About Us

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Generating Opportunities for Lasting Impact

Resources Law Group advances enduring conservation in California, the West, and the marine environment. We provide transactional and consulting services in land use and natural resources law and policy, and create innovative opportunities for conservation philanthropy.

Our Team

Partners in Enduring Conservation

Members of the Resources Law Group team share the conservation goals of a diverse community of clients who benefit from our multidisciplinary expertise in law, policy, and science.

ATTORNEY


  • Chris Beale works on complex natural resources management issues, including the integration of natural resources management and economic development. He advises cities, counties, and other public agencies and private landowners on state and federal natural resource protection laws, conservation planning, open space preservation, and the development of environmental mitigation strategies and programs. Chris is working closely with the State of California in its collaboration with federal agencies, local governments, and stakeholders on the development of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan. Chris’ current priorities include:

    Advising on the development of the ambitious habitat conservation plan and natural community conservation plan for western Placer County.

    • Advising the Mendocino Redwood Company and Humboldt Redwood Company on their sustainable, long-term, regulatory compliance strategies.

    • Providing legal counsel to joint powers agencies formed to implement the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan, and the Placer County Conservation Program.

    • Providing technical and legal advice and support in developing and drafting legislative proposals.

    Before joining Resources Law Group, Chris was legal counsel to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, where he helped develop numerous habitat conservation plans and natural community conservation plans.

    Email — LinkedIn

ATTORNEY


  • Michael Mantell founded Resources Law Group to help design and administer initiatives that enable philanthropic foundations, individuals, landowners, and government agencies to achieve significant, lasting conservation results. He also helped create the strategically aligned but independent Resources Legacy Fund , Fund for a Better Future, and Shared Ascent Fund.

    Since the late 1990s, Michael has designed and participated in programs that broadened the leadership and constituency for natural resources protection and achieved extensive conservation outcomes for land, water, ocean resources, and renewable energy. Michael helped lead the 2010 campaign that prevented a rollback of California’s landmark climate change legislation. In the past decade, he has chaired two statewide campaigns that resulted in $7 billion of voter-approved conservation investments.

    Michael previously served as undersecretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, overseeing its $2.8 billion budget; general counsel for the World Wildlife Fund; and a deputy city attorney in Los Angeles. Michael is a published author and recipient of several national conservation awards. He is a director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium and serves on the Governing Council of The Wilderness Society.

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ATTORNEY


  • Julie Turrini’s practice focuses on conservation financing, real estate transactions, mitigation, and conservation philanthropy. Julie provides strategic advice in structuring guidelines and procedures for program-related investments as well as structuring, negotiating, documenting, and monitoring loan, mitigation, and conservation real estate projects.

    She has also been a partner with various Sacramento law firms, including Murphy Austin Adams Schoenfeld LLP, Diepenbrock Wulff Plant & Hannegan LLP, and Marron Reid LLP, where her law practice focused on commercial real estate, land conservation, low-income housing, and general corporate matters.

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