Marten Law Launches San Francisco Office

Former Orrick Environmental Partner to Anchor Firm’s Expansion to California

Robert Lawrence, former chair of Orrick’s environmental transactions group, will anchor Marten Law’s new San Francisco office – making the firm one of the largest environmental and energy law firms on the West Coast. The firm’s new San Francisco office is its first outside the Pacific Northwest and continues its expansion into new markets and new practice areas.

“Establishing an office in California with a senior partner of Bob’s stature is the next step in our goal of building the country’s premier energy and environmental law practice,” said Brad Marten, the firm’s founder and Managing Partner. “In addition to giving us a presence throughout the west coast, Bob’s transactional experience adds project finance and energy development to our regulatory, litigation and natural resource capabilities.”

Marten Law represents clients across the U.S. in sometimes controversial and often complex environmental, energy and natural resource litigation, including the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Marten is President of the American College of Environmental Lawyers, and other members of the firm have achieved similar national prominence.

Lawrence has practiced for nearly 30 years, serving as the lead environmental counsel for billions of dollars worth of energy and real estate transactions. His expertise includes financing and contracting for both conventional and renewable energy assets, including oil and gas exploration and development projects, refining, pipelines and electricity generating facilities. In addition to transactional environmental expertise, Lawrence brings additional experience to the firm’s capabilities in the Clean Air Act, climate change law (including California’s cap-and-trade program) and renewable energy siting and permitting.

“I’m tremendously excited to be joining the top flight team of environmental lawyers at Marten Law and looking forward to the challenge of building a significant presence for the firm in California,” said Lawrence. “With the expected approval of cap-and-trade later this year, California is on the leading edge of environmental and energy policy, which will present a significant challenge for business.”

Lawrence is admitted to practice in California, New York and the District of Columbia. He received a J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center in 1983 and an A.B., cum laude, from Dartmouth College. Prior to his nearly 10 years at Orrick, Lawrence was chair of the environmental practice at Milbank Tweed.

Read the San Francisco Daily Journal’s article about Robert Lawrence and Marten Law’s new San Francisco office.