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RESUME OF RICHARD G. OPPER Professional Experience Opper & Varco LLP Partner, July 2003 to present. Private law practice concentrating in litigation, transaction and regulatory support for the redevelopment of contaminated properties, hazardous waste cleanup and environmental cost recovery and land use, condemnation, regulatory takings and natural resource law. Member of National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals and the National Brownfields Association. Member of Lambda Alpha International, a real estate economics society, and the Society of Attorneys General Emeritus (SAGE). Member, Advisory Board for the Bureau of National Affairs (Environmental Due Diligence Guide). Fellow, Institute of Green Professionals. Lecturer and trainer on brownfields for the U.S. EPA, the Center for Creative Land Recycling, the NBA, and others. Author of several articles about brownfield redevelopment in state and national publications. Foley & Lardner Partner, 2001-2003. Chair of the west coast environmental law practice group, Chair of the Brownfield national practice group. Member of the California Redevelopment Association’s standing committee on brownfields. Member of Council, ABA Section on State and Local Government Law, and Vice-Chair, Section on Environmental Law Committee on Transactions and Brownfields. Member, Governor’s Working Group (Cal-EPA) for brownfields. Member of the Society of Attorneys General Emeritus of the NAAG (SAGE). Frequent lecturer. McKenna & Cuneo Partner, 1993-2001. Chair, Western Practice Group, Environmental Law. President, Foundation for Border Progress (Progresso Fronterizo). During this period Mr. Opper was asked to join the State Department’s delegation to the triennial conference of the World Conservation Union in Buenos Aires, where he acted as an advisor on private sector impacts from international treaties. Mr. Opper also published several chapters and articles during this period, focusing, most often, on environmental and health issues along the U.S. Mexico border Jennings, Engstrand & Henrikson, P.C. Partner, 1987-1993. Public agency trial attorney representing counties, cities, special districts, and other public entities in various complex natural resource litigation matters and environmental cost recovery matters. Other trial work involving condemnation, municipal finance and software development issues). General counsel work included consultation for special districts and economic revitalization projects. Attorney General 1983 – 1986. Appointed and confirmed to lead department of 35 lawyers for a four year term, and widely recognized for advancing the professionalism of the department and its success at civil litigation and criminal prosecution. Selected and supervised various Special Counsel throughout the United States (New York, Washington D.C., Miami, Florida). Litigated a wide variety of matters personally in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, before federal agencies in Washington D.C. and in local courts. Developed the first Office Procedure Manual used by the Department. Negotiated and approved major public financing transactions, negotiated the return of thousands of acres of federal land to the government of Guam, and assisted in the development of a new $14 million Justice Center for the Island. Guam Legal Services Corp. Executive Director, 1981 – 1983. Established the first legal services office on Guam. Created the personnel handbook, hired and supervised all staff of ten people, including four lawyers. Litigated multi-million dollar construction defect lawsuit involving Japanese and American corporations. Wrote, produced and hosted a five-part TV series on personal legal rights issues. Administered the Lawyer Referral Service for the Guam Bar Association. Board of Education Legal Counsel, 1979 – 1981. Chief in-house counsel for an organization that employed over five thousand people. Advised two directors of education, Chief Negotiator for $125+ million labor contract, gained extensive labor litigation and negotiation experience. Negotiated with the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Republic of the Philippines for special leave to hire Philippine nationals for employment in the Guam schools. Assistant Attorney General 1978 – 1979. Reviewed and approved government contracts. Settled claims in excess of $100,000. Litigated criminal and civil (contract and tort) cases. Coordinated and represented the Child Protective Services unit for the Department of Social Services. Poppe & Opper Partner, 1976 – 1978. Founding partner of small law firm in Santa Cruz, California, focusing on specialized assistance in real estate development projects, as well as negotiating commercial and residential leases. Served as Executive Director for the "Old Sash Mill," a 10 acre major development in downtown Santa Cruz that eventually housed retail businesses, restaurants and a movie theatre. OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE - PRE 1976 Renovated and then managed multi-unit residential income property; worked as an emergency forest fire fighter for the U.S. Department of Agriculture; employed as a professional photographer; co-hosted a local TV show and apprenticed as a sheet-metal mechanic. EDUCATION Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Master, Public Administration, 1986 – 1987. ADMISSIONS/MEMBERSHIPS
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