Finding and working with a lawyer can be a daunting task. This is especially true when you must find one with experience dealing with governmental regulatory agencies on matters that could affect the future of your company. Many large law firms claim to have such expertise, but often their dealings with regulatory agencies are sporadic and result from their normal corporate or real estate practice.
Curtis Coleman spent 15 years as governmental agency counsel, including 10 as Chief Counsel at the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Since he entered private practice in 1990, he has represented scores of private and public agency clients on environmental issues. He works with several industry trade associations on their environmental concerns. As a sole practitioner, he will handle your problems personally. This is not a full-service firm. His practice is strictly limited to environmental law, with a heavy concentration on air quality regulation and CEQA issues. He can often find cost-effective solutions to problems posed by proposed, threatened, or completed regulatory agency actions.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss how we might help you resolve a regulatory problem you are facing.
ABOUT THE FIRM
Firm History
After leaving government practice in 1990, Curtis Coleman experienced private practice in a medium-sized Los Angeles firm and a large national firm. He found that most of his clients did not need the services of a large firm, but rather sought out his unique expertise and experience to deal with specific regulatory problems. Additionally, the potential conflicts of interest inherent in national practices serving thousands of clients made it difficult for him to expeditiously begin work for new clients.
In July of 1994, Mr. Coleman opened his own law office and has been providing focused and effective legal services to small, medium, and large businesses ever since.
Our Firm's Mission
The mission of our firm is to provide our clients with the highest level of personal and professional service for their legal needs on environmental matters. With comparatively low overhead and an absence of pressure to generate large billings, our rates and fees compare favorably to other attorneys with equivalent experience and standing in the field. Please contact us to discuss any specific situation to see how we may be able to assist in reaching a resolution.
OUR PRACTICE AREAS
How We Can Help You
Law firms can specialize in a wide range of areas. Generally, they are not equally strong in all practice areas. We do not pretend to be proficient over the full spectrum of legal services. Our practice is strictly limited to environmental law, with a heavy concentration in the following areas:
AIR QUALITY REGULATION
DEFENSE OF ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
PERMITTING
RULE DEVELOPMENT
COMPLIANCE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE
ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
CEQA ISSUES
COUNSELING ON PROJECT CEQA COMPLIANCE
REVIEW OF CEQA DOCUMENTS FOR ADEQUACY
CEQA LITIGATION
ATTORNEY PROFILE
Expertise. Experience. Ingenuity.
ABOUT CURTIS COLEMAN
Curtis L. Coleman heads the Law Offices of Curtis L. Coleman in West Los Angeles and concentrates his practice in the area of environmental law. He has a unique expertise in air quality law and regulation, having worked on air quality regulatory matters in both the public and private sectors since 1975. He was former General Counsel for the South Coast Air Quality Management District from 1980-1990, where he worked closely with the South Coast district board and staff, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the California Air Resources Board (ARB), in the development of air quality regulations and air quality management plans.
Since leaving the South Coast district, he has represented numerous private companies and public agencies in matters involving development of air quality regulations, environmental permitting and compliance issues, hazardous substance remediation, land use permitting, and CEQA counseling and litigation. Currently, he is representing clients on Title V permitting and RECLAIM permitting and transition issues and is closely following the implementation of AB617. He serves on the South Coast district’s Home Rule Advisory Group, AQMP Advisory Group, Clean Communities Working Group, RECLAIM Working Group, and Budget Advisory Committee.
Mr. Coleman is the Executive Director of the Southern California Air Quality Alliance, a Section 501(c)(6) business league. Mr. Coleman is the author of "Guide to Air Quality Regulation" published in the CEB Land Use and Environment Forum. He has also authored articles on indirect source controls, transportation control measures, air quality permitting under Title V of the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments, and the South Coast district's RECLAIM program.
Mr. Coleman was Assistant District Counsel at the South Coast district from 1977 to 1980 and a Deputy County Counsel for the County of Los Angeles from 1975 to 1977. He received a B.S. in Chemistry in 1970 from Santa Clara University, and a J.D. cum laude in 1973 from the Santa Clara University School of Law.
Publications
Overview of Federal Title V Permit Program and SCAQMD Implementation, Los Angeles County Bar Association Environmental Law Newsletter, Vol. 10, Nos. 4 and 5 (Sept.-Oct. and Nov.-Dec. 1996)
EPA Proposes Federal Clean Air Plan for South Coast, Ventura, and Sacramento, 3 CEB Land Use and Environment Forum 186 (Summer 1994)
Improving Air Quality with Strategic Land Use & Transportation Planning (Overview), 3 CEB Land Use and Environment Forum 3 (Winter 1994)
Market Incentive Program Approved by SCAQMD, 3 CEB Land Use and Environment Forum 38 (Winter 1994)
Guide to Air Quality Regulation , 2 CEB Land Use and Environment Forum 256 (Fall 1993)
SCAQMD Regulation XXX - Title V Permits, Southern California Environmental Digest, Vol. III, No. II (February 1994)
Presentations
September 22, 2003
California Air Pollution Control Officers Association Environmental Justice Symposium, Emeryville, CA
“Public Process and Public Outreach”
April 17, 2003
Air & Waste Management Association, West Coast Section Meeting
“Current Developments and Issues in Environmental Justice”
July 24, 2001
California Air Resources Board Environmental Justice Workshop, Sacramento, CA
“Regulatory Approaches to Environmental Justice Issues”
October 26, 2000
California Manufacturers and Technology Association Fall Meeting, Monterey, CA
“Mulitmedia Environmental Enforcement Trends in California”
February 15, 2000
Pepperdine University Law School, Malibu, CA
“Overview of the Federal Clean Air Act”
March 24, 1999
Los Angeles County Bar Environmental Super Symposium, Los Angeles, CA
"EPA, SCAQMD & The Permittee: Some Nagging Issues"
March 3, 1999
Institute for Applied Management, Newport Beach, CA
"The Federal Clean Air Act”
November 18, 1998
EMAT West '98, Long Beach, CA
"Future Impacts of the Clean Air Act Amendments"
March 24, 1998
California Air Resources Board Program, U.C. Davis, CA
"Impacts of AQMP Growth Projections on Business"
October 7, 1997
South Coast Air Quality Management District Title III Seminar, Industry Hills, CA
"Halogenated Solvent Degreasing NESHAP"
June 19, 1996
Executive Enterprises Federal Environmental Law Seminar, San Diego, CA
“Understanding the Clean Air Act”
March 4, 1996
Executive Enterprises Federal Environmental Law Seminar, Monterey, CA
“Understanding the Clean Air Act”
November 10, 1994
HazMat West, Long Beach, CA
“Implementation of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments in Southern California”
November 3-4, 1994
Federal Publications Seminar, Los Angeles, CA
“California Air Quality Regulation” and “The California Environmental Quality Act”
October 23, 1994
California State Bar Association Environmental Law Institute, Fish Camp, CA
“South Coast Air Quality: FIP, SIP, RECLAIM, and Upcoming Stationary and Mobile Source Measures”
GET IN TOUCH
Howard Hughes Center
6080 Center Drive, 6th Floor
Los Angeles CA 90045
(310) 242-5269 Phone
(310) 861-1484 Fax