Deborah J. Schmall is a partner in the Environment and Energy practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s San Francisco office. Ms. Schmall advises and represents petroleum companies, life sciences companies, universities, developers, telecommunications companies, transportation companies, and other entities on a broad range of environmental regulatory, enforcement defense, facility siting and closures, and remediation issues arising under federal environmental laws and their state counterparts, such as CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Air Act (including the banking, acquisition, and trading of emissions credits), the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act and others. Among her areas of focus is providing strategic counsel to developers and investors regarding significant brownfield projects, including the redevelopment of former federal facilities. Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Schmall served as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan and as a Trial Attorney with the Environmental Enforcement Section of the U.S. Justice Department in Washington, D.C.
Accolades and Recognitions
Recognized as one of the leading environmental attorneys in Chambers USA (2004 – present) California in The Best Lawyers in America (2007 – present)
Listed as one of the best California environmental lawyers in International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers (2007 to present)
Speaking Engagements and Publications
Frequent author and lecturer at national conferences
Lectured at Stanford, Harvard, USF, and Hastings law schools, as well as for commercial MCLE providers
Professional and Community Involvement
Member and Secretary, Board of Directors of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
Founding member and a former Executive Committee member of the California State Bar’s Environmental Law Section
Member and Secretary, Board of Directors of the Center for Creative Land Recycling
Former Member, Advisory Board of Sustainable Conservation
Former Member, Board of Directors of Openhouse (a non-profit organization devoted to providing housing and services to LGBT seniors)
Education
Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1977
Pomona College, B.A., 1974