Remembering Carollyn Lobell

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Carollyn Lobell, our friend and colleague, who passed away on November 16 after a brave hard-fought battle with cancer. Carollyn was a member of Nossaman’s Environment and Land Use Group, and helped shepherd public works and private development projects through the environmental compliance process to completion. She had comprehensive experience with the practical applications of all state and federal environmental laws – from CEQA and NEPA, to air quality and wetlands regulations. Her expertise was critical on projects such as the Toll Roads in Orange County, as well as her work for a number of significant Firm clients, including the Placer County Transportation Planning Agency, Makar Properties and Mission Energy/First Solar. 
  
Carollyn came to the law mid-career, receiving her J.D. from Whittier Law School, cum laude, in 2000, and joining Nossaman shortly thereafter. Prior to becoming a lawyer, she spent more than 20 years as an environmental consultant, drafting and managing environmental impact documents. She was the kind of person who, by her example, encouraged everyone around her to be better human beings. Outside of work, she enjoyed flying, music, and spending time with her husband Greg. 
 
Carollyn will be remembered as an intelligent, caring, hardworking and all around outstanding individual and attorney—and will be greatly missed in the Orange County office and throughout the firm. This is a sad time for Nossaman, said  George Joseph, the Managing Partner of Nossaman. 
 
Mary Lynn Coffee, a colleague of Carollyn’s for many years and a Partner in the Firm’s Environment and Land Use Group,  said the Over the years, I worked with Carollyn, my respect for her ever-pleasant demeanor, intelligence, professionalism, sense of calm, and continuous hard work only grew.  More importantly, while working with her, I  grew to really know her as a friend and appreciate her many personal qualities, including her genuine kindness to, and support for others and her sense of humor.
 
Yuliya Oryol, the co-chair of the Firm’s Public Pensions and Investments Group, remembered Carollyn by saying that Her intellect, drive, kindness, and especially her can do spirit really inspired me. I will miss her.
 
And Rob Thornton, a Partner in the Firm’s Environment and Land Use Practice Group, added that  Carollyn played a huge role in the TCA’s successful delivery of all of the TCA projects. In addition to Carollyn’s important role in the firm for the TCAs, she was the lead associate in the permitting and successful defense of the SR 125 project in San Diego in state and federal litigation. For the Edison Mission Energy client, Carollyn simultaneously managed environmental compliance for multiple solar energy projects. I will miss her very much.