Background
Respected authority on California and Central Coast land use, environmental and real estate issues. Leads developers, energy companies, and large land owners through complicated land use matters. Expansive expertise in entitlements, enforcement matters and litigation.
Beth Collins is a problem solver who handles high-profile, large and controversial land use matters along the Central Coast and throughout California. She formulates strategies that help her clients—landowners, public agencies and institutions, energy companies and battery storage developers—navigate all stages of the development process from application through construction. Whether considering a property acquisition, developing property or in litigation defending a permit, Beth brings a rare blend of significant entitlement, transactional and litigation experience.
Beth understands the critical issues impacting development in California. She has extensive California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Coastal Act, Subdivision Map Act, Endangered Species Act and easement, title and public law expertise. Her experience spans from Coastal Commission permitting and enforcement, the Housing Accountability Act and other new state housing laws, to climate change, adaptation and sea level rise. She frequently advocates before numerous courts and local and state agencies including the California Coastal Commission and Public Utilities Commission. Beth works to proactively mitigate issues before they end up in court. Beth also chairs the firm’s California Real Estate and Land Use Group.
Education
- J.D., 2002, UCLA School of Law
- M.Ed., 1999, Arizona State University
- B.A., 1993, Smith College
Previous Experience
Associate, Latham Watkins (Los Angeles)
Clerk to the Honorable Ronald S.W. Lew, United States District Court for the Central District of California
Clerk to the Honorable Justice Norman L. Epstein, California State Court of Appeal, Second Appellate Dist., Div. Four
Admissions
- California
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Memberships
Los Angeles County Bar Association, Environmental Law and Real Estate Sections
State Bar of California, Environmental Law, Real Property, Public Law, and Litigation Sections
Santa Barbara Bar Association and Santa Barbara Women Lawyers
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Equality California Institute: Board Member, 2014-present, Executive Committee Member 2014-2024, President of the Board, 2016-2020
Board of Directors, White Buffalo Land Trust, 2022-Present
Public Policy Committee, Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, 2020-Present
Board of Directors, Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, 2020-2021
Board of Directors, Goleta Valley Chamber Of Commerce, 2016-2020
Board of Trustees Member, Crane Country Day School, 2015-2021, Head of School Evaluation Committee, 2021-Present
UCLA Law School Law Firm Challenge Firm Representative, 2010-Present
Co-Chair, Los Angeles Equality Awards, 2017
Executive Committee, State Bar Environmental Law Section, 2008-2016
Co-Chair, Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite, 20th Anniversary Conference, 2010-2011
State Bar Task Force on the Sustainable Practice of Law 2008-2009
Co-Chair, State Bar Access and Fairness Committee, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination, 2005-2006
Teacher and Mentor, Teach for America, 1995-2003
Representative pro bono clients: White Buffalo Land Trust, Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California, California Women’s Law Center Habeas Project, Islamic Society of Santa Barbara, League of California Cities, California State Association of Counties, Children’s Museum of Santa Barbara MOXI, the Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation, and Santa Barbara Humane Society.
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AWARDS:
“Beth Collins has been fantastic. She is a terrific relationship manager who brings terrific knowledge and understands our needs so well.” “She’s so smart and very talented at what she does.” – Chambers USA, 2023
“This project could not have been handled without Beth Collins’ involvement.” “She is very focused and resourceful in seeking the proper results.” – Chambers USA, 2022
Who’s Who in Commercial Real Estate Construction, Pacific Coast Business Times, 2023-2024
Best Lawyers in America, 2023-2025
Chambers USA, 2021-2025
Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law, 2021, 2023-2025
Thriving in Their 40s, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2020
Who’s Who in Energy Environment, Pacific Coast Business Times, 2017
Who’s Who in Professional Services, Pacific Coast Business Times, 2016-2017
Top 50 Women in Business, Pacific Coast Business Times, 2016
Top 40 Under 40, Pacific Coast Business Times, 2011