Professional Biography
Image of Stephen Kostka

Stephen L. Kostka Senior Counsel

  • San Francisco

    D +1.415.344.7006

    F +1.415.344.7206

    San Francisco

    505 Howard Street, Suite 1000

    San Francisco, CA 94105-3204

    +1.415.344.7006

    SKostka@perkinscoie.com

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Overview

Steve Kostka, a member of Perkins Coie's Environment, Energy & Resources practice, represents clients that need federal, state and local agency permits and approvals for development projects. He also counsels public agencies and other clients on compliance with CEQA, NEPA and other environmental and land use laws.

Considered one of California’s foremost environmental and land use litigators, Steve’s practice also focuses or representing clients in trial and appellate courts throughout the state in cases brought under CEQA, NEPA, state water laws, federal and state clean air, clean water and endangered species acts, the Subdivision Map Act, and the Planning and Zoning Law.

Projects and cases Steve has worked on include development plans for colleges and universities, military base reuse plans, maritime terminal and airport expansion plans, water supply programs, general and specific plans, wastewater treatment plants, reservoirs, thermal power and cogeneration plants, vineyards and wineries, medical research facilities, aggregate and hard rock mines, industrial parks, as well as office, retail, housing and mixed use developments.

Steve is coauthor of Practice Under the California Environmental Quality Act, a two-volume treatise, now in its 21st year of publication, that practitioners, planners, environmental professionals and the courts rely on as the leading authority on the interpretation and application of CEQA.

He also regularly speaks at conferences and teaches classes on CEQA, land use law and environmental law for organizations such as California Continuing Education of the Bar, League of California Cities, University of California Extension, State Bar Environmental Law Section, Association of Bay Area Governments and the Association of Environmental Professionals.

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Legal Commentary on Planning and Development

Insights into legal issues relating to development and use of land and federal, state and local permitting and approval processes.

VISIT THE CALIFORNIA LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT LAW REPORT

Professional Recognition

  • Named the Best Lawyers' San Francisco "Lawyer of the Year" for Land Use and Zoning Law, 2016, 2018; Litigation - Land Use and Zoning, 2014; Litigation – Environmental, 2019
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2007 - 2021: Appellate Practice; Environmental Law; Land Use & Zoning Law; Environmental Litigation; and Land Use & Zoning Litigation
  • Selected by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell as a 2013 Top Rated Lawyer for Energy Law, Environmental Law, Land Use Law and Real Estate Law
  • BTI Client Service All-Stars: recognized by corporate counsel as among the leading environmental lawyers in the nation in client service excellence.
  • Listed in Super Lawyers, Northern California 2004 - 2020; one of the top 100 Northern California lawyers, 2008 - 2009
  • California Continuing Education of the Bar: 2014 recipient of "Spirit of CEB Award"

Related Employment

  • Bingham McCutchen LLP, San Francisco, CA, Partner

Experience

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Bar and Court Admissions

  • California
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Education

  • UC Berkeley School of Law, J.D., Editor-in-Chief, California Law Review, 1973