Geoffrey L. "Geoff" Robinson
Recognized since 2007
San Francisco, California
Practice Areas
Land Use and Zoning Law
Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
Geoff Robinson focuses his practice on land use, development and real estate litigation. He represents clients in civil and administrative proceedings involving planning and zoning laws, CEQA, development fees and exactions, and public facilities financing. He is an authority on writs of mandate in the trial court and is co-author of the treatise California Administrative Mandamus (CEB, 3rd Ed. 2020) and other publications on civil writ practice. He also has substantial experience in the area of development mitigation and has litigated numerous cases involving challenges to development exactions, mitigation requirements and public financing districts. He has also handled a broad range of water law matters, including a ground water basin rights adjudication and appellate litigation involving the validity of a water supply assessment and an Urban Water Management Plan. Geoff has been an active participant in pro bono efforts, representing individuals, nonprofits and public agencies before state and federal courts, including several matters in the California Supreme Court. He is the recipient of the California State Bar President’s Pro Bono Award. Geoff served as law clerk to Judge Thomas J. MacBride of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California and as extern to Judge Joseph T. Sneed of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Professional Recognition
Professional Recognition
- Listed in Super Lawyers, Northern California, 2004 - 2020
- Recipient of President’s Pro Bono Award, State Bar of California, 1996
- Recipient of John J. Curtin Public Service Award, 2006
Contact & Links
Location
- 505 Howard Street, Suite 1000
San Francisco, CA 94105-3204
Languages
- French
Education
- University of California Hastings College of the Law, J.D., graduated 1983
- University of California Hastings College of the Law, JD, graduated 1983
- University of Virginia
- University of California Berkeley, BA, graduated 1978
Bar Admissions
- California, The State Bar of California
- United States, U.S. Supreme Court
- United States, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Affiliations
- Contra Costa Senior Legal Services - Board of Directors
- JAG Section - California State Guard - Judge Advocate Officer
- OneJustice - Advisory Board
Federal Clerkships
- United States District Court
Headquarters:
Seattle, Washington
261 The Best Lawyers in America® awards
270 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
- Land Use and Zoning Law
- Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
Awards:
- President's Pro Bono Award - State Bar of California
- John J. Curtin Public Service Award
- Margaret Sanger Award - Planned Parenthood Shasta-Diablo
Publications
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