Nicole L. Garson

Nicole is a land use and environmental attorney who advises and litigates on behalf of public agencies and private entities in land use, zoning, entitlement, and environmental matters for complex projects across California. Nicole's practice focuses on advising clients seeking to develop affordable housing and renewable energy projects.

She guides clients through all stages of the entitlement process, conducting due diligence, engaging with government agencies, supervising environmental reviews, and developing creative strategies to navigate California's evolving regulatory landscape.

Nicole’s background in environmental and municipal law serves as a foundation for her effective counsel in land use and general counsel matters, in addition to land use disputes implicating the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), natural resources law, and government contract claims.

On the environmental side, Nicole has litigated and provided counsel to clients in matters centering on the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and government claims. She has collaborated closely with clients, vendors, engineers, and public officials to ensure compliance with orders from the U.S. EPA and other California environmental agencies. Additionally, she has provided counsel under the Clean Air Act to large-scale engine manufacturers seeking compliance with greenhouse gas emission requirements for mobile sources.

Before embarking on her professional legal practice, Nicole earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan School of Law, where she participated in the Environmental Law and Sustainability Clinic and served as the Managing Article Editor for the Michigan Journal of Gender & Law. Prior to attending law school, Nicole received her B.A., with honors, in History from the University of California, Berkeley.