Downey Brand

Downey Brand The firm is well-known for its deep industry knowledge in natural resources as well as its breadth of business practices and litigation strength.

From offices in Sacramento, San Francisco, Stockton, and Reno, Downey Brand is strategically positioned to serve clients in litigation, natural resources, and business matters throughout California, northern Nevada and beyond. Founded over 95 years ago in California’s capital city, Downey Brand has grown into a preeminent full-service law firm, with more than 95 attorneys offering counsel in more

than 40 areas of civil practice including water, food and agriculture, corporate, litigation, business planning, intellectual property, bankruptcy, employment, construction, real estate, trusts and estates, and family law. Downey Brand attorneys provide legal services to public corporations, governmental entities, privately held companies, family-owned businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals in a wide range of industries including agriculture, healthcare, forestry, finance, education, retail, construction, land use, and real estate.

What does it actually take to revoke a will in California? As Downey Brand trust & estate litigator Morgan Liggan explai...
03/18/2026

What does it actually take to revoke a will in California?

As Downey Brand trust & estate litigator Morgan Liggan explains in her blog post on , the answer is more exacting than many expect. Breaking down an appellate decision, Morgan highlights why intent alone is not enough and why revocation may require something far more definitive—think scissors, matches, or even a trip to the blender.

Read "How to Kill a Will (Legally)" to understand what “cancellation” really means in the eyes of the law and how to ensure your wishes are properly carried out. https://bit.ly/4rDKjhG

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Downey Brand! ☘️ We celebrated with a festive lunch (thank you, Urban Roots Brewing & Smoke...
03/17/2026

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Downey Brand! ☘️ We celebrated with a festive lunch (thank you, Urban Roots Brewing & Smokehouse), a touch of green, and great company. Feeling lucky to share moments like these with such an incredible team—cheers to a little Irish luck for all!

A major milestone in California groundwater law. The Second District Court of Appeal has affirmed the judgment in the La...
03/10/2026

A major milestone in California groundwater law. The Second District Court of Appeal has affirmed the judgment in the Las Posas Basin adjudication—California’s first comprehensive groundwater adjudication since the adoption of SGMA. Downey Brand has the privilege of representing the Las Posas Valley Water Rights Coalition, a plaintiff group of landowners in the 40,000-acre Las Posas Valley, who initiated the case in 2018.

Read Brian Hamilton's full summary of the opinion here: https://bit.ly/3NqiYlb

Saturday night was something special! At the Keaton's Child Cancer Alliance Gala, the room was full of energy, generosit...
03/05/2026

Saturday night was something special! At the Keaton's Child Cancer Alliance Gala, the room was full of energy, generosity, and a shared commitment to supporting kids and families facing pediatric cancer. By the end of the evening, that collective effort resulted in a record-breaking $330,000 raised -- the most in the Gala’s history.

Downey Brand was honored to be there as a sponsor, celebrating alongside so many who care deeply about this cause. It was especially inspiring to see our colleague Alexis Ortega in action. Alexis serves on Keaton's Board of Directors, and her dedication, along with that of all who attended, made the night’s success even more meaningful.

It was one of those evenings that remind you how strong this community is when it rallies around families who need it most.

Estate and gift tax issues are rarely simple, especially for owners of real estate and agricultural property navigating ...
02/27/2026

Estate and gift tax issues are rarely simple, especially for owners of real estate and agricultural property navigating an increasingly complex tax landscape.

Join Downey Brand partner Kristin Capritto and co-presenters Jeffrey Tachiki and Belan Wagner on Thursday, March 12, from 9:20 to 10:10 a.m. at the 2026 Estate and Gift Tax Conference in San Francisco for their presentation, “Estate Planning for Real Estate and Agricultural Property Owners.”

From balancing estate taxes and basis step up to evaluating deferral options, valuation elections, and the impact of state and local taxes, this session will explore the key challenges these taxpayers face and practical strategies to address them.

We’re excited to return as a sponsor of this annual event presented by the California Lawyers Association and to be part of another year of thoughtful discussion around estate and gift tax planning.

For more information and to register, visit the event website here: https://bit.ly/4rYpGxw

Last week, members of our team volunteered with Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, helping prepare fresh produce fo...
02/26/2026

Last week, members of our team volunteered with Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, helping prepare fresh produce for distribution to families across our region. Our visit kicked off one of several volunteer days we have planned at the food bank in 2026 as part of our 100 Years, 100 Acts!

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, a milestone that reflects five decades of impact, partnership, and service across our region. As the largest hunger relief organization in Sacramento County, its regional food bank collaborates with more than 220 community partners to distribute fresh, nutritious food to individuals and families in need. The organization is also known for its renowned Run to Feed the Hungry, which we are proud to sponsor and participate in each year.

We are honored to play a small part in supporting an organization that has been strengthening our community for 50 years.

Read the full announcement here: https://bit.ly/4ucM08y

Congratulations to Austin Cho on his selection as a Fellow in the LCLD Class of 2026! A distinguished, year-long program...
02/25/2026

Congratulations to Austin Cho on his selection as a Fellow in the LCLD Class of 2026! A distinguished, year-long program, the LCLD Fellows initiative connects high-performing attorneys from across the country with top leaders in the legal profession for advanced leadership training, mentorship, and professional development.

A partner in Downey Brand’s water practice, Austin is recognized for his thoughtful counsel on complex water rights and environmental matters. We’re proud to see his leadership and professional excellence recognized on a national stage.

See the full announcement here: https://bit.ly/3ZZjEAG

Water supply challenges remain a frequent battleground in CEQA litigation. In a new post for CEQA Chronicles, Andrew Ska...
02/25/2026

Water supply challenges remain a frequent battleground in CEQA litigation. In a new post for CEQA Chronicles, Andrew Skanchy and Josh Bailey break down the Third District’s decision in 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘫𝘰 𝘷. 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯, affirming approval of the Giovannoni Logistics Center project.

The court held that an EIR need not guarantee a project’s water supply. Instead, it must show that water is reasonably likely to be available from identified sources. Alleged omissions of additional detail that may be helpful but are not legally required do not amount to a prejudicial abuse of discretion.

This decision reinforces an important principle for agencies and project proponents: CEQA requires adequate disclosure to inform decision makers and the public, not absolute certainty.

Read the full analysis at : https://bit.ly/4tLMp1k

Congratulations to Krystan Miller-Caballero on her acceptance into the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) 2026...
02/25/2026

Congratulations to Krystan Miller-Caballero on her acceptance into the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) 2026 Pathfinder program! This dynamic, seven-month initiative offers emerging legal leaders the opportunity to engage in focused leadership development, mentorship, and relationship-building with peers and top attorneys across the country.

Krystan’s collaborative approach to trust and estate litigation and her commitment to client-focused solutions make her well deserving of this recognition. We’re proud to support her continued leadership growth.

See the full announcement here: https://bit.ly/40sr3Zl

Congratulations to Farah Amjad on her acceptance into the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) 2026 Pathfinder p...
02/25/2026

Congratulations to Farah Amjad on her acceptance into the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) 2026 Pathfinder program! A multifaceted, seven-month initiative, the Pathfinders program provides participants with opportunities to strengthen foundational leadership skills while building meaningful relationships with legal leaders nationwide.

Farah’s growing litigation and employment practice, thoughtful advocacy, and dedication to client service make her well deserving of this recognition. We’re proud to see her leadership continue to shine.

See the full announcement here: https://bit.ly/3ZVqNC0

A recent decision from the Third District Court of Appeal provides helpful guidance on the scope of CEQA’s categorical e...
02/25/2026

A recent decision from the Third District Court of Appeal provides helpful guidance on the scope of CEQA’s categorical exemptions and the “unusual circumstances” exception.

In 𝘒𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘰𝘻𝘢 𝘷. 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘴, the court affirmed the City of Davis’s use of multiple categorical exemptions for relocating playground equipment within a city park. The court rejected arguments that the potential for a noise ordinance violation, by itself, was enough to trigger the unusual circumstances exception.

As the court explained, challengers bear the burden of producing substantial evidence of a reasonable possibility of a significant environmental impact due to unusual circumstances. Speculation or evidence of a technical ordinance exceedance, without more, does not meet that burden.

Andrew Skanchy and Josh Bailey break down the decision and highlight key takeaways for agencies navigating exemption determinations in the latest post on .

You can read the full summary here: https://bit.ly/4aByCTG

Excited to share that our managing partner Jan Fleener will be mentoring at Sacramento Business Journal's Mentoring Mond...
02/17/2026

Excited to share that our managing partner Jan Fleener will be mentoring at Sacramento Business Journal's Mentoring Monday on 2/23/26 at Aggie Square! This morning of speed mentoring offers women at all career stages practical advice, fresh insights, and new connections to inspire leadership and career growth.

Register today and join us for this energizing event. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Register: https://bit.ly/4rYAWde

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621 Capitol Mall Fl 18
Sacramento, CA
95814

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Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

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