LexMonitor

Firm Attorneys

William W. Abbott

In private practice since 1983, William W. Abbott’s clients include public agencies, private developers and property owners concerned with development of adjacent property throughout California. As special counsel on numerous land use matters, his experience includes both lead counsel/project manager for major development projects as well as in litigation, initiatives and referenda involving land use approvals. Locally, Mr. Abbott has advised developers and property owners on development issues in Auburn, Chico, Davis, Dixon, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Loomis, Rocklin, Roseville, Sacramento, West Sacramento, Truckee, Woodland, and the Counties of Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Glenn, Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Solano and Yolo. Mr. Abbott has similar experience in representing public agencies in land use matters. These jurisdictions include the cities of Calexico, Colfax, Dixon, Grass Valley, Folsom, Los Banos, Oakdale, Riverbank, Newman, Nevada City, Rio Del, Truckee, Watsonville, and Winters, and the counties of El Dorado, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Marin, Monterey, Shasta, Sierra, San Bernardino, several Local Agency Formation Commissions and Councils of Governments, and the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District.

On a peer review basis, Mr. Abbott has been selected as a Super Lawyer® in land use for Northern California every year since 2004, in addition to the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers® in America. Mr. Abbott individually, and his firm, holds an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Abbott has represented clients in mediation, and has served as a mediator, arbitrator, and as an expert witness, with respect to California land use procedure.

As part of his law practice, Mr. Abbott has written articles and columns and has lectured extensively on land use matters. Since 1981, he has been an instructor for the University of California Extension’s Land Use and Environmental Planning program teaching classes in planning, zoning, CEQA, Permit Streamlining Act, vested rights, initiatives, development agreements and land use litigation. He has also participated in numerous training programs for local planning departments, County Supervisors Association of California, League of California Cities, the Rural Counties Environmental Services Joint Powers Authority, and the County Planning Directors’ Association. He served as an editorial consultant to CEB for the Action Guide entitled Handling an Administrative Mandamus Action, published in 1993. In addition, he is a co-author of Exactions and Impact Fees in California, published by Solano Press Books released in 2001, and scheduled for a re-release in 2009.

Diane G. Kindermann Henderson

Diane G. Kindermann Henderson is a partner at Abbott & Kindermann, LLP. Since 1989, she has been practicing in the areas of land use, environmental and real estate law. Ms. Kindermann Henderson represents numerous private development, agricultural, mining and other landowner interests as well as public agency clients in matters concerning land use, planning and zoning laws, CEQA, Federal and State Endangered Species Acts, wetlands, water and mineral rights, water quality, NEPA and hazardous waste matters, including CERCLA and real estate law. Related legal experience includes permit acquisition from federal, state and local agencies, and litigation in state and federal courts at both the lower and appellate court levels. As special counsel on numerous matters, her experience includes advice to private residential, commercial and industrial developers, landowners, agricultural interests and mining companies on projects in such Cities as Angels Camp, Auburn, Calistoga, Davis, Dunnigan, Folsom, Galt, Live Oak, Loomis, Manteca, Patterson, Rocklin, Roseville, Sacramento, St. Helena, Stockton, Sutter Creek, Tracy, and Woodland; and the Counties of Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Glenn, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tuolumne and Yolo. Ms. Kindermann Henderson has similar experience in representing public agencies in land use and environmental matters. These jurisdictions include the Cities of Folsom, Manteca, Mt. Shasta, Watsonville and Winters, and the Counties of El Dorado, Humbolt, Lake, Lassen and Sierra; and most recently, the Central Delta Water District and the Southern Delta Water District.

As part of her practice, Ms. Kindermann Henderson has been an instructor for the University of California Extension Programs in Land Use Law, Environmental Law and Real Property Law; the State Bar of California, Continuing Education of the Bar Classes on Endangered Species; and the University of California at Davis Law School in Endangered Species Law. Ms. Kindermann Henderson has also published articles and has given presentations to other attorneys, regulatory agencies, businesses and industries on land use, environmental, and real estate matters, including the Federal and State Endangered Species Acts, CEQA, NEPA, water law and wetlands.

Ms. Kindermann Henderson is a member of the State Bar of California and the Sacramento County Bar Association. She is the past President of the Real Property Section of the Sacramento County Bar Association, the past Chair of the Environmental Law Section of the Sacramento County Bar Association, and an Executive Committee Chairperson on the Sacramento Regional Transit Authority, Friends of Light Rail Board. She is also on the Council of Counsel and Environment Committee for the California Construction & Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA). Ms. Kindermann Henderson is a member of the American Planning Association and the former Legislative Director and board member for the APA’s Sacramento Valley Chapter. She also served on the Legal Affairs Committee, and the Wetlands/ Endangered Species Task Force for the Association of California Water Agencies.

Katherine J. Hart

Kate Hart is a senior associate with Abbott & Kindermann, LLP. Her primary areas of practice include land use, environmental and municipal law.

Ms. Hart represents the firm’s clients in processing their local land use entitlements. She has extensive experience with the Subdivision Map Act, Mitigation Fee Act and the California Environmental Quality Act. She has processed subdivision maps, conditional use permits, rezoning amendments, general plan amendments, and variances, as well as negotiated development agreements, and public utility easements for residential, commercial and industrial properties.

Ms. Hart is a member of the State Bar of California, the Environmental Law Section of the Sacramento County Bar Association, and the Building Industry Association. Additionally, Ms. Hart serves as the Vice Chair on the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and is the Vice President of the Sacramento Valley Conservancy Board of Trustees.

Ms. Hart worked as a Deputy City Attorney in the Bay Area from 1997-2000, and worked for Reed Smith, LLP processing land use law in the Bay Area.

Education:

• J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 1997 – with a certificate in Governmental Affairs
• B.S., Santa Clara University, 1993

Glen Hansen

Mr. Glen Hansen is a senior associate with Abbott & Kindermann, LLP. His practice areas include land use litigation, real estate and commercial litigation, elections law, corporate formation and dissolution, and employment law and litigation.

Mr. Hansen’s litigation experience includes reported appellate cases concerning toxic substance contamination and land use law (Beck Development Co. v. Southern Pacific Transportation Co. (1996) 44 Cal.App.4th 1160); initiative measures (Costa v. Superior Court (2006) 37 Cal.4th 986 and Senate of the State of California v. Jones (1999) 21 Cal.4th 1142 ); and Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP) motions to dismiss (Miller v. Filter (2007) 150 Cal.App.4th 652 and Witte v. Kaufman (2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 1201) – all of which can come into play within land use, environmental and development litigation.

Mr. Hansen is admitted to practice before the state courts and U.S. District Courts in California, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He serves as a Dispute Resolution Conference pro-tem judge for the El Dorado Superior Court. Mr. Hansen graduated with distinction from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.
Leslie Z. Walker

Leslie Z. Walker is an associate with Abbott & Kindermann, LLP. She primarily practices in the areas of land use, environmental, and real estate law.

Ms. Walker represents the firm’s private clients such as developers, mining, and agricultural land owners as well as public agency clients in matters relating to land use entitlements. Her experience includes subdivision map extensions, California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) litigation, and air quality issues.

Ms. Walker is a member of the State Bar of California, the Environmental and Real Property Sections of the Sacramento County Bar Association, and admitted to practice before the state courts in California and the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California. She currently serves as the Vice President of the Sacramento Bar Association’s Real Property Section, is a member of the American Planning Association Sacramento Chapter, and the Urban Land Institute, and was a 2008 Building Industry Association, BUILD (Building Universal Industry Leadership & Development) Recruit.

Ms. Walker authored “Warming Up to Global Climate Change” for the Public Law Journal, and co-authored “In CEQA Litigation, When is an Agency Required to Include Internal Agency Emails in the Record of Proceedings?”

Cori Badgley

Cori Badgley is an associate with Abbott & Kindermann, LLP. Ms. Badgley is an Associate Level II and has practiced with Abbott & Kindermann, LLP since 2006. She practices in the areas of land use, environmental and real estate law. Ms. Badgley provides research and analytical back up on all aspects of the firm’s land use, environmental and real estate practice, including litigation. She has participated in the review of general plans and specific plans for public agency clients; most recently for the City of Galt.

Ms. Badgley publishes articles on land use, environmental and real estate law and has been an instructor on environmental law issues for such private entities as Lorman Education Services.

Prior to working at Abbott & Kindermann, Ms. Badgley assisted in drafting legislation in the area of public policy at the Department of Law for the State of Alaska.

Ms. Badgley is a member of the Point West Rotary Club of Sacramento, the Association of Environmental Professionals, and the American Planning Association. She earned her J.D. from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2007 and graduated with the honor of the Order of Coif. In 2004, she earned a B.A. in International Relations from Scripps College located in Claremont, California.

Ms. Badgley is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to practice before the state courts in California, as well as the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California.