M. Elizabeth McDaniel is an environmental partner in the firm's San Francisco office. She is also the Co-Office Administrative Partner of the San Francisco office.
Areas of Practice
Ms. McDaniel has been a litigator for over twenty years, with an emphasis on environmental and real estate issues and California's Proposition 65. She has represented entities in both state and federal court, and she has had both jury trial and bench trial experience. Ms. McDaniel holds a certificate in hazardous materials management from U.C. Berkeley, and she counsels clients on a wide variety of environmental compliance issues, including air quality and hazardous substance handling. She also assists with transactions involving contaminated property. She is the Environmental Team Leader for Sheppard Mullin's Climate Change Team.
Clerkships
· Law Clerk at the San Francisco Superior Court, Law and Motion Department
· Law Clerk to Justice Malcolm M. Lucas, California Supreme Court
Experience
Representative Matters
Lead counsel in one month jury trial for NEC in Santa Clara County environmental action regarding real property cleanup.
Represented over forty construction companies in a Proposition 65 matter regarding asphalt.
Represented numerous manufacturers and retailers in Proposition 65 matters regarding products containing toluene, lead, cadmium, or other chemicals.
Performed environmental due diligence on a large former Navy base for a developer.
Represented manufacturers and premises owners in numerous asbestos actions.
Represented manufacturer in two Superfund matters in Oregon.
Represented large financial institution in two multi-party CERCLA actions in the Northern District of California.
Assisted numerous developers of Brownfields in analyzing environmental issues and risks, negotiating with environmental agencies, obtaining environmental insurance, and drafting transfer documents.
Honors
· Leading Environmental Practices Lawyer, The Recorder, 2012
· Northern California Super Lawyers, San Francisco Magazine, 2005 - 2011
· 100 Most Influential Women in Business in the San Francisco Bay Area, 2004, 2005
Memberships
· Former Member, Board of Directors, Bar Association of San Francisco, 2005 - 2008
· Former Member, Board of Directors, Barristers Club of San Francisco, 1988-1989
· Former Chair, State Bar Committee on Rules and Procedures of Court, 1989-1990
· Former Member, Judicial Council Advisory Committee on Local Court Rules, 1990-1992
Articles
· CERCLA: "Owner" Means Owner When Cleanup Costs Are Incurred, Not When Reimbursement Is Sought, Real Estate Finance Journal, Winter 2011
Speeches
· Retaining & Developing Women Lawyers, American Conference Institute, December 4, 2007