Breana M. Inoshita

Associate

Breana Inoshita is committed to assisting her public agency and private clients navigate a wide variety of complex land use and environmental issues.

Breana’s current practice has a particular focus on natural resources matters, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), land use, energy, and public utility regulation. Her educational background in community and regional development gives her a comprehensive understanding of environmental policy and regional planning, which she uses to assist clients in resolving various land use entitlements and regulatory issues.

While attending law school, Breana served as the Executive Managing Editor of the Hastings Environmental Law Journal. She also worked as a teaching assistant for legal writing and research Courses. Additionally, she gained experience as a law clerk at the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office and Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP.

Breana regularly contributes to CEQA Chronicles, a firm blog that provides up-to-date information and analysis on key developments in environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

  • California Lawyers Association, New Lawyers Section, Executive Committee Member-at-Large
  • Association of Environmental Professionals, Member
  • Asian American Bar Association, Member
  • San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program, 2016-2017
  • Florin Japanese American Citizens League, Board Member, 2016-2017
  • Hastings Environmental Law Association, Member, 2018-2021
  • Hastings Environmental Law Journal, Executive Managing Editor, 2020-2021

Honors & Rankings

  • Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Environmental Litigation, 2024
  • UC Hastings Honor Society, 2019-2021
  • Witkin Awards for Highest Grade in Professional Responsibility and Criminal Law
  • CALI Awards for Highest Score in Class for Torts and Legal Writing and Research
  • Legal Writing & Research Oral Argument Honorable Mention, 2019
  • Hastings Environmental Law Association, Diversity Grant, 2018
  • Dean’s Scholarship, UC Hastings, 2018-2021
  • Community & Regional Development Departmental Citation, 2018

Land Use and CEQA

  • Assisting a Southern California municipality in defending several lawsuits under CEQA, the Planning and Zoning Law, and local municipal code.
  • Assists in advising a real estate developer on permits and entitlements and CEQA compliance for several housing and mixed-use projects in Northern California.
  • Assists in representing the University of California in connection with various land-use projects and litigation.
  • Assisted in successful demurrer to challenge of RV park project near Yosemite National Park with claims under CEQA, the Planning and Zoning Law, and public nuisance.
  • Assisted in successful defense of challenge to annual water allocations exempted under CEQA. Secured complete denial of writ petition at trial court.

Energy and Mining

  • Assists in advising clients on permits and entitlements for mining construction-grade sand from San Francisco and Suisun Bays.
  • Assists construction material company with CEQA compliance for a creek restoration project at a quarry in Santa Clara County.
  • Assisted in advising a community-owned electric utility on CEQA compliance for a utility-scale wind repowering project in Solano County.

Public Utility Regulation

  • Assists in representing investor-owned utilities and independent natural gas and electric service providers in utility general rate cases and other CPUC proceedings addressing utility rates and costs borne by market participants.
  • Advises passenger stage corporations and vessel common carriers on CPUC proceedings and regulatory compliance.

Announcements

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Blogs

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Legal Alerts

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Publications

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Breana enjoys spending her free time cooking and tending to her growing collection of indoor plants. She also loves traveling and trying unique local eats along the way.

Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

  • California Lawyers Association, New Lawyers Section, Executive Committee Member-at-Large
  • Association of Environmental Professionals, Member
  • Asian American Bar Association, Member
  • San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program, 2016-2017
  • Florin Japanese American Citizens League, Board Member, 2016-2017
  • Hastings Environmental Law Association, Member, 2018-2021
  • Hastings Environmental Law Journal, Executive Managing Editor, 2020-2021

Honors & Rankings

  • Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Environmental Litigation, 2024
  • UC Hastings Honor Society, 2019-2021
  • Witkin Awards for Highest Grade in Professional Responsibility and Criminal Law
  • CALI Awards for Highest Score in Class for Torts and Legal Writing and Research
  • Legal Writing & Research Oral Argument Honorable Mention, 2019
  • Hastings Environmental Law Association, Diversity Grant, 2018
  • Dean’s Scholarship, UC Hastings, 2018-2021
  • Community & Regional Development Departmental Citation, 2018