Barbara Anne Brenner

Barbara A. Brenner is a partner of Churchwell White LLP with extensive experience in the areas of natural resources, environmental, land use, energy and municipal law. Prior to joining Churchwell White, Barbara was formerly a partner at Stoel Rives LLP, practicing in their natural resources and environmental group as well as land use. As a leader of the Churchwell White team, Barbara advises public and private clients in permitting, regulatory compliance, transactional and litigation matters involving water resources, water quality, endangered species, land use, energy, eminent domain and general municipal matters.

In the area of water resources, Barbara has extensive experience with the protection and acquisition of water resources, water contract interpretation and negotiations, water supply planning and assessments, aquifer storage and recovery, water transfers and water quality. Barbara’s in-depth experience in water law allows her to represent water districts and other purveyors, growers, ranchers, and other rural landowners, as well as various industry clients, including those involved in the agricultural, timber, renewable energy, and land use and development sectors that are addressing California’s myriad of water supply and quality challenges.

Within her natural resources practice, Barbara assists clients with the state and federal Endangered Species Acts, wetlands, land conservation permitting, and related litigation. She has assisted private and public interests with the evaluation of Habitat Conservation Plans, Natural Community Conservation Plans, Biological Opinion consultations, California Incidental Take Permits, 404 individual permits, timber harvest plans, and conservation easements.

Barbara’s land use practice includes representing private land owners, developers, and public agencies in matters involving local government planning and zoning, Coastal Act permitting, CEQA and NEPA compliance, Clean Water Act compliance, land development strategy, eminent domain and related litigation.

Barbara’s municipal practice includes serving as general and special counsel to special districts, joint power agencies, cities, and counties. Barbara regularly advises on compliance with the Brown Act, Public Records Act, Public Contract Code, as well as various other laws impacting public agencies.

In a case of Barbara’s work rubbing off on her hobbies (or perhaps it’s the other way around), Barbara enjoys scuba diving, cycling, boating, gardening, and traveling when she can get away from the office. Whether vocation or avocation, Barbara’s enthusiasm and appreciation for the great outdoors is evident in all that she does. As an advocate for the outdoors and appreciation of open space, Barbara is an active board member of the Placer Land Trust.