Katelyn Kathleen Empey

Katelyn K. Empey is an associate attorney in Slovak Baron Empey Murphy & Pinkney LLP’s (SBEMP) civil litigation department. Ms. Empey’s practice encompasses a wide variety of matters, including labor and employment litigation, environmental and land use, public agency law, and tribal law. Ms. Empey has worked on behalf of law enforcement, public agencies, Indian Tribes, and private citizens on complex civil litigation.

Ms. Empey’s practice primarily consists of defense of lawsuits alleging employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation, wage and hour claims, including PAGA and class actions, as well as ADA violations.

Ms. Empey also has experience in the areas of CEQA litigation and compliance, and has successfully represented clients in resolving complex CEQA disputes. In particular, Ms. Empey advises cities, special districts and private clients on all aspects of the CEQA process, including the CEQA project entitlement and permitting process; as well as provides defense in CEQA-related litigation. Ms. Empey has previously worked with public agencies regarding substantial litigation over the certification of Environmental Impact Reports (EIR) and Notices of Exemption, and settlement of challenges to prospective projects.

Ms. Empey also advises clients on complex laws impacting public agencies, including environmental laws and regulations, Proposition 218 and 26, mitigation fees, land use approvals, statutory powers, and public contracts. Ms. Empey has experience advising public agencies and private clients on the complex federal, state and local laws and regulations governing medicinal and recreational cannabis, including the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) and related agency regulations, and regularly drafts local ordinances, resolutions and policies for public agencies regulating commercial cannabis activities.

Ms. Empey is named one of Palm Springs Life Magazine’s (PSL) Top Attorneys in “Land Use and Environment” in 2017 through 2020 and one of PSL’s 2018 top “40 under Forty” in the Coachella Valley.