Keely M. Halsey

Keely M. Halsey is an associate attorney with Opper & Varco LLP.  Her practice focuses on providing advice and civil litigation services in the area of environmental and land use law, particularly regarding brownfield redevelopment and CEQA. 

Prior to joining the firm, she worked for the City of San Diego, where she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs.  In that capacity, she set and managed the City Council’s agenda and shaped and advanced legislative goals in conjunction with Council, Mayoral, City Attorney, Independent Budget Analyst, Redevelopment Agency, and Housing Authority officials and staff.  She was responsible for performing analysis regarding Citywide land use, regional planning, and local governance matters, including ensuring compliance with applicable municipal law.  Her policy responsibilities included tracking and providing input on regional plans and initiatives such as those related to transit, housing, and SB 375 and AB 32.

Previously, upon first becoming a member of the bar, she served as a policy analyst for the City, with a focus on land use, CEQA law, activities related to environmental policy, resource management, and sustainability, and matters related to elections, ethics, and intergovernmental affairs.

She is a member of the California bar and a graduate of Georgetown University and the University of San Diego School of Law.  She is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Urban Land Institute, and the Lawyers Club of San Diego.