David J. Lazerwitz
Partner
David J. Lazerwitz
Partner
A strategic thinker and trusted advocate helping clients navigate complex permitting and development issues.
David advises clients on the permitting of utility-scale solar, wind, geothermal, and energy storage projects. He has served as outside counsel on the development of over six gigawatts of projects with another four gigawatts in development.
David’s practice focuses on environmental impact analysis, endangered species, water quality, wetlands, and federal public lands issues, and working with federal, state, and local agencies to obtain necessary development approvals. He possesses significant federal and state court litigation and administrative appeal experience.
David is a Chambers USA ranked attorney and has received numerous professional awards and recognition for his work in the environmental and energy fields, including receipt of the prestigious California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) award for his pro bono litigation success protecting California’s deserts from unauthorized off-highway vehicle use.
Prior to joining Bell Kearns, David served as a Partner at Farella Braun + Martel LLP and as an Appellate Attorney with the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. David clerked for the Honorable Robert H. Henry on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Philosophy
You can’t control the facts, but you can control outcomes. Much like life, David views each project as a learning opportunity and a puzzle, with a path forward that needs to be collectively discovered and advanced.
David moved to the West from D.C. in the early 2000s. Putting his diverse federal environmental and agency experience to use, David served as counsel permitting some of the first major utility-scale solar projects in California and Nevada and has since expanded his practice throughout the western United States. He truly enjoys working as part of his clients’ project teams, including twice serving as transitional in-house counsel with his energy clients.
Outside of his work, David can be found mountain or gravel biking the hills near his home in Marin County, telemark skiing in the Sierras or just hanging out with his family and chocolate labrador.
Background
Education
J.D., magna cum laude, Indiana University, Mauer School of law (1995)
M.P.A., Indiana University, O’Neil School of Public and Environmental Affairs (1995)
B.A., cum laude, Colorado College (1988)
Admitted to Practice
California; Colorado