Ongoing Matters

San Diego County Regional Airport Authority , Ongoing since 2002
We assisted in the transfer of the San Diego International Airport from the San Diego Unified Port District to our client, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. As part of this representation, we dealt with complex ground leases and assignments of almost 500 parcels of real estate.

Genentech, Inc. Vacaville (CA) Manufacturing Facility, Ongoing since 1995
Represent client in connection with the development of its $650 million multi-phase biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility. This has included advice on the choice of geographic location, land acquisition, local and state incentive "packages," financing, processing the necessary land use and environmental approvals, managing the environmental review under CEQA, and negotiating a development agreement with the City of Vacaville and its Redevelopment Agency.

LucasFilm, Ltd. - Presidio Army Base, San Francisco, California January 1999
Representation of LucasFilm Ltd. in connection with its successful bid to develop the Letterman Digital Arts Center in the former Presidio Army Base, now a national park. This included the development of a proposal that was accepted by the Presidio Trust (which now has responsibility for the park), negotiation of a Development Agreement and Ground Lease, and collaboration with the Presidio Trust in NEPA and National Historic Preservation Act proceedings. In addition the firm has provided land use advice to Classic Residence by Hyatt in its proposal to develop a senior housing project in the Presidio.

Multi-Party Mediation/Environmental Litigation of State Law Claims - City and County of San Francisco v. ARCO December 1995
Advised the City and County of San Francisco (CCSF) in the environmental review and permitting of a major Master Plan expansion of the San Francisco International Airport (SFIA). In connection with the Master Plan expansion, we represented CCSF in negotiations with numerous tenants and multiple government agencies to obtain fast-track, facility-wide cleanup of hydrocarbon contamination without delay to expansion activities and at significant cleanup cost savings to CCSF. Negotiations resulted in development of an innovative cleanup order under the state Containment Policy, which is serving as a model for airports across the country. In addition, the Morrison & Foerster team represents the CCSF in its ongoing efforts to recover environmental cleanup costs at SFIA. Following intensive mediation and litigation in 1999-2000, the City and County recovered about $13 million from twenty-nine current and former tenants (airlines and oil companies). A second phase of cost recovery (over $13 million) is underway.

2003

City and County of San Francisco - San Francisco International Airport July 2003
Advised the City and County of San Francisco in the environmental review and permitting of a major proposed runway reconfiguration project. In connection with this project, we advised the City and County of San Francisco regarding air and water quality environmental review and permitting issues, and wetlands and endangered species issues.