Geoffrey L. Robinson
- San Francisco
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Geoff focuses his practice on land use, development entitlements, and related litigation.
Geoffrey Robinson represents clients in administrative proceedings and litigation involving planning and zoning laws, the California Environmental Quality Act, development fees and exactions, environmental remediation, and public facilities financing. Geoff is an authority on writs of mandate at the trial court and appellate levels. He is co-author of the third edition of California Administrative Mandamus (CEB, 2025) and other publications on civil writ practice. He has substantial experience with development mitigation, advising public agencies on compliance with the Mitigation Fee Act and litigating scores of cases involving challenges to development exactions, mitigation requirements, and public facilities financing. Geoff’s practice extends to water law matters, including ground water basin rights adjudications and appellate litigation over the validity of a water supply assessment and an Urban Water Management Plan.
Geoff is an active pro bono advocate, representing individuals, nonprofits, and public agencies before state and federal courts, including multiple matters in the California Supreme Court. He is the former co-chair of the California Access to Justice Commission and has served on the boards of OneJustice and the California State Bar Foundation.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco, J.D., cum laude, 1983
- University of Virginia School of Law,
- University of California, Berkeley, B.A., 1978
Bar and Court Admissions
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California
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- All State and Federal Courts of California
Related Employment
- Bingham, San Francisco, CA, Partner
- Judicial Extern to The Hon. Judge Joseph T. Sneed of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Clerkships
- Judge Thomas MacBride, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
Professional Recognition
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Land Use and Zoning Law; Litigation - Land Use and Zoning, 2007-2026
Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine as a "Northern California Super Lawyer," 2004-2023
Recipient of "President’s Pro Bono Award," State Bar of California, 1996
Recipient of "John J. Curtin Public Service Award," 2006
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Contra Costa Senior Legal Services, Board of Directors
Professional Experience
Land Use Experience
Urban Water Management Plan
Litigated successful appeals of actions challenging water supply assessment for specific plan area and challenging Urban Water Management Plan.
Regional Mall Developers
Defended city in state and federal courts in litigation brought by competing regional mall developers.
Natural Gas Pipeline Project
Represented public utility in original mandamus proceedings in California Supreme Court challenging natural gas pipeline project.
Regional Mental Health Facility
Brought successful challenge to city’s denial of regional mental health facility.
Port of San Diego, State Lands Commission and California Coastal Commission
Negotiation and processing of complex land exchange, environmental remediation and redevelopment program with the Port of San Diego, State Lands Commission and California Coastal Commission.
Builders in City of Tracy
Negotiated $8 million reimbursement of developer fees for builders in city of Tracy.
Land Use Permit for Refinery Activities
Represented industry groups in litigation successfully overturning (on appeal) county ordinance requiring a land use permit for refinery activities.
Various California Land Use Issues
Filed amicus briefs for California State Association of Counties and League of California Cities in various California Supreme Court cases involving land use issues.
