Jennifer L. Hernandez

Jennifer L. Hernandez


Holland & Knight LLP

Recognized since 2006

San Francisco, California

Practice Areas

Environmental Law

Land Use and Zoning Law

Litigation - Environmental

Litigation - Land Use and Zoning

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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Litigation - Land Use and Zoning Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Land Use and Zoning Law
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Jennifer L. Hernandez co-chairs Holland & Knight’s National Environmental Team and leads the West Coast Land Use and Environment Practice Group. She divides her time between the San Francisco and Los Angeles offices, and works on projects in Northern and Southern California, as well as the Central Valley. She has achieved national prominence in her work on brownfields redevelopment, wetlands and endangered species, and master planned community projects. She represents private, nonprofit and public sector clients, ranging from real estate developers and redevelopment agencies, to biotechnology and other operating industries, to communication and energy utilities. Ms. Hernandez serves on the firm's Directors Committee.

Ms. Hernandez also chairs a conference on Climate Change Law in California and has written and spoken extensively on major California climate change laws (including AB 32, SB 375 and SB 97) and emerging climate change regulations and guidance documents. Her climate change practice currently includes integrating climate change requirements into the environmental analyses (relating to greenhouse gas emissions as well as water supply, flood and fire risk, and other topical areas) required by the California Environmental Quality Act for new and modified projects and plans, and advising clients on legislative and regulatory proceedings pending in Sacramento, in various regional air districts, and in Climate Action Plans and other land use policies being developed by cities and counties.

She has taught land use and environmental law for the University of California and Stanford Law School and frequently speaks for client and lawyer professional associations and continuing education seminars.

She has written two books and more than 30 articles on environmental and land use law. She has received several professional awards, including an American Planning Association Award for her book, "A Practical Guide to the California Environmental Quality Act," the Greenlining Institute's "Big Brain Award" for developing a "New Paradigm that Intersects Environmental and Inner-City Economic and Health Goals," and the Yerba Buena Alliance's "Unsung Hero/Heroine Award" for work on Brownfields policies. Mayor Brown proclaimed October 9, 2002 as "Jennifer Hernandez Day in San Francisco" for her work on sustainable land use and for being a "warrior on the brownfield."

Location
  • 560 Mission Street, Suite 1900
    San Francisco, CA 94105
Education
  • Harvard University, BA
Bar Admissions
  • California, The State Bar of California
  • District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar
Affiliations
  • Bloomberg BNA, EDDG Advisory Board - Member
  • California Forward Action Fund - Board Member
  • California Infill Builders Federation - Board Member
  • California League of Conservation Voters - Board Member
  • Center for Creative Land Recycling - Board Member
  • Environmental Financial Advisory Board of the US EPA - Board Member
  • Landbank, Inc - co-founded and served as the first Board Chair and General Counsel
  • National Brownfields Association - California Executive Committee
  • Presidio Trust for the Presidio National Park in San Francisco - Board of Trustees (Appointed by President Clinton)
  • Urban Land Institute - Member

Holland & Knight LLP
San Francisco, California

609 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

192 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

Best Law Firms Badge Visit Website View Firm Profile

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Litigation - Land Use and Zoning Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Land Use and Zoning Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Land Use and Zoning, San Francisco (2016)
  • Land Use and Zoning Law, San Francisco (2015)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Environmental Law
  • Land Use and Zoning Law
  • Litigation - Environmental
  • Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
Awards:
  • Jennifer Hernandez Day in San Francisco, Mayoral Proclamation, October 9, 2002
  • LawDragon 500
  • Who's Who Legal
  • Corporate Counsel Edition, Super Lawyers magazine, May 2009
  • California Lawyer magazine, California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) award, 2008
  • Top 100 Lawyers in California, Daily Journal newspaper, 2008
  • San Francisco Business Times, Top Women in Business, 2008
  • Hispanic Business Magazine, Elite Women, 2008
  • National Law Journal, 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America, 2008
  • San Francisco Business Times, Forever Influential, Honor Roll of Most Influential Women, 2010
  • The Legal 500 USA, Real Estate & Construction: Land Use/Zoning, 2011
  • Northern California Super Lawyers magazine, 2004-2013
  • Chambers USA –America's Leading Business Lawyers guide, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use; Environment Law, 2008-2013
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Natural Resources Law

Publications

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