Andrew Vogel

Andrew Vogel advises on environmental compliance and permitting and land use matters across a broad range of subject areas, including the California Coastal Act, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California Oil and Gas regulations, Public Trust Doctrine, air quality, water quality, the Federal and California Endangered Species Acts, Greenhouse Gas Reporting, Cap-and-Invest programs and local land use laws. He also represents clients in litigation involving the Coastal Act and CEQA matters.

Andrew’s broad legal experience informs his approach to advising, representing and problem-solving for clients. Before joining the Firm, Andrew served as in-house environmental counsel for Southern California Gas Company, advising SoCalGas on a variety of air quality, CEQA and Coastal Act matters and representing the utility in court and before administrative hearing boards. Before that, Andrew worked in the Land Use and Conservation Section of the California Attorney General’s Office, first as a Deputy Attorney General and then as a Supervising Deputy Attorney General. There, he represented multiple California state agencies in administrative mandate and civil litigation involving the California Coastal Act, CEQA, oil and gas regulations and the Public Trust doctrine and advised these agencies on Bagley-Keene and related issues.

Previously, Andrew developed his litigation skills in private practice as an associate and then a partner at a boutique business litigation firm, representing clients ranging from individuals to large companies, to law firms on a wide variety of business disputes. Having advised and represented a wide variety of public and private clients, Andrew brings this experience to bear on his strategic advice to clients on compliance, litigation and risk management.

Litigation

Defend Ballona Wetlands v. California Coastal Commission (2025). Successfully defended Southern California Gas Company as real party in interest in trial court litigation challenging California Coastal Commission’s decision approving coastal development permit authorizing SoCalGas to test and abandon natural gas wells in Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve.

Center for Biological Diversity v. California Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources, et al. (2019) 36 Cal.App.5th 210. Successfully defended Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (now known as Geologic Energy Management Division) in trial and appellate courts in CEQA litigation. The litigation challenged the sufficiency of an Environmental Impact Report that the Legislature directed the Department to adopt under Senate Bill 4 that analyzed practice of oil and gas well stimulation statewide.

Hubbard v. California Coastal Commission (2019) 38 Cal.App.5th 119. Successfully defended California Coastal Commission in trial and appellate courts in a project opponent’s lawsuit challenging the Commission’s decision to deny an application to revoke a previously-issued coastal development permit for rebuild of an equestrian facility.

Greene v. California Coastal Commission (2019) 40 Cal.App.5th 1227. Successfully defended California Coastal Commission in trial and appellate courts in litigation challenging as an alleged unconstitutional taking a condition the Commission imposed in approving a coastal development permit for a residential remodel.

Fudge v. California Coastal Commission (2018). Successfully defended California Commission in trial and appellate courts in project opponent’s lawsuit challenging the Commission’s decision to approve a coastal development permit for renovation of a hotel and resort.

Publications

Speaking Engagements

News

Community & Professional

Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member

Professional Responsibility and Ethics Committee, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member

Environmental Law Section, California Lawyers Association, Advisor, Executive Committee

Temple Sinai of Glendale, Former Board Member

South Pasadena Parks and Recreation Commission, Former Commissioner