Attorney Babak Naficy
I have practiced public interest environmental law since 1997. Prior to establishing my solo practice in San Luis Obispo in 2003, I served as a senior attorney at the Environmental Defense Center from 2001-2003. Prior to that, I was in private practice in Los Angeles where my practice included civil rights and employment law in addition to environmental law.
I moved to the United States with my family in 1978 when I was 15. I attended public high schools in Texas City, Texas and South Los Angeles (Narbonne High) before attending UCLA, where I studied philosophy, psychology and history. I obtained my law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law with a certificate in public interest law. I have three children and live in beautiful San Luis Obispo.
My law practice has always been in the service of the public interest as I care deeply about conservation, biological diversity and environmental justice. I am equally comfortable working with small neighborhood groups or national environmental organizations such as Sierra Club and Center for Biological Diversity. I am passionate about my work and represent my clients zealously and to the best of my ability.
The lull created by the pandemic provided me with an opportunity to expand my practice to tackle important social justice issues. I now represent two harm reduction/needle exchange programs in Santa Cruz and Santa Ana. I am also co-counsel with a talented group of attorneys at the California Rural Legal Assistance and Public Interest Law Project in a lawsuit that challenges the City of San Luis Obispo’s criminalization of homelessness.