Robert J. Uram is Of Counsel in the Real Estate, Land Use, Natural Resources and Environmental practice group in the firm's San Francisco office. He is a founding member of the firm's Organic Food and Fiber Law group.

Areas of Practice

Mr. Uram has more than 35 years of experience on wetlands, endangered species, water quality, land use, mining, public lands and Indian Law issues. He is a nationally recognized expert in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Water Act. He also advises clients on organic food and fiber law, climate change and sustainability issues.

Mr. Uram was recently elected as a Fellow in the American College of Environmental Lawyers and is listed in the Best Lawyers in America. Additionally, Mr. Uram was named one of the "Best Lawyers’ 2012 San Francisco Natural Resources Law Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Uram has worked on wetlands, water quality, and endangered species issues on projects throughout California, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento Area, Central Valley, Inland Empire, Central Coast and Southern California. Mr. Uram played a key role in the development of Regional HCP/NCCPs in Orange County and participated in the development of the NCCP program. His clients include both private interests and local governments.

Mr. Uram works on laws concerning the organic food and fiber industry. This includes the Organic Food Production Act of 1990 and the California Organic Food Act. He represents the Organic Trade Association and organic food distribution and production companies and 501(c)(3) organizations that support research to improve organic farming. With the assistance of his partners, he represents these organizations on a broad range of national policy issues, including organic compliance, corporate, contract, labor, and intellectual property issues.

President Clinton appointed Mr. Uram as Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement in 1993. He served in that post until September 1996. Prior to this post, Mr. Uram was a partner at McCutchen, Doyle, Brown and Enersen in San Francisco. He also worked at the Department of the Interior (1973-1983), where he advised the Bureau of Land Management on federal land use planning and mineral development, oil and gas leasing and Indian law. From 1979 to 1980, Mr. Uram served as the Associate Solicitor for Surface Mining, where he served as chief counsel for the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. From 1983 until 1985, Mr. Uram was Counsel and Partner at White, Koch, Kelly & McCarthy in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His practice included representing clients in water law, zoning, timber and mining issues.

Mr. Uram frequently lectures on wetland, endangered species, mining, and organic food and fiber law issues.