Olivia R. Clark, Associate

As an associate attorney, Olivia advises public agency clients in all matters, especially those related to municipal administration and governance, environmental law, water rights, and land use issues. She blends sharp advocacy and creative thinking to assist municipalities and special districts in negotiating, drafting, and reviewing agreements and developing various ordinances and regulations.

Olivia is especially experienced in advising public and private entities on land use and planning matters. Prior to joining the firm, she worked for a boutique law firm in Sacramento that specialized in land use permitting and environmental law litigation all over the State of California. Specifically, she has worked on issues related to the California Environmental Quality Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Brown Act, and public agency law, including those related to the Public Records Act and special districts.

Blending her comfort in navigating the veritable minefield of regulations with her passion for building the community she is proud to call home, Olivia works to help her clients feel informed and, when necessary, advocate their interests in various venues.

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Following the fulfillment of her law degree, Olivia completed a research fellowship with the California Environmental Law and Policy Center at the University of California Davis School of Law, where she published papers on administrative procedures of the State Water Resources Control Board amidst drought exacerbated by climate change. Her other research focused on the reformation of the Colorado River Compact. She aided instruction in Climate Change Law and Policy and Water Law courses. Before that, she was a law clerk at the California Governor’s Office of Research and Planning. She executed in-depth research to aid in drafting technical revisions to the CEQA guidelines pertaining to Tribal Cultural Resources and State Wildfire Areas.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES & AFFILIATIONS

  • The Best Lawyers in America: Ones To Watch, Environmental Law & Land Use and Zoning Law (2022-2024)
  • Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer (2020-2021, 2023)
  • Board Member, Public Law Section, Sacramento County Bar Association
  • Board Member, Executive Committee, Schwartz-Levi Inn of Court
  • Board Member, California Environmental Law & Policy Center, University of California, Davis School of Law
  • Member, California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

  • California State Courts
  • California State Bar #316689

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

J.D., University of California, Davis School of Law, 2017

  • Environmental Law Certificate, 2017
  • Public Interest & Pro Bono Law Certificates, 2017
  • Negotiations Team, President
  • Emerging Leaders in Policy and Public Service Fellow
  • Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite Scholarship
  • ACWA Steve Hall Water Law and Policy Scholarship
  • Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Scholarship
  • Women Lawyers of Sacramento Scholarship

B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 2014

  • Cultural Anthropology
  • Spanish Literatures Minor

    Speaking Engagements

    12.09.2020

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    Speaking Engagement

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    Sunshine Laws & The Golden State

    Date

    Wednesday, December 9

    Location

    Webinar

    Overview

    Olivia Clark will discuss “Sunshine Laws” which are named as they intend to bring governmental work into the light of the public. California has specific laws mandating public access to governmental records and procedures, except where an enumerated exemption applies. These laws always apply to public employees and officers, usually apply to public contractors, and are permanent tools/rights that public citizens hold.

    This presentation will be aimed at providing the historical background, primary framework, and common exemptions to the following, key Sunshine Laws:

    • Prop. 59 – The Sunshine Amendment to the California Constitution
    • The California Public Records Act (Gov. Code, § 620 et. seq.)
    • The Ralph M. Brown Act (Gov. Code, § 54950 et seq.)
    • The Political Reform Act (Prop. 9, 1974) & Government Code section 1090

    To register, please visit the event website.

    09.23.2020

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    Speaking Engagement

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    Money Matters: Understanding Financial Conflicts of Interest for Public Entities/Board Members

    Date

    Sept. 9, 16, 23 and 30 • 10 am – 11 am PDT

    Location

    Virtual

    Kronick Associate Olivia Clark will participate in the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) CLE Workshop Series in a panel discussion about Government Code Section 1090, which prohibits public officials from having financial interests in contracts that they have a hand in. Sounds simple, right? But who is a public official? Sure it is someone elected or appointed to a Board. But it also can include staff members of an agency, and can even include consultants. And what is a financial interest? In many cases, it is easy to know, but in others, you might be surprised at what counts as a financial interest. Join us for this panel that will cover the black letter law, but also wrestle with a number of hypotheticals that could come to life in your world.

    For more information, please visit the event website.

    12.03.2019

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    Speaking Engagement

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    Government Code Section 1090: How to Stay Out of the Headlines (and Out of Jail)

    DATE

    December 3

    LOCATION

    San Diego, CA

    OVERVIEW

    Kronick is pleased to again sponsor the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Fall Conference in San Diego. Associate Olivia Clark will participate in a panel discussion about Government Code Section 1090, which prohibits public officials from having financial interests in contracts that they have a hand in. Sounds simple, right? But who is a public official? Sure it is someone elected or appointed to a Board. But it also can include staff members of an agency, and can even include consultants. And what is a financial interest? In many cases it is easy to know, but in others you might be surprised at what counts as a financial interest. Join us for this panel that will cover the black letter law, but also wrestle with a number of hypotheticals that could come to life in your world.

    For more information, please visit the event website.