Overview
Chelsea is a shareholder in the Public Law Department. She advises local governments on a wide variety of transactional and advisory matters and specializes in environmental law, including CEQA, Coastal Act, NEPA, CESA/ESA and other state and federal environmental laws.
Work for Clients
Chelsea is the City Attorney for the City of Solvang. She is also General Counsel for Port San Luis Harbor District and Assistant District Counsel for the Santa Maria Public Airport District. She formerly served as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Solvang and the City of Pismo Beach. Chelsea also represents cities and public agencies throughout California on environmental issues and complex land use and planning matters.
Professional Experience
Prior to joining Richards, Watson & Gershon, Chelsea worked as an associate for Venable LLP in Washington, D.C. where she gained broad experience in environmental and administrative law. Chelsea has experience advising clients on environmental liability management strategies and environmental due diligence in a variety of transactional contexts and is practiced at assisting clients on environmental and natural resource issues related to infrastructure development.
Honors & Awards
Rising Star in Southern California edition of Super Lawyers, 2024, 2025
Rising Star in Washington D.C. edition of Super Lawyers, 2020
Editor-in-Chief, Virginia Environmental Law Journal, 2014-2015
News
Presentations
Chelsea has delivered presentations on the National Environmental Policy Act and the Council on Environmental Quality’s updated regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act.
Education
J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
B.S., Saint Mary’s College of California
