Caroline Lee has over a decade of
experience representing clients on a
wide variety of complex environmental
matters. She has extensive experience in
enforcement defense, environmental and
product liability litigation, regulatory
compliance, and advises on corporate and
real estate transactions with
significant environmental liabilities at
stake. Caroline has represented clients
in a range of industries, including
industrial, chemical, and agricultural
sectors, waste handlers, developers and
other landholders, advising under the
majority of federal and state
environmental, natural resources,
product safety, and human health and
safety laws.
In particular, Caroline is recognized
in enforcement defense and comprehensive
remediation projects related to
contamination across all environmental
media, including sediment, groundwater,
surface water, soils, vapor, and air. She is particularly noted for her
successful handling of complex writ
petition challenges to the
government’s novel and
policy-driven application of
environmental laws, especially in
California. She works closely with technical and
expert consultants to advise on
investigation, remediation, waste
discharge requirements, and long-term
operation and maintenance under federal
and state cleanup laws.
Caroline has extensive experience in
litigating administrative and judicial
writ of mandamus challenges, and in
collaborating with environmental
agencies to negotiate technically viable
resolutions to complex disputes. She has
considerable experience with all facets
of motion and trial practice,
negotiating consent decrees, pursuing
contribution/indemnity from responsible
parties, defending against
California’s Proposition 65
claims, and other environmental dispute
proceedings.
Caroline is also deeply involved with
the emerging contaminant practice,
including advising clients in the
changing regulatory environment of PFAS
and micro-plastics, for example, as well
as climate and ESG laws.
She is actively involved in the broader
legal and pro bono community. She has
been nominated to serve on The Bar
Association of San Francisco's Board of
Directors for 2025.
