Adriana is an associate with Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley and resident in our Sacramento office, where she is a member of our municipal advisory practice group. Her practice covers a wide range of advisory and litigation matters including land use, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), public works contracting, municipal finance and revenues, elections, labor and employment law, code enforcement, conflicts of interest, open meetings and records laws, and matters involving Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCOs).
Adriana’s current projects for clients include an ordinance authorizing and regulating cannabis retail businesses, enforcement of real property leases, and resolving disputes under the California Public Records Act.
Before joining CHW, Adriana worked on state and federal energy regulation, utility ratemaking, and interconnection and service agreements. She also served as a legal intern with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and as a hydropower reform legal intern with American Rivers. Before law school, she spent several years with California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) as a farm certification specialist, evaluating farming systems for compliance with USDA National Organic Program standards.
Adriana earned her J.D. from the UC Davis School of Law with certificates in Environmental Law and Public Interest Law. At King Hall, she served as Editor-in-Chief of Environs, Environmental Law & Policy Journal, was Diversity Chair of the Environmental Law Society, and competed in the Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition. She earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Adriana is admitted to practice in California.
Practice Areas:
Municipal Advisory
Land Use
California Public Records Act
Emerging State Legislation
California Environmental Quality Act
Recognitions/Publications/Presentations:
Publication: When Risk Becomes Acceptable: The Ethics of Climate Regulation and the Rescission of the Clean Air Act’s Endangerment Finding, 50 Environs (forthcoming, Spring 2027)
Award: Doremus/Anthon Environmental Law Writing Prize, UC Davis School of Law
Award: Reynoso Academic Excellence Awards, UC Davis School of Law (highest grade in Property, Bioethics, and Food Innovation Law & Policy)