Our Team

Attorneys

Mr. Tauriainen, an attorney in our Sacramento office, represents public and private sector clients in the areas of natural resources and environmental law. He provides counsel in matters involving water rights, water supplies, land use, environmental compliance and permitting, and endangered species.

Legal Experience

In practice since 2001, Mr. Tauriainen has experience representing clients in state and federal courts, state and federal administrative proceedings, and complex natural resource transactions. Some of his specific areas of experience include:

• California water rights law
• California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act
• Water supply planning
• Land use planning and development
• Surface mining and reclamation
• State and federal fish and wildlife statutes and regulations
• California and federal water quality laws and regulations
• Streambed Alteration Agreements
• Environmental due diligence in real estate transactions
• Williamson Act

In addition, Mr. Tauriainen provides counsel in general legal matters, including purchase and sale of real property, contracts and leasing, and governmental affairs.

During law school, Mr. Tauriainen was actively involved in the McGeorge Law Review. He authored a legislative review article on the Water Rights Protection and Expedited Short-Term Water Transfer Act of 1999 (Stats. 1999, ch. 938). He also served as Chief Managing Editor.

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Tauriainen was a graduate assistant for the Oregon Water Resources Research Institute (now known as the Center for Water and Environmental Sustainability) where he performed research and provided technical assistance for institute-sponsored programs. His academic background includes an undergraduate degree in environmental science and a graduate degree in environmental policy, with minors in forestry and water resources.

Practice Examples

• Mr. Tauriainen represented public and private clients in water rights application and permit proceedings before the State Water Resources Control Board.
• Mr. Tauriainen conducted water rights assessments for public and private clients.
• Mr. Tauriainen helped represent Central Valley Project contractors in various trial court and appellate proceedings involving the Watershed of Origin and County of Origin statutes, Delta water quality standards, Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act compliance, and Reclamation Act drainage issues.
• Mr. Tauriainen represented public and private sector clients in water quality proceedings brought by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board.
• Mr. Tauriainen implemented a litigation settlement agreement between the United States Department of the Interior, a California water district, and private parties, whereby the water district client acquired several thousand acres of drainage-impaired agricultural land.
• Mr. Tauriainen negotiated a land transfer agreement between the Federal Bureau of Prisons and a California water district, and conducted the necessary California Environmental Quality Act compliance procedures for the project.

Reported Decisions

• El Dorado Irr. Dist. v. State Water Resources Control Bd. (2006) 142 Cal.App.4th 937
• State Water Resources Control Bd. Cases (2006) 136 Cal.App.4th 674

Professional Activities & Affiliations

Mr. Tauriainen’s professional activities and affiliations include:

• 2010 Northern California Rising Star
• Speaker, “Preparing A Legally Defensible Urban Water Management Plan Update in an Era of Water Supply Uncertainty,” Association of California Water Agencies, December 2009
• Member, Board of Directors, Pacific McGeorge Alumni Association
• Member, 2005 William R. Gianelli Water Leaders Class, Water Education Foundation
• Member, Sacramento County Bar Association , Environmental Law Section
• Member, American Bar Association, Environment, Natural Resources and Energy Division
• Member, California State Bar Association, Environmental Law and Real Estate Sections

Mr. Tauriainen is admitted to practice in California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and all federal District Courts in California.

Academic Background

B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1994

M.A. Oregon State University, 1997

J.D. University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2001

• Graduated with Distinction
• Chief Managing Editor and Legislative Review Writer, McGeorge Law Review
• Received Graduating Senior Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement
• Member, Traynor Honor Society