Tal C. Finney

Shaune B. Arnold 

Barry Groveman
Of Counsel

Education

University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
University of California, Davis

Admitted

State Bar of California, 1992

practice areas

Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
Tax Policy and Compliance
Legislative and Regulatory Law
Lobbying

MembershipS

State Bar of California, 

Chris Micheli is Of Counsel to Finney Arnold LLP.  He has substantial legislative and regulatory experience in the areas of state and local taxation, transportation, labor and employment, forestry, health care, civil liability, and insurance.  He has represented a number of major clients including non-profits (e.g., Junior Blind of America), public agencies (e.g., Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority), national trade associations (e.g., Computing Technology Industry Association - CompTIA), statewide trade associations (e.g., California Grocers Association), and major corporations (e.g., Mattel, Lockheed Martin, Chevron/Texaco, Mercury Insurance).

As a legislative advocate, Micheli regularly testifies before policy and fiscal committees of the California Legislature, as well as a number of administrative agencies, departments, boards, and commissions.  He regularly drafts legislative and regulatory language and is considered a leading authority on state tax law developments and California's knife laws.  The Wall Street Journal (July 1998) called him "one of the top three business tax lobbyists in the state."  The Los Angeles Times (May 2005) described him as an "elite lobbyist," and Capitol Weekly (August 2006) described him as a "prominent lobbyist."

Micheli became a contract lobbyist after serving as General Counsel to the California Manufacturers Association, an 800-member trade group.  In addition to advising CMA and its Board of Directors on legal matters, he was a registered lobbyist representing CMA in the areas of taxation and civil liability reform.  While at CMA, he was the chief lobbyist for SB 671, which was called "the most significant tax relief since Prop. 13.” He often served as a principal spokesperson for the California business community on important matters of tax policy.

Education

JD from University of the Pacific-McGeorge School of Law

Admitted

Admitted to the State Bar of California in 1999

Distinctions

2009 & 2012 - Super Lawyers Magazine “Southern California Rising Star” 

2008 - Named one of the Top 50 Environmental Attorneys in Los Angeles County, Los Angeles Business Journal

MembershipS

State Bar of California

Ryan Hiete is Of Counsel to Finney Arnold LLP. Since 1999, Ryan has represented clients in matters pertaining to the full spectrum of environmental law, representing all types of clients, including large and medium size corporations, property developers and owners, public agencies (including cities, school districts, water districts and counties), individuals family estates, health care facilities and banking and financial institutions.

During the course of his career, Ryan has handled a wide variety of environmental matters, several types of which are identified below:

• Large property developers and corporations on numerous issues, including: (i) land survey; (ii) entitlements and zoning issues; (iii) due diligence and historical site investigation; (iv) asbestos surveys and removal; and (v) contract negotiations (purchase and sale, leases, subleases, drafting environmental provisions, access and lender reviews).

• Industrial plating facilities on compliance and regulatory issues, including: (i) alleged violations of air permits; (ii) air permit renewals; (iii) response to civil and criminal proceedings concerning alleged unlawful air emissions and water discharge; (iv) Prop 65-related cases; (v) alleged violations of hazardous waste laws (e.g., RCRA); (vi) efforts to close facilities under oversight of governmental agencies; and (vii) purchase and sale of plating operation facilities.

• Employees of large national and international oil/energy companies involved in federal criminal proceedings [for example, represented six employees of a company involved in a federal probe relating to alleged illegal air emissions at major port facility in California.]

• Companies relating to emergency response situations, including oil and chemical spills, pipeline ruptures and hazardous materials releases [for example, Ryan represented the company that led the response to the cargo ship M/V Cosco Busan oil spill in San Francisco, California.  The matter involved the representation of the client in multiple federal, state and local investigations, including proceedings filed by the United States Department of Justice, the United States Coast Guard, the National Transportation Safety Board and the California Department of Fish and Game Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response].

• Companies that manufacture, sell and/or purchase after-market car and marine parts that are subject to regulatory enforcement proceedings by the California Air Resources Board. Representation of several public and private water agencies (including cities and water purveyors) on the following issues: (i) complex groundwater pollution investigations and cleanups; (ii) litigation related to soil and groundwater pollution (including chemicals such as perchlorate, petroleum hydrocarbons, MTBE, PCBs and VOCs); (iii) administrative hearings related to soil and groundwater pollution; (iv) applications for funding under California’s UST Cleanup Fund; and, (v) compliance with CERCLA’s National Contingency Plan.

• Large school district in matters related to the district’s massive school construction program. Specifically, Ryan represents the district on a wide variety of environmental and land use-related issues, including: (i) air quality issues, including compliance with California’s global warming law AB 32; (ii) review of potential school sites and assisting in the review of environmental impact reports and other environmental planning documents; (iii) negotiating environmental provisions of purchase and sale agreements; (iv) access agreements; (v) railroad safety assessments and other health risk assessments; (vi) pipeline-related issues, including pipeline removal projects; (vii) storm water projects; (ix) analysis of issues related to diesel emissions from the district’s bus fleets; (x) condemnation of environmentally impacted properties; and, (xi) numerous groundwater pollution cases. Representation of clients on global warming/climate-change related issues, including extensive analysis of California’s AB 32.

Ryan typically handles cases involving, among others:

• California’s new climate change-related law, AB 32

• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

• Clean Air Act (CAA), the Clean Water Act (CWA)

• California’s Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act

• Proposition 65

• Comprehensive Environmental Response

• Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”),

• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

• California’s Hazardous Substances Account Act (HSAA)

In handling matters for his clients, Ryan frequently interfaces with many government agencies and law enforcement offices, including:

• US Environmental Protection Agency

• United States Department of Justice

• California Attorney General’s Office,

• California Environmental Protection Agency

• California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)

• California Air Resources Control Board (CARB)

• State Water Resources Control Board

• Southern California Air Quality Management District (AQMD)

• Los Angeles County Fire Department

• City of Los Angeles

In 1999, prior to beginning his environmental practice, Ryan acted as legal counsel for the Belmont Commission, a commission convened by the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board of Education to review and consider many environmental concerns and safety issues related to the then-planned $200 million Belmont Learning Complex.  As counsel for the BLC, Ryan assisted the commissioners in reviewing all applicable laws and regulations related to the planned joint venture and also worked with the commission to conduct interviews of those involved in the approval of the school site, including interviews of regulators, school officials, private parties and other members of the public.  Ultimately, the BLC issued a report that led to safety recommendations and environmental reviews, and the school site ultimately was constructed with those safety measures in place.

While attending McGeorge Law School, Ryan attended Loyola Law School in 1999 as a visiting student, where he was on the staff of the Loyola Law Review.

Mr. Hiete is a frequent speaker on matters pertaining to environmental issues affecting California businesses.

RECOGNITION

Selected to Author the Article on the Past 25 Years of Environmental Law, for the 25th Anniversary Edition of Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine, March, 2002

In the past he was the recipient of a Commendation from the Santa Monica City Council for “Extraordinary Service to the Citizens of Santa Monica to ensure restoration of Santa Monica’s precious water resources”, Presented April 16, 1998 by the Mayor and Members of the Santa Monica City Council

Commendation for “Dedication to the Environmental Health and Safety of the Citizens of California” presented by California Secretary of State March Fong Eu, June 3, 1987.

Recipient of the “International Monitor Award” presented by a consortium of environmental groups based in Washington, D.C. for achievement in the enforcement of environmental laws.

COMMUNITY

In 2003, Mr. Groveman was elected to the Calabasas City Council. He served two terms as Mayor (2006 and 2010). As a local elected official, Mr. Groveman has acquired practical experience on the adoption and implementation of public laws, as well as the process involved in the review and approval of proposed development projects. He led the effort to pass a law to prevent exposures to second hand s moke. The City of Calabasas became the first City in the country to enact a second hand smoke control law. The law has become a model ordinance for cities around the world.

Pacific Boys Lodge, Member of the Board of Directors (2000 to 2011), First Vice Chair (2008) and Chairman of the Board (2009)

Calabasas Education Fund, President of the Board (2004-2006)

California League of Cities, Sub-Committee on Homelessness (2007)

Past Member, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Board (2006)

Past Member, Board of Directors Economic Alliance of San Fernando Valley (2005)

Barry Groveman is the managing partner at Groveman / Hiete LLP with offices in Los Angeles County and Ventura Couny, California.

Over the past three decades, he served as chair of the public and environmental Law practice in one of the top national law firms in the United States and later, a statewide law firm in California. Over his career he has handled several landmark cases in the field of environmental law and occupational safety on behalf of public entities, multi-national corporations, small businesses and individual clients. He is experienced in the practice of administrative, civil and criminal law.

Mr. Groveman began his legal career in 1979 when he joined the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, serving as a criminal trial deputy. He was later appointed to head the Environmental Protection Division, where he served as Environmental Counsel to City Commissions and Departments, including the Department of Public works, the Los Angeles City C ouncil and the Mayor of Los Angeles. He handled matters related to air, water, hazardous waste, endangered species, noise pollution, historic preservation and transportation. He established and chaired the “Los Angeles Toxic Waste Strike Force,” which was one of the first, successful efforts in the nation established to investigate and prosecute serious environmental crimes.

In 1984 he joined the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office where he served as Special Assistant District Attorney and head of the Environmental Crimes/OSHA Division. He continued to investigate and prosecute environmental crimes and workplace related deaths and led an expanded, county-wide Toxic Waste Strike Force.

In his private practice, Mr. Groveman has represented numerous businesses and individuals charged with crimes pursuant to California’s Health and Safety Code, Oil Spill Prevention Act and Occupational Health and Safety Laws. In 1994-1996, he represented Southwire, Inc., a multi-national corporation charged with a federal environmental crime in South Carolina District Court. The crime involved the illegal shipment of contaminated material from the U.S. to the country of Bangladesh. As part of a successful plea agreement negotiated with the United States Department of Justice, Mr. Groveman traveled to Bangladesh with representatives of the State Department and USEPA to help negotiate an agreement to retrieve the contaminated material and return it to the United States. This was a unique case involving an international victim of a federal environmental crime and involved negotiations and resolution of conflicting laws among different countries.

Mr. Groveman has served as environmental counsel to the Los Angeles Unified School District for over 30 years. He has assisted the District on matters involving environmentally-impacted school sites, the purchase and construction of new school sites, and general environmental counseling. In 1999 Mr. Groveman was appointed to head the “Safety Team” that investigated and made recommendations on corrective actions to be taken concerning the controversial Belmont Learning Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Mr. Groveman also represented water agencies and public utilities in matters relating to the cleanup of contaminated groundwater concerning several superfund sites throughout the San Gabriel Valley. He was one of the lead attorneys to negotiate a landmark $200 million settlement that requires eight companies to clean up the San Gabriel Valley basin over a 15-year period.

In 2002 Mr. Groveman was appointed by a member of the California State Senate to serve as Chair of the “Inland Empire Perchlorate Task Force” which is responsible for coordinating the investigation and response to the serious perchlorate water contamination crisis impacting approximately 20 drinking water wells and 500,000 people in the Inland Empire. He serves as lead counsel to the West Valley Water District in their efforts to recover costs for the loss of over 50% of their drinking water wells due to perchlorate contamination. He participated in the drafting of California Water Code Section 13304(a), which provides authority for local water boards to issue water replacement orders against parties responsible for polluting groundwater.

Mr. Groveman served as special counsel to the City of South Pasadena on CEQA issues related to the expansion of a local school campus, as well as advocacy relating to environmental impacts associated with the extension of the Gold Line running through the City. He also served as lead counsel to the City of Santa Monica in several matters involving the restoration of drinking water wells and recovery of costs associated with MtBE contamination. Similarly, he acted as lead counsel for the City of Morro Bay in a matter relating to MtBE contamination threatening the City’s drinking water supply. These were among the first cases involving the contaminant “MtBE.

Mr. Groveman has handled complex civil litigation involving asbestos victims and the defense of toxic tort matters including one of the largest filed in San Gabriel Valley, which involved several thousand plaintiffs and numerous appeals.

Mr. Groveman’s litigation experience covers a wide-range of matters in state and federal courts, administrative agencies and legislative bodies. He has tried approximately 50 criminal jury trials.

Mr. Groveman has drafted portions of local ordinances and state statutes, including portions of California Health and Safety Code section 25189.5 —elevated the range of penalties for illegal disposal of hazardous materials from misdemeanors to felonies; Water Code section 13304(a) (formerly SB 1004)--gave authority to Regional Water Quality Control Boards to issue water replacement orders to parties responsible for polluting drinking water; Education Code: sections 17213, 17213.1, 17213.2—toughened building and safety requirements for schools to protect students and employees; and the Calabasas Second Hand Smoke Control Ordinance. In addition, in 1986, Mr. Groveman was the principal co-author of the landmark law, Proposition 65, the “Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 and later campaigned for its successful passage.

While attending McGeorge Law School, Ryan attended Loyola Law School in 1999 as a visiting student, where he was on the staff of the Loyola Law Review.

Mr. Hiete is a frequent speaker on matters pertaining to environmental issues affecting California businesses.