Ronald E. Van Buskirk
Firm General Counsel

Mr. Van Buskirk practices primarily in the areas of land use and environmental counseling and litigation. His extensive experience includes all phases of land use development such as planning and zoning, CEQA, the Coastal Act, vested rights, and unconstitutional takings, as well as litigation involving hazardous wastes and environmental pollution. He has appeared in many administrative proceedings before federal, state and local agencies, particularly in respect to major development projects. He also has extensive litigation experience in challenging or defending agency action in mandamus or A.P.A.-type lawsuits, defending some of the largest projects in California such as the LAUSD Ambassador K-12 School Project, the New Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, the $1.4 billion Point Arguello oil and gas project in Santa Barbara, the UCSB campus expansion project, and many other complex projects.

Mr. Van Buskirk also maintains a general commercial litigation practice including both jury and court trials. This experience involves several areas of law, including commercial and real estate litigation. He also has substantial experience in commercial arbitrations and mediations, and provides professional responsibility/law partnership counseling and litigation defense.

Mr. Van Buskirk has practiced law at Pillsbury since 1975 and has held numerous positions on committees within the firm. Presently, serves as General Counsel to the firm and chairs the Professional Responsibility Committee. He was the Managing Partner of the Orange County office from September 1990, to January 1, 1992.

• Legal 500 US, Land Use/Zoning (2012-2013)
• PLC Which Lawyer?, Environment—San Francisco and Silicon Valley (2008-2012)

Pacific Legal Foundation, Board of Directors (1994 to present)

MPC Insurance Ltd., Board of Directors (1995 to present)

Marin Catholic High School, Board of Regents (1999 to 2003)

Founding Member, Law Firm General Counsel Roundtable, organized by The Hildebrandt Institute, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, Central and Southern Districts of California; U.S. Claims Court

June 29-30, 2004 - New York City. Law Firm Liability Institute; Legal Challenges and Strategies for the Modern American Law Firm. "What You Need to Know about Inter-Firm Disputes" and "Effectively Managing Intra-Firm Disputes" - NorthStar Conferences

November 13, 2003 - New York City. Second Annual National Forum on Law Firm Risk Management: Growing Challenges, sponsored by Hildebrandt Institute and Glasser LegalWorks. "Shades of Brobeck-Protecting against Unintended 'Successor' Liability"

Recent Articles Featuring R. Van Buskirk in General Counsel Role
ABA Journal (June 2004) Ideas from the Front "More Firms are Commandeering Partners to Serve as General Counsel" by Leslie A. Gordon

San Francisco Business Times (Nov. 5-11, 2004) "Firms Formalize Role of In-house Counsel" by Vera H-C Chan