Professional Biography

Geoffrey L. Robinson Of Counsel

  • San Francisco

    D +1.415.344.7174

    F +1.415.344.7050

    San Francisco

    505 Howard Street, Suite 1000

    San Francisco, CA 94105-3204

    +1.415.344.7174

    GRobinson@perkinscoie.com

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Overview

Geoff Robinson focuses his practice on land use and development entitlements and related litigation. He represents clients in civil and administrative proceedings involving planning and zoning laws, CEQA, development fees and exactions, environmental remediation and public facilities financing. Geoff is an authority on writs of mandate in the trial court and court of appeal, and is co-author of the treatise California Administrative Mandamus (CEB, Third Edition - 2022) and other publications on civil writ practice. He also has substantial experience in the area of development mitigation and has assisted agencies in complying with the Mitigation Fee Act and litigated scores of cases involving challenges to development exactions, mitigation requirements and public facilities financing. Water law matters are also part of Geoff’s practice, including a ground water basin rights adjudication and appellate litigation involving the validity of a water supply assessment and an Urban Water Management Plan.

Geoff has been an active participant in pro bono efforts, representing individuals, nonprofits and public agencies before state and federal courts, including several 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. He is the recipient of the California State Bar President’s Pro Bono Award and the Margaret Sanger Award from Planned Parenthood Shasta-Diablo.

Geoff served as law clerk to Judge Thomas J. MacBride of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California and as extern to Judge Joseph T. Sneed of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

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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

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Land Use and Zoning Law; Litigation - Land Use and Zoning, 2007 – 2024
  • 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

Professional Leadership

  • Contra Costa Senior Legal Services, Board of Directors

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

Experience

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RELATED INFORMATION

Bar and Court Admissions

  • California
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • All State and Federal Courts of California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

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