M. Elizabeth McDaniel

M. Elizabeth McDaniel is an environmental partner in the firm's San Francisco office.  She is also the Managing Partner of the San Francisco office.

Areas of Practice

Ms. McDaniel has been a litigator for over twenty years, with an emphasis on environmental and real estate issues and California's Proposition 65.  She has represented entities in both state and federal court, and she has had both jury trial and bench trial experience. Ms. McDaniel holds a certificate in hazardous materials management from U.C. Berkeley, and she counsels clients on a wide variety of environmental compliance issues, including air quality and hazardous substance handling. She also assists with transactions involving contaminated property.  She is the Environmental Team Leader for Sheppard Mullin's Climate Change Team.

Education

• J.D., University of California, Hastings, 1984
• B.A., Vanderbilt University, 1966

Clerkships

• Law Clerk at the San Francisco Superior Court, Law and Motion Department
• Law Clerk to Justice Malcolm M. Lucas, California Supreme Court

Representative Matters

Lead counsel in one month jury trial for NEC in Santa Clara County environmental action regarding real property cleanup.

Represented over forty construction companies in a Proposition 65 matter regarding asphalt.

Represented numerous manufacturers and retailers in Proposition 65 matters regarding products containing toluene, lead, cadmium, or other chemicals.

Performed environmental due diligence on a large former Navy base for a developer.

Represented manufacturers and premises owners in an asbestos action in San Francisco Superior Court.

Represented large financial institution in two multi-party CERCLA actions in the Northern District of California.

Assisted numerous developers of Brownfields in analyzing environmental issues and risks, negotiating with environmental agencies, obtaining environmental insurance, and drafting transfer documents.

Honors

• Northern California Super Lawyers, San Francisco Magazine, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• 100 Most Influential Women in Business in the San Francisco Bay Area, 2004, 2005

Memberships

• Board of Directors, Bar Association of San Francisco
• Former Member, Executive Committee, Environmental Law Section, Bar Association of San Francisco
• Former Member, Board of Directors, Barristers Club of San Francisco, 1988-1989
• Former Chair, Litigation Committee, Barristers Club of San Francisco, 1985-1988
• Former Chair, State Bar Committee on Rules and Procedures of Court, 1989-1990
• Former Member, Judicial Council Advisory Committee on Local Court Rules, 1990-1992
• Former Delegate, State Bar Conference of Delegates, 1985-1990

Speeches

• Retaining & Developing Women Lawyers, American Conference Institute, December 4, 2007