With more than 40 years of experience, Scott is one of the preeminent real estate, environmental, water, and land use litigators in California. He has tried approximately 100 cases in state and federal courts and has handled hundreds of administrative proceedings before federal, state, and local agencies in California.
Scott's most notable matters include his nearly decade-long representation of the City of Rialto in litigation and regulatory efforts to remediate groundwater at a 160-acre site. The site, which was used to process bombs and ammunition during World War II and later to manufacture explosives and fireworks, was contaminated with perchlorate and various other contaminants. Scott's efforts included obtaining a decision to add the site to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Priorities List of Superfund sites and extensive federal litigation.
Scott currently represents Orange County Water District (OCWD) in its efforts to remediate two plumes of groundwater contamination. In 2018, the EPA proposed listing the North Basin Groundwater Cleanup site on the National Priorities List. A remedial investigation and feasibility study commenced under a cooperative voluntary agreement between OCWD and EPA, resulting in successfully achieving the site’s status on the National Priorities List in 2020.
Scott's other engagements include advising clients on environmental enforcement matters involving Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and the Clean Water Act and litigating eminent domain, real estate, land use, and title insurance disputes. In 2011, Scott successfully represented the Arch Diocese of San Francisco in a high-profile $22 million tax dispute with the City and County of San Francisco regarding property transfers.
Scott was previously an equity partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP and Miller, Starr, & Regalia LLP.
Scott Sommer, Stephen G. Larson, and Paul A. Rigali are representing the Orange County Water District (OCWD) on environmental regulatory issues for some of the OCWD's major groundwater cleanup projects.
The firm joins California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls in their campaign, Equal Pay CA, to close the state's pay gap.
Larson LLP is one of seven Los Angeles firms recognized as finalists for Benchmark Litigation’s 2021 "Firm of the Year" award.
Larson LLP is recognized as one of the “Most Admired Law Firms: L.A.’s Top Firms to Work For” of 2020 for consciously working toward creating a diverse, positive, and supportive environment to help drive the firm’s success.
The national coalition of law firms aims to create large-scale, coordinated pro bono projects that address systemic racism.
Mayor Eric Garcetti's pro bono initiative is composed of top Los Angeles law firms providing free legal services to residents facing hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D.
University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A.
California
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S.D.C. Central District of California
U.S.D.C. Eastern District of California
U.S.D.C. Northern District of California
U.S.D.C. Southern District of California