Biography
Heather S. Riley is senior counsel in our San Diego office, where her practice involves a variety of land use and environmental matters, with a particular emphasis on writ litigation. She has extensive experience with the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Heather has defended numerous private clients and public entities in land use and environmental actions in both state and federal courts.
Heather's other practice areas include water law, endangered species law and airport land use planning. She has experience with large and small-scale residential, commercial, mixed-use, and educational development and redevelopment projects across Southern California. She assists developers and public agencies with projects from the initial planning stage to permitting and environmental review, and through litigation, if necessary.
She has prepared and reviewed environmental impact reports and statements in the land use and aviation fields, and has experience with a number of federal, state, and local agencies, including:
- CalRecycle
- Regional Water Quality Control Boards
- California Department of Fish and Game
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- California Coastal Commission
- Air Quality Management Districts
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Airport Land Use Commissions
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Local Agency Formation Commission
Memberships
- San Diego County Bar Association, Environmental & Land Use Section, 2011 chair
- Lawyers' Club of San Diego
- State Bar of California, Environmental Law Section, co-author California's Environmental Law Update
- Conference of California Bar Associations, San Diego County Bar Association Delegate
- Building Industry Association of San Diego County, Young Generation of Leaders (yGen), Board of Directors
- Commercial Real Estate Women
- Urban Land Institute San Diego/Tijuana District Council, Young Leader's Partnership Forum
Community Activities
- Rachel's Women's Center in San Diego, which helps address the root cause of homelessness for women, advisory board member
- Run Women Run, San Diego
Accolades
- Recognized as the Best Builder Associate of the Year by the Building Industry Association of San Diego County (2011)
Education
Heather received her J.D., cum laude, in 2000 from Albany Law School of Union University where she was on the dean's list and on scholarship for academic excellence. She received her B.A., magna cum laude, and Phi Beta Kappa from the State University of New York, University at Albany in 1997.
Bar Admissions