Jennifer Hernandez

Jennifer Hernandez has practiced land use and environmental law for more than 30 years, and leads Holland &

Knight’s West Coast Land Use and Environmental Group. Ms. Hernandez divides her time between the firm’s San

Francisco and Los Angeles offices.

Ms. Hernandez is the only California lawyer ranked by her clients and peers in Chambers USA in the top tier of both

land use/zoning and environmental lawyers. In addition, she was recognized as the top environmental litigator of the

year in the San Francisco Bay Area by Best Lawyers, and received a California Lawyer of the Year award from the

State Bar of California for her work on California’s largest and most innovative land use and conservation agreement

between her private landowner client and five major environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club and

Natural Resources Defense Council. She also has received numerous civil rights awards for her work on overcoming

environmentalist opposition to housing and other projects needed and supported by minority communities.

During his tenure as mayor of San Francisco, Willie Brown named October 9, 2002, as “Jennifer Hernandez Day” in

San Francisco in honor of her work as a “warrior on the Brownfields” to restore and redevelop former industrial lands.

Ms. Hernandez is the longest-serving minority board member (23 years) of the California League of Conservation

voters, was appointed by President Clinton to serve as a trustee for the Presidio National Park in San Francisco, and

serves on the board of directors for California Forward and Sustainable Conservation.

Ms. Hernandez works for private sector, public agency and nonprofit clients on a broad range of projects in Bay Area,

Southern California and Central Valley communities, including infill and master-planned mixed-use housing and

commercial projects, university and research facilities, transportation and infrastructure projects, renewable and other

energy projects, local agency plan and ordinance updates, and horse racing and other live sports and entertainment

venues. She has written three books, and more than 50 articles, on environmental and land use topics, and regularly

teaches land use, environmental and climate law in law and business schools, colleges and seminars. She also serves

on the firm’s Directors Committee and received the firm’s highest honor – the Chesterfield Smith Award – for her

community service.

Ms. Hernandez graduated with honors from Harvard University and Stanford Law School, and clerked for Region 20 of

the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) before beginning her land use and environmental law career. Ms.

Hernandez is the daughter and granddaughter of steelworkers and was raised in Pittsburg, California. She and her

husband live in Berkeley and Los Angeles.