Alisha frequently speaks on CEQA and land use issues at professional conferences, seminars and continuing legal education events.
Alisha reviews and drafts hundreds of CEQA-related documents.
She taught environmental law as an adjunct professor at Whittier Law School.
Alisha Winterswyk’s practice centers on advising public and private clients on an array of state and federal environmental laws, with a specific focus on the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. A partner in the Best Best & Krieger LLP’s Environmental Law & Natural Resources practice group, Alisha regularly counsels clients on the substantive and procedural mandates of CEQA/NEPA. When her clients face legal challenges to their decisions or projects, Alisha successfully and zealously defends those clients in court. Throughout her career, Alisha has reviewed and/or drafted hundreds of CEQA-related documents.
A trusted land use advisor, Alisha is regularly called upon to assist public and private clients with navigating the land entitlement process. In her land use practice, Alisha advises public and private clients on complex land use matters involving the Planning and Zoning Law, the Subdivision Map Act, the California Coastal Act, the State Mining and Reclamation Act, the Cortese-Knox Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, and other related laws. With an eye toward environmentally responsible development, Alisha has advised public agency clients on myriad annexations, development agreements, general plan updates and amendments, specific plan adoption and amendments, coastal development permits, and various subdivisions. As a former assistant city attorney to several southern California cities, Alisha has extensive experience advising planning, engineering, and public works departments. She looks for practical approaches to solving difficult land use questions.
Alisha served as an adjunct law professor at Whittier Law School where she taught California environmental law. Alisha has guest lectured at several other Southern California universities on environmental and land use matters. Alisha frequently speaks on CEQA and land use issues at professional conferences, seminars and continuing legal education events. Over the past several years, she has contributed as a panelist to several AEP essential and advanced CEQA workshops. Each year Alisha coaches or advises a team of law students who participate in the California Lawyers Association’s Annual Environmental Negotiations Competition. Alisha is an advisor and former secretary to the California Lawyers Association Environmental Law Section Executive Committee, and the past director and president of the Orange County Association of Environmental Professionals. She also serves on BB&K’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.
While in law school, she served as the editor-in-chief of the Whittier Law Review and she was a member of the Moot Court Honors Board. Alisha was a judicial law clerk to the late Honorable Presiding Justice David G. Sills of the California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division Three. In her free time, Alisha enjoys being with her family, fishing, rock climbing, mountain biking, quilting, knitting and reading.
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Alisha Winterswyk and Abraham Galvan Sanchez Discuss Conditions of Approval and Takeaways in Daily Journal Article
A Q&A With BB&K Of Counsel Todd Leishman and Partner Alisha Winterswyk
Property Owner’s Beach Access Case
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Annual Adjustments
Significant Changes begin Nov. 3
Decision in Protecting Our Water and Environmental Resources v. County of Stanislaus Case
A Change in Methodology Will be Required Statewide July 1
Part 3: California Laws Impacting Public Agencies for 2020
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Annual Adjustments
California Coastal Commission and City of San Clemente Reach LUP Agreement
Filing Fees for CEQA Notices of Determination Increase Jan. 1
California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research Proposal Also Addresses SB 743
Bill Introduced in Advance of Los Angeles Being Awarded the Games This Week
California Court of Appeal Weighs in on California Coastal Act
Fee Increase for CEQA Notices of Determination Effective Jan. 1
Provides Opportunity to Streamline Litigation
Appellate Victory for Developers and Public Agencies
Decision Issued After Years of Uncertainty
California Appellate Court Weighs in Following State Supreme Court Decision
Guidance May Impact Agency Actions Currently Undergoing NEPA Review and Joint NEPA/CEQA Documents
Cities and Counties Impacted
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