Category: Announcements

Meyers Nave is Lead Counsel on BNSF’s Landmark Barstow International Gateway (BIG) Project, Securing Barstow City Council Approval and First-of-Its-Kind SB 149 Certification

Meyers Nave is lead counsel to BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) on the Barstow International Gateway (BIG) project, one of the most significant private freight infrastructure investments in California history. On June 17, 2026, the Barstow City Council approved the project, marking a landmark milestone in a matter that spans land use, environmental law, CEQA strategy, transportation infrastructure, and statewide economic policy.

The BIG project is a $4 billion, 4,500-acre, state-of-the-art integrated rail facility scheduled to break ground later this year on the west side of Barstow, California. The project has received gubernatorial certification as a transportation-related infrastructure project under Senate Bill 149 (SB 149). As BNSF noted in announcing the City Council’s approval, it is the first transportation-related project “and one of only 10 local or regional transportation projects statewide to earn the designation.” As found by California’s Governor in certifying BIG under that statute, BIG “represents $4 billion private investment in California, will help reduce congestion in Port-adjacent communities, improves supply chain reliability, and support the transition to a zero-emission freight system.”

For certified projects, any CEQA litigation challenging the environmental impact report or project approvals, including appeals, must be resolved within 270 days, providing critical scheduling certainty for a project of this scale and complexity.

“The Barstow International Gateway represents a fundamental shift in California freight infrastructure: moving goods from port-dependent congestion to a rail-centered, inland logistics model. For BNSF, SB 149 certification brings meaningful schedule certainty to one of the most consequential freight infrastructure projects in the state.”

— Amrit Kulkarni, Principal & Chair, Land Use, Environmental Law, and Transportation & Infrastructure Practice Group, Meyers Nave

The Meyers Nave team is led by Amrit Kulkarni and supported by multiple attorneys across the firm’s Land Use, Environmental, and Litigation practice groups.

The BIG project is designed to streamline goods movement between the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and destinations across the United States. Containers will move directly from ships to trains via the Alameda Corridor and along the BNSF mainline to Barstow, where freight will be processed using zero-emission cargo-handling equipment and routed across BNSF’s national rail network. The project is projected to eliminate approximately 205 million truck miles traveled in 2028, growing to 312 million truck miles by 2048 — reducing highway congestion and improving air quality across Southern California. Because of BIG’s innovative design, BIG will result in a net decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, one of the requirements for obtaining certification under SB 149.

The economic impact will be transformative, including approximately 62,000 construction-related jobs and 15,000 long-term operational jobs. Within the City of Barstow, BIG is expected to produce approximately 5,400 new direct jobs, $938 million in total earnings, and $2.9 billion in total economic output over its first 20 years of operation.

Learn more:

Read the full BNSF Press Release

Read the full Meyers Nave Press Release

Meyers Nave Ranked in the Chambers Spotlight California 2026 Guide

We are proud to share that Meyers Nave has been ranked in the Chambers Spotlight California 2026 Guide for our work in Environment and Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (Los Angeles). This recognition reflects the strength of our Land Use and Environmental team of lawyers and our firm’s commitment to delivering results across California.

The guide recognizes more than 300 small and mid-sized firms across California for client service, market reputation, and depth of experience. Chambers also highlighted increasing demand for legal counsel in areas including real estate, privacy, data security, and technology-driven regulatory matters.

Chambers and Partners is a respected legal research and publishing organization that ranks law firms and individual lawyers worldwide based on client feedback, legal expertise, and market performance across various practice areas and regions.

For more information, visit https://chambers.com/law-firm/meyers-nave-usa-spotlight-120:172530

#MeyersNave #ChambersSpotlight #CaliforniaLaw #RealEstateLaw #EnvironmentalLaw

Major Victory for LA County in Landfill Dispute Stemming from Historic 2025 Palisades Fire

Following a December 2025 trial between the County of Los Angeles and the City of Calabasas, last week the Los Angeles Superior Court ruled in the County’s favor and rejected the City’s attempt to stop the disposal of fire debris from approximately 9,000 properties impacted by the historic 2025 Palisades Fire. The case raised complex environmental and separation-of-powers issues and required close coordination with regulators including FEMA, EPA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Now, critical debris removal efforts will continue, and the ruling will have a lasting impact on wildfire recovery efforts and landfill policy.

This result reflects a sustained team effort for the County throughout 2025: denial of the City’s request for a TRO; success on a key County demurrer; and now prevailing at trial. The case and surrounding issues were covered by the media across the state and the nation, including the New York Times.

Special thanks to our attorneys and staff: David Mehretu, Deborah Fox, Cristina Talley, Matthew Nazareth, Mark J. G. Desrosiers, Julie Pfister, Gabrielle Duran, and Tatiana Le.

Read the Court’s Order here.

Meyers Nave Names Jenny L. Riggs Chair of Trial and Litigation Practice Group

Meyers Nave announces that Jenny L. Riggs has been named Chair of its statewide Trial and Litigation practice group. In this role, Jenny will guide strategy, strengthen client service, and lead the firm’s complex litigation practice in California.

Jenny brings deep courtroom experience in state and federal courts —Jenny has played a central role in shaping litigation strategy for clients in complex, document-intensive, and sensitive matters, and her experience in crisis management litigation informs her client-centered approach.

Jenny represents clients in matters involving government corruption, disaster litigation, land use, inverse condemnation, and civil rights. Known for rigorous preparation and clear advocacy, Jenny leads cases from early strategy through trial and appeal for private entities, non-profit organizations and government entities including cities, counties and special districts.

Jenny is also deeply involved in mentoring and developing the next generation of trial lawyers.

Jenny is licensed to practice in California and Hawaii and is admitted to all California and Hawaii state courts, the United States District Courts in California and Hawaii, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation.

Court Affirms City of Carlsbad’s Right to Shape Housing Growth Over Time

On December 18, 2025, Meyers Nave won an important growth management appeal for the City of Carlsbad that affirms the City has been correctly implementing its Growth Management Program for the last 40 years. This decision affirms our team’s original lower court win.

North County Advocates (NCA), and its members, have repeatedly sued the City for alleged violations of the Growth Management Plan for more than a decade.  This included challenges to specific development projects and a challenge to the city-wide General Plan amendment in 2017. The current case began in 2019 when NCA again alleged Carlsbad was allowing development in violation of the city’s growth management standards and Proposition E passed by voters in 1986. However, Proposition E only set the broad goal of “ensuring good traffic circulation, schools, parks, libraries, open space and recreational amenities.” The City’s specific performance standards were previously adopted by City Council, and amended numerous times over the previous decades.

The Court of Appeal unanimously confirmed that (1) existing laws referenced in a ballot measure do not become part of the text of the ballot measure, and can still be amended, and (2) the City’s regulations expressly gave the City Council the authority to amend these standards. Indeed, the Court of Appeal confirmed that NCA had conceded this point; noting “by Agreeing to the 2017 Settlement that required the City to amend the parks performance standard, NCA recognized that continuing amendment authority.”

The Court of Appeal also confirmed that the City is properly implementing its performance standards for parks, open space, and traffic, concluding that (1) the new 91.5 acre Veteran park will benefit all four quadrants of the City, (2) the City had the ability to exempt specific roadways from being widened, (3) the City had properly exempted built out zones from the open space standard in 1986, and (4) the City has been monitoring and reporting open space “in the manner agreed upon in the 2017 [NCA] Settlement.”

Development and governing in California is complex. Meyers Nave is proud to defend the City of Carlsbad and the interests of other government entities, businesses, developers, and nonprofits across the state.

To read the Court of Appeal’s decision, click here.

Meyers Nave Announces Deborah J. Fox as Next Managing Principal

Los Angeles; December 23, 2025 — Meyers Nave proudly announces that Deborah J. Fox will become the firm’s next Managing Principal effective January 1, 2026. Fox succeeds David Skinner, who has led the firm for more than 15 years and will continue his active eminent domain practice following the transition.

“David’s steady leadership and vision have guided Meyers Nave through significant growth and evolution,” said Fox. “He has positioned the firm as one of California’s premier mid-sized law firms, and I am honored to build on that legacy while leading us into our next chapter.”

Fox, a trial lawyer and chair of the firm’s Trial & Litigation Practice and member of the Executive Committee, has been with Meyers Nave for 18 years. Known for her strategic counsel and courtroom acumen, she has represented clients in some of California’s most complex and high-profile cases. Her leadership combines deep litigation experience with a collaborative, client-focused approach that reflects the firm’s core values: service, integrity, excellence, and growth. She is the second woman to lead the Meyers Nave in its almost 40-year history.

“Deborah brings a rare mix of legal excellence, business acumen, and firm-first leadership,” said Skinner. “Her energy and vision will continue to drive Meyers Nave’s success for years to come.”

The transition coincides with the appointment of Martha Joerger as Executive Director, also effective January 1, 2026. Joerger will lead operational initiatives that advance the firm’s strategic priorities and support Fox in her dual role as Managing Principal and active litigator.

Meyers Nave remains focused on its core mission: partnering with clients across California to deliver exceptional results in and out of the courtroom. The firm’s leadership transition marks both continuity and forward momentum, strengthening its foundation while positioning for long-term growth.

 

About Meyers Nave
Meyers Nave is a full-service California law firm providing litigation, transaction, and regulatory compliance legal services to corporations, government entities, non-profits and public-private partnerships. Since 1986, the firm has combined deep California roots with a results-driven approach to complex legal challenges. Learn more about Meyers Nave.

Best Lawyers® Names Meyers Nave Attorneys to the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America

We are proud to announce that 11 Meyers Nave attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™. This honor reflects their unwavering commitment to serving our clients, leadership in the legal profession, and dedication to serving our clients and communities.

The Best Lawyers in America (2026 Edition)

Los Angeles, CA

Oakland, CA

Sacramento, CA

San Diego, CA

  • Nadia Bermudez – Employment Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Janice P. Brown – Employment Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America (2026 Edition)

Los Angeles, CA

We congratulate each of these exceptional attorneys for their well-deserved recognition and thank them for their dedication to advancing excellence in law and delivering outstanding results for our clients.

Meyers Nave Wins on Summary Judgment for MTS in Figueroa v. Fletcher

We are proud to announce that Meyers Nave successfully obtained summary judgment on behalf of our client, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), in the widely publicized lawsuit Figueroa v. Fletcher.

The court granted summary judgment on all claims against MTS, including allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.

We extend our sincere thanks to MTS for placing their trust in Meyers Nave to handle such an important and challenging matter. Congratulations to lead counsel, Nadia Bermudez and Janice Brown, in addition to their entire team, whose expertise, dedication, and tireless effort made this outcome possible.

The magnitude of this result reflects our strategic approach in defending harassment cases.

Defending Affordable Housing in Santa Monica

We are proud to announce another legal victory on behalf of the City of Santa Monica with the Hollywood Community Housing Corporation in their efforts to bring critically needed affordable housing to our communities.

Tyson Sohagi and our Land Use & Environmental team successfully prevailed in two separate lawsuits challenging the City’s approval of a 100% affordable housing development project at 1217 Euclid Street. The Los Angeles Superior Court granted the City’s motions to strike both complaints under CCP § 425.19, a new statute designed to protect affordable housing projects from litigation and award defendants their attorney’s fees. (La Brea Washington Co. LLC v. City of Santa Monica, LA Superior Court Case Nos. 25STCP00154 and 25STCP00961.)

These rulings reaffirm that cities have the authority, and duty to prioritize housing solutions for lower-income residents without being hindered by unnecessary legal roadblocks. The project will replace an underutilized City-owned parking lot with 48 affordable homes, furthering the City’s commitment under its Housing Element to address the housing crisis with bold, forward-thinking policy.

We are honored to represent our client in this effort and are proud of the positive results we’ve helped achieve – not only for our clients, but for the broader community and future residents of Santa Monica.

A Massive Win for Newport Beach—and for Every City Caught Between State Mandates and Local Rules

Meyers Nave is proud to have secured a significant legal victory for the City of Newport Beach in a case with broad implications for cities across California. Petitioners challenged the City’s implementation of its state-mandated Housing Element, arguing it violated the city charter by bypassing a voter approval requirement. The court, however, ruled in favor of the City, holding that state housing law preempts local procedures when they conflict with compliance obligations.

 Why This Matters

Cities throughout California are under intense pressure to meet strict housing targets set by Sacramento. When local rules stand in the way, the consequences are serious—ranging from costly delays and substantial fines to potential state intervention. This case answers a pivotal legal question:

Can a city implement its Housing Element without triggering a local voter approval measure?

Yes. The court’s decision affirms that cities must comply with state housing laws without being blocked by conflicting local measures. For Newport Beach, the ruling protects the city’s ability to maintain compliance with state housing laws. More broadly, it gives cities across the state a clearer legal path to meet their housing obligations without fear of legal setbacks.

Recently, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom, who filed a joint amicus brief supporting Newport Beach, along with California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Director Gustavo Velasquez, issued their own press release celebrating this decision as a massive win for Newport Beach and cities statewide working to solve California’s housing crisis.

We’re proud to help our clients solve complex legal challenges under real-world pressure. Cases like this matter—not just because the stakes are high, but because the outcomes define what cities are empowered to do. Wins like this result from experience, strategy, and teamwork.