Travis Close
Bar Admission
State of California, February 2016
Education
Northeastern University School of Law, Boston, MA
Juris Doctor, May 2015
Northeastern University Law Journal: Staff Member (2013-15) Activities: Member of the Environmental Law Society (2013-15) Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in Philosophy and Minor in Mathematics, May 2012 Honors: President’s list (5 consecutive semesters); Phi Beta Kappa Legal Experience
Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP, Emeryville, CA February 2017 – Present Associate Attorney: Complex litigation experience including drafting motions for class action settlement, preparing expert declarations, depositions, trial preparation, discovery and meet and confer. Conducted disability access site inspections. Extensive investigation into corporate structures. Prepared expert witnesses for depositions. Interviewed class members and other witnesses to prepare for motions for class certification. Investigated major assisted living facility operator in California in case alleging ADA, elder abuse and consumer fraud claims. Drafted memos analyzing case treatment of technical architectural elements.
Staff Attorney: Prepared witness exams for trial in employment misclassification case against well-known fast food company. Drafted complaint for age and gender discrimination case against wine importer. Prepared declarations for disability access case against sports stadium. Interviewed potential new clients, analyzed intakes and researched issues of law before handing case files to team attorneys. Processed over 1 million documents using analytics software for excessive fee action against investment company.
Greenfire Law, Berkeley, CA June—August 2016
Part-time Associate Attorney: Managed day-to-day organizational tasks required of small firms, including correspondence with court clerks and extensive client management software use. Drafted motions to compel discovery in Proposition 65 lead exposure case. Managed FOIA and Public Records Act requests to seven government agencies regarding a gravel factory operating near an imperiled creek. Drafted appellate brief section to prevent highway construction under section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act.
EMPSi, San Francisco, CA October 2015—February 2017
Litigation Support: Compiled administrative records of federal decisions to modify resource management plans across the western U.S. to protect the Greater Sage-Grouse. Coordinated document production protocols with regional staff at BLM and Forest Service offices. Prepared privilege logs and sorted agency documents by a complex index code.
Sierra Club, San Francisco, CA Spring 2015
Legal Intern: Drafted complaint alleging improper injection of drilling fluids into groundwater under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (Prop 65). Analyzed regional haze requirements under the Clean Air Act. Created spreadsheet comparing actual point source emissions in 17 states with allocated emissions under the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule.
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, Chicago, IL Fall 2014 Legal Intern: Drafted statement of position for remediation cost dispute pursuant to a CERCLA consent decree. Analyzed cases addressing passive migration of pollutants from underground storage tanks. Developed timeline of defendant’s activities at rock-crushing facility to enforce wetland-fill restrictions under the Clean Water Act.
Center For Environmental Law & Policy, Seattle, WA Spring 2014 Legal Intern: Interviewed tribal members and drafted declarations to block hydropower development at a dam. Analyzed Oregon’s animal operations permit requirements with Washington’s proposed permit. Met with state senators to advocate for tribal interests in negotiating the Columbia River Treaty.
Office of the City Attorney, San Francisco, CA Fall 2013 Litigation Intern: Drafted mediation brief in inverse condemnation suit seeking damages due to water main break. Assisted drafting motion for summary judgment in case alleging excessive force by police officer. Summarized deposition testimony. Attended weekly team meetings to assist with litigation strategy. Participated in voir dire.
Interests
•Bicycles •Composting •Plants and gardens •Rock-climbing •Surfing and skiing •Yoga