Sarah Downs Email & Phone Number

Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

• Collaborates with legal team members to develop legal strategies and advisement for senior staff members..• Excellent analytical and writing skills with the ability to consume and summarize substantial amounts of information. • Monitors and evaluates organizational activities for compliance with environmental laws, rulings and regulations such as the low carbon fuel standard, cap & trade and CEQA.• Contributes to the development of legal strategies, policies, and tactics to address environmental challenges.• Analyzes and interprets complex legal documents, statutes, and case law relevant to environmental issues.• Monitors legislative developments, court decisions, and emerging trends in environmental law.• Informs internal legal stakeholders of relevant legal developments and provides timely legal advice.• Assists in the general rate case, reviewing testimony and record for accuracy.

Greater Los Angeles Area

Negotiates for easements, permits and other land rights (e.g., surface and subsurface underground gas storage and mineral rights).Conducts partial rights appraisals to develop estimated land values for acquisition and/or disposition of easements.Prepares acquisition and/or condemnation plans.Negotiates terms with land owners and prepares all related agreements.Amends easement documents, releases and other forms; works with operation groups to identify .encroachments; prepares rulings of collectibility. Analyzes and makes determination on property rights; performs due diligence (i.e. title, easement and legal research).Determines ownership of property rights; prepares rulings of collectibility.Mediates and assists in the settlement of conflicts and claims with property owners, public agencies and tenants; performs review of routes for new pipelines, property plats, legal descriptions, permits and engineering drawings.Confirms jurisdiction of and requirements for securing access for entry onto railroad rights-of-way, other utilities, waterways and public agencies.Provides cost estimates for projects.Consults with and provides work direction to appraisers, surveyors, legal consultants and others. Prepares and manages Budget, Computers, Contracts, Licenses, Business Resumption Plan and department FCD's. Manages calls from Call Center, Distribution, property owners, agencies and planners. Provides document copies and policies regarding projects. Administers projects; maintains proper accounting for projects, working files and information databases.

Orange County, California Area

Negotiates contractual terms and conditions related to encroachments, affecting company transmission, distribution and communication facilities.Interprets contract provisions and resolves preliminary disputes with both internal and external stakeholders.Prepares cost estimates, contracts and other land related documents and agreements, in addition to other written correspondence such as letter, memos, and meeting minutes.Reviews requests by property owners, developers, existing and potential Licensee's, and other third parties to ensure adherence to department's current Land Use Policy and to obtain necessary internal department approvals.Gathers documents, analyzes, and draws conclusions on collected data and information after considering alternatives through independent research and analysis.Acts as subject matter expert and provides technical guidance to other employees and related business units.Performs site inspections/evaluations, participates in both office and field meetings, addressing billing and invoicing with internal and external clients.Creates and maintains records, logs, documents, files, or databases for use in monitoring, tracking, and trending program/project costs, resources, schedules, and status.Ensures information and data entry for all systems, time sheets, expense reports, information requests, discipline reports, etc. are completed accurately and on-time.Maintains current and accurate project files and records.Performs other responsibilities and duties as assigned.

Costa Mesa, Ca

Communicates with local business and firms securing employment opportunities for current students and alumni. Prepares career guides for specific practice areas of law upon request, for student and alumni reference. Maintains employer outreach database for local businesses. Organizes twenty events per semester for student and alumni programming. Prepares and sends weekly, newsletters, job digests and events calendars. Manages on campus recruitment. Supervises and provides direction to work study students.Compiles bar passage and employment data from recent graduates in various jurisdictions, particularly California. Developed and maintains a bar passage database in accordance with the American Bar Association Standard 316.

Huntington Beach

Leads negotiations with landowners, royalty owners, and mineral owners on behalf of clients to obtain surface, royalty, leasehold and mineral rights. Researches county records for pre-existing rights and/or encumbrances. Interprets documents to determine mineral rights/ownership and rights held by agreements.Partners with client’s internal business development teams, engineers, and other key personnel to determine needs goals, liabilities and risks. Provides recommendation to clients regarding strategy, project costs, and use of land related technology and databases to increase accuracy and efficiency. Collaborates with legal counsel, local regulatory agencies and clientele to achieve client goals. Drafts mineral ownership reports, surface ownership, and due diligence reports for use in acquisitions and lease negotiations. Develops and maintains excel and access property databases to track lease administration and financial obligations. Manages and provides direction to contractors and other personnel on a per project basis, as needed. Maintains the company’s business development initiatives by networking with local and federal government agencies, real estate associations and land professionals. Projects and prepares job estimates per project budget. Maintains all accounts receivable and payable.

Santa Ana, California

The office of County Counsel renders legal services to the County, which includes representing and advising the officers and employees of the County in civil matters. The office also represents other public agencies when not in conflict with its primary duty to represent the County and the Board of Supervisors. As an intern Ms. Downs wrote a 2016 election code legislative update for client use. Drafted County Land Use Ordinance for review by board of supervisors. Wrote a memorandum regarding collective bargaining rights of an employer to impose at will status upon negotiation impasse. Wrote a memorandum regarding ambulance ordinances in respect to inspection of ambulances. Reviewed and summarized sober living home ordinance in preparation for Amicus Brief.

Orange County, California Area

Researched and drafted memoranda analyzing calculation of maximum confinement time in connection with various offenses, termination of wardship and restraining orders. Discussed rules of evidence, public policy, criminal law, and defense and prosecution strategies with supervising judge. Analyzed case law and statutes to determine whether termination of restraining order terminates wardship status.

Lakewood, California

The Special Education Law Firm dedicates its practice exclusively to the representation of children and their families regarding California special education law. As an intern Ms. Downs Analyzed statutes and case law to determine whether bullying triggers a “child find” obligation. Drafted memorandum analyzing procedural violations made by district, and standards used to measure educational benefits. Prepared settlement demands advocating case arguments. Reviewed transcripts, individualized education plans, district correspondence, medical evaluations, and audio files. Prepared demand, settlement, and general correspondence letters to school districts on behalf of clients. Collaborated with firm advocate and attorneys to brainstorm case strategies. .

As a land consultant Ms. Downs assisted various companies in title research, public records research, leasing, document management and GIS mapping services.

Various

Researched mineral rights in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and California.Identified mineral owners for leasing and made contact to obtain leases and other land rights for drilling. Negotiated lease term and royalties. Maintained lease database. Prepared county records for curative title and due diligence. After three years as a contractor I

Research of criminal trends in San Diego County.SAM: Ongoing assessment of crime trends and geographic crime patterns, analysis of SAM data, and outreach to community. HIV OUTREACH AND PREVENTION EVALUATION: Evaluation of HIV outreach involving the program Mpowerment, which provides peer health education to men. The project involves evaluating the three program components: HIV counseling, testing, and referral services; comprehensive risk counseling services, and momentum. Funding Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Doctor Of Law (J.D.), Environmental Law

Activities and Societies: BLSA, Environmental Law Society and the Women's Law SocietyAs an advocate for energy education Ms. Downs has.

Professional Certificate, Green Energy Management

Activities and Societies: While attending undergrad Ms. Downs was actively involved in the Association of Chicana Activists, worked.

B.S., Criminal Justice

Activities and Societies: ACHA, Photographer for "The Daily Aztec"Classes included: Law, Social Policy, Systems of Justice, Program.