AQMD quasi-judicial Hearing Board.

The issues and technical landscape I encounter as an air district attorney constantly evolve, and I would like to share my experience advocating and securing significant improvements to air quality with other environmental law practitioners.

Christopher (“Smitty”) Smith, Partner, Saul Ewing LLP

I am an environmental partner at Saul Ewing LLP, located in Los Angeles. For nearly 20 years, I have been practicing complex environmental and commercial litigation in range of sectors, counseling, prosecuting, and defending clients in wide array of environmental practice areas, including CERCLA, RCRA, CWA, CAA, OPA, HSAA, Prop. 65, Mobile and Stationary Source Emissions, Cal/OSHA, EPR, and Green Marketing.

I decided to join the Executive Committee for the Environmental Law Section because I enjoy networking with environmental colleagues, planning and executing Section events, and mentoring upcoming lawyers. Having chaired and served on executive committees for other environmental organizations in the past, I am excited about the collaboration and activities the Section has planned for this upcoming year.

Sean Herman, Partner, Hanson Bridgett LLP

Raised on a New Jersey farm, Sean learned early the need for sustainably managing and conserving natural resources. So he has focused his career on solving that challenge, particularly those at the intersection of water quality, water management, and land use. And he does so for people, public agencies, and businesses. But what does “sustainability” mean? For Sean, it means finding balance with nature in a way that is safe and affordable for our communities.

Organizations like CLA ensure that lawyers retain respect and empathy for others so we can discharge this duty effectively. Sean seeks to devote his energy to the Executive Committee, a community also committed to helping lawyers discharge our shared duty.