Somach Simmons & Dunn | Attorneys at Law
Casey Shorrock focuses her legal practice on environmental and land use law, specializing in CEQA, NEPA, natural resource management, and entitlements. Casey works seamlessly with both public and private entities to help projects progress responsibly and timely through permitting processes, meet the goals of involved parties, and assist clients if legal or other challenges arise. Her transition from a successful former career in environmental consulting and planning to the legal field uniquely positions her as a seasoned advisor for clients navigating complex environmental and regulatory challenges.
Drawing on her extensive background, Casey offers a holistic perspective, integrating legal strategies with practical insights from years of hands-on experience as an environmental consultant and planner. By leveraging her deep understanding of environmental regulations and ability to identify technical and legal nuances, she provides clients with tailored solutions that meet regulatory requirements and effectively address real-world environmental concerns. She handles litigation and pre-litigation matters involving environmental and land use law, with emphasis on CEQA, NEPA, natural resources, endangered species and wetlands, water resources, air quality, climate change, solid waste, wildfire prevention regulation, and state housing and development regulations, and local environmental and land use ordinances.
In her previous career, Casey worked with and for agencies at all levels of government, she managed the environmental review process for a variety of successful development and infrastructure projects and government actions, including preparation of state, federal, tribal, and joint environmental documents, focusing on approvals, permitting, and streamlining environmental regulatory compliance. Casey brings these same skills to her legal practice.
Casey attended McGeorge School of Law on a full merit scholarship as an Anthony M. Kennedy Fellow. During law school, she worked as a summer associate for Remy Moose Manley, LLP, and externed for Judge Kimberley J. Mueller at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. At McGeorge, she received the Stauffer Charitable Trust Research Fellow Award for her paper Environmentally Responsible and Streamlined Development in California: The Promise of CEQA’s Class 32 Exemption and Witkin Awards for academic excellence in Environmental Law and Oceans & Coastal Law. Prior to joining Somach Simmons & Dunn, Casey worked for Remy Moose Manley.
As a fifth generation Sacramentan from a large Irish-American family, Casey has deep roots in the community, which helps bring an important local perspective to all of her work. She also brings a broader perspective, stemming in part from her extensive national and international travels and time living and working abroad in China. Outside of work, Casey enjoys time with her family—gardening, skiing in Tahoe, managing two rambunctious pugs, going to music shows with her daughter, and visiting Disneyland as often as possible.
Assist developer with environmental review and entitlements for a large mixed-use residential development (8,000+ units) in north Sacramento County, California.
Assist developer with environmental review and entitlements for a large sustainable mixed-use residential development (2,200 units) in Brisbane, California.
Assist developer/operator with environmental planning and review and entitlements for organic reuse and recycling facilities in Turlock, California, and throughout the state.
Represent preservation/agricultural group in federal and state litigation against multiple agencies for violations of federal regulations, NEPA, CEQA, and the Delta Reform Act for actions taken within the Yolo Bypass, Yolo County, California.
Assist telecommunication group with environmental review and entitlements for a 20+ mile fiber optic installation project in the Salton Sea area, California, funded by state and federal grants to provide internet access to unserved disadvantaged or Environmental and Social Justice communities.
Assist energy group with environmental planning and entitlements for a carbon sequestration project in Kern County, California.
Assist developer with the acquisition of surface water and groundwater supply for its approved 1,600 residential unit/mixed-use development in the Santa Nella Community Specific Plan area, Merced County, California.
Assist Sites Water Authority in the State Water Resources Control Board Administrative Hearings on the approval of the Sites Reservoir Project.
Successfully represented City of American Canyon in CEQA litigation challenging its approval of a warehouse logistics center project.
Successfully represented City of American Canyon in CEQA litigation challenging its approval of an annexation project.
Successfully assisted developer with environmental review and entitlements for a large mixed-use residential development (1,000+ units) in Dixon, California.
Successfully represented appellants in overturning an agency approval of a cannabis farm located adjacent to a public recreation area in Lake County, California.
Successfully settled CEQA litigation against a family-owned-and-operated dairy farm in Stanislaus County, California.
Select work performed prior to joining Somach Simmons & Dunn:
Successfully represented the City of Los Angeles, California, in its Ninth Circuit challenge to FAA’s Bob Hope “Hollywood Burbank” Airport Replacement Passenger Terminal Project and issuance of Final EIS/ROD under NEPA (City of Los Angeles v. FAA, 63 F.4th 835 (9th Cir. 2023)).
Assisted the City of Los Angeles, California, on several other matters, including its Sidewalk and Transit Amenities Program and MND and Safe Sidewalks LA Program EIR.
Successfully represented the City of Monterey, California, in its challenge to the Monterey Peninsula Airport District’s Updated Airport Master Plan and Final EIR addendum.
Successfully represented the Town of Danville in its challenge to Contra Costa County’s Tassajara Parks Mixed-Use Development Project and Final EIR.
Advised the California High Speed Rail Authority on environmental planning and review for sections of its statewide High-Speed Rail Project.
Assisted several developers in successful environmental review and entitlement of multi-family, medium-to-high density, senior housing, and mixed-use residential developments in Sacramento County and the Cities of Rocklin, Roseville, and Folsom, California, including successful litigation settlements.
City of Los Angeles v. Federal Aviation Administration, 63 F.4th 835 (9th Cir. 2023)
