Overview
Heraclio Pimentel advocates for his clients' interests in the environmental sphere, including water rights and regulation, the oil and gas industry, and land use. Heraclio has represented clients in contract disputes, citizen suits, and adverse governmental determinations, and assisted water agencies in defending their interests and actions in litigation. He has also assisted public entities with the implementation of CalRecycle’s SB 1383 Regulations and the review of ordinances implementing federal pretreatment standards.
Heraclio was a law clerk to the Honorable Richard W. Pollack (Ret.) of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii. During law school, Heraclio externed at the California Energy Commission and United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX.
Prior to practicing law, Heraclio taught English for four years in Saga, Japan, with the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. Heraclio is a member of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion programming subcommittee, and California Coaching and Mentoring Committee, and the Appellate practice group.
Education
University of California, Davis School of Law, J.D., 2018; Order of the Coif; Environmental Law Certificate & Public Service Law Program Certificate; Senior Notes & Comments Editor, UC Davis Law Review
University of California, Irvine, B.A., Drama, 2009; Dean’s List
Admissions
California
Languages
- Spanish
Insights
Insights & Presentations
- Co-author, “SCOTUS Buries Agency Deference Six Feet Under,” North American Mining, 2024
- Co-author, “SCOTUS Speaks: Agency Deference is Out, Judicial Independence is In,” Stoel Rives Environmental Law blog, July 2024
- Co-author, “Minding Your Wastewater: A Brief Overview of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permitting Program and Why You Should Care,” Artisan Spirit Magazine, Spring 2022
- Co-author, “California State Water Resources Control Board Modifies Annual Water Diversion and Use Reporting Deadlines for 2022 and Updates on Drought Curtailment Orders,” Stoel Rives Water Law Alert, March 2022
- Co-author, “Fourth District Court Finds California Water Boards Appropriately Considered Economic Factors When Issuing MS4 Permit,” California Water Law & Policy Reporter, March 2021
- Co-author, “White Paper Finds No Evidence of Elevated Threat to Human or Crop Safety from Use of Oil Field Produced Water to Irrigate Crops,” Stoel Rives Environmental Law blog, October 2021
- Co-author, “U.S. Supreme Court Determines Contribution Action Under CERCLA Section 113(F) Requires Settlement of CERCLA Liability—Not Clean Water Act Liability,” Argent Communications Group, July 2021
- Co-author, “U.S. District Court Holds Issuance of New NPDES Permit Does Not Moot Claims for Violations of Prior Permit If New Permit Is Stayed,” Argent Communications Group, January 2021
- Co-author, “District Court Bars Citizen Suit Against County in Georgia Due to the Diligent Prosecution Provision of the Clean Water Act,” Western Water Law and Policy Reporter, October 2020
Recognition
- Listed in Sacramento Magazine’s Top Lawyers, 2022–2023
- King Hall Alumni Association Award Recipient, 2018
Affiliations
Civic
- UC Davis Law School, Aoki Water Justice Clinic, Advanced Clinic Participant, 2017–2018
- DACA & Naturalization Workshops, Davis, CA, Intake Volunteer, 2015–2018