Jon Welner

Partner

Overview

Jon Welner is a partner in Crowell & Moring’s San Francisco office. He brings more than 25 years of experience addressing environmental regulatory challenges and resolving land development disputes for businesses and local governments in California.

Jon’s practice focuses on all areas of environmental law, including the regulation of air, water, hazardous materials and waste, consumer products, traditional and renewable energy, and natural resources. He has significant experience helping clients navigate the California Environmental Quality Act, Proposition 65, and brownfield redevelopment. Jon helps clients obtain land use entitlements, and he has significant experience with coastal development and the permitting of industrial and energy facilities.

Jon represents clients on their most challenging land use disputes. He has represented the City of Redondo Beach over the past decade and serves as its principal outside counsel on land use issues. Jon advises clients at both the state and federal level, and he has appeared before all California environmental regulatory agencies. He regularly performs environmental due diligence on large-scale corporate and real estate transactions.

He has a long track record of public service. He is the former mayor and current vice mayor of the Town of Tiburon and has served for seven years on the Town Council. Prior to that, he served for six years on the Tiburon Planning Commission, including as chair and vice chair. In addition, previously, he was a senior official at the California Natural Resources Agency.

Jon’s experience also includes development-related labor issues, including prevailing wage law and project labor agreements. He regularly represents developers and trade associations before the Department of Industrial Relations and has negotiated numerous project labor agreements, including the agreement for Baylands North, one of the largest residential projects in San Francisco.

Career & Education

    • California Natural Resources Agency
      Special Assistant to the Secretary 
    • Vice Mayor, Town of Tiburon
      Councilmember and Former Mayor, 2018–Present
    • California Natural Resources Agency
      Special Assistant to the Secretary 
    • Vice Mayor, Town of Tiburon
      Councilmember and Former Mayor, 2018–Present
    • Stanford Law School, J.D., 1995
    • Stanford University, B.A., with distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, 1989
    • Stanford Law School, J.D., 1995
    • Stanford University, B.A., with distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, 1989
    • California
    • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
    • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
    • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
    • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    • California
    • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
    • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
    • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
    • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    • Judicial Clerk for Honorable Samuel Conti, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
    • Judicial Clerk for Honorable Samuel Conti, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
    • Vice Mayor and Councilmember, Town of Tiburon

    • Former Board Member and President, Osher Marin Jewish Community Center
    • Executive Committee member and former Chair, Environmental Law Section, Bar Association of San Francisco
    • Advisory Board member, Environmental Law Section, California Lawyers Association (formerly the California State Bar)
    • Board of Directors, John Gardner Fellowship Association
    • Advisory Board, Stanford-in-Government
    • Vice Mayor and Councilmember, Town of Tiburon

    • Former Board Member and President, Osher Marin Jewish Community Center
    • Executive Committee member and former Chair, Environmental Law Section, Bar Association of San Francisco
    • Advisory Board member, Environmental Law Section, California Lawyers Association (formerly the California State Bar)
    • Board of Directors, John Gardner Fellowship Association
    • Advisory Board, Stanford-in-Government

Jon's Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 07.08.25

California Proposition 65 Alert:

Over the past several months, hundreds of businesses across California have been served with Notices of Violation (NOVs) of California’s Proposition 65 (“Prop 65”) for issuing thermal receipts at the register and using thermal labels and stickers in their stores. The targeted businesses include large and small retailers, restaurants, banks, gas stations, and grocers....

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law; Litigation — Environmental; Natural Resources Law; Real Estate Law, 2016–2025

Jon's Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 07.08.25

California Proposition 65 Alert:

Over the past several months, hundreds of businesses across California have been served with Notices of Violation (NOVs) of California’s Proposition 65 (“Prop 65”) for issuing thermal receipts at the register and using thermal labels and stickers in their stores. The targeted businesses include large and small retailers, restaurants, banks, gas stations, and grocers....

Jon's Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 07.08.25

California Proposition 65 Alert:

Over the past several months, hundreds of businesses across California have been served with Notices of Violation (NOVs) of California’s Proposition 65 (“Prop 65”) for issuing thermal receipts at the register and using thermal labels and stickers in their stores. The targeted businesses include large and small retailers, restaurants, banks, gas stations, and grocers....