Holly A. Roberson, Shareholder

Holly represents government entities, including sovereign Native American governments, State Agencies, Cities, Counties, Water Districts, and Special Districts, in the areas of tribal law, natural resources law, and water law. Her practice focuses on environmental law and policy, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) land use, water, climate change, tribal cultural resources protection, and renewable energy.

Holly has experience working with environmental laws on the national, state, and local level. She possesses special expertise in tribal cultural resources, CEQA (AB 52), water and land use, TCR protection, and NAGPRA/CalNAGPRA compliance. Her work on behalf of several Native American tribes has included consultation, facilitation, mediation, and negotiation. While Holly focuses on building strong relationships and peaceful resolution of legal concerns, Kronick’s strong litigation team can also support tribal clients in court when necessary. She regularly provides technical assistance and training to large and small public agencies, the private sector, and Tribal Governments throughout the state.

Prior to joining the firm, Holly served as Land Use Counsel at the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR). At OPR, she led the CEQA Guidelines update on tribal cultural resources in the General Plan Guidelines, military land use compatibility planning, infill streamlining, utility-scale solar siting, complex mediation, drought issues, and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Previous to that appointment, Holly worked at a large AmLaw 100 international law firm and a prominent boutique law firm specializing in CEQA.

Legal Experience

Holly performs a variety of legal services for both public and private sector clients, including in-depth legal research and analysis, regulatory compliance assistance, and litigation.

Specific areas of Holly’s expertise include:

  • Agency Representation
  • California Environmental Quality Act
  • Climate Change
  • Consultation with California Native American Tribal Governments
  • Endangered Species Act (Federal and State)
  • Recycled Water
  • Regulatory Permitting
  • Riparian Rights Determination
  • Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
  • Water Rights
  • Water Transfers
  • Zoning Changes and Subdivision Map Act Approvals

While in law school, Holly externed at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the California Energy Commission, and the Environmental Section of the Office of the California Attorney General.

Before law school, Holly worked as a Clerk for the U.S. House of Representatives’ Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. She organized the Committee’s hearings on all aspects of energy development on public lands, including its first-ever hearings on climate change, and worked on the successful passage of reforms to the Mining Act of 1872.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

  • The Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law & Water Law (2023-2024)
  • Northern California Super Lawyer, Rising Star (2019-2022)
  • Member, Executive Committee, Environmental Law Section of the California Lawyers Association
  • Member, Legal Affairs Committee, Association of California Water Agencies
  • Member, Association of Women in Water, Energy and Environment
  • Member, California Association of Environmental Professionals
  • Member, California Rural Water Association
  • Member, Environmental Law Section of the State Bar
  • Member, Legislation Committee for the Environmental Law Section of the State Bar
  • Member, Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
  • California State Bar #284074

Academic Background

J.D. University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, 2011

  • Certificate of Specialization in Environmental Law
  • Board Member, Ecology Law Quarterly
  • Research Assistant, Prof. Rick Frank
  • Co-Founder, Students for Environmental and Economic Justice
  • Conference Organizer, Water Law Symposium
  • Recipient of the Presidential Management Fellowship

B.A. University of California, Berkeley, 2005

  • Cum Laude
  • Bachelor of Arts in International Area Studies
  • Honors Alumni Scholar
  • Director of the Democratic Education at Cal (De-Cal) Program
  • P.E.O. Merit Scholar
  • Mildred Jordan Sharp Academic and Leadership Scholar
  • Dean’s List 2000-2004