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Jon Welner

Partner
Partner
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VCard

Areas of Focus

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 contamination issues. 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.

Jon is at the forefront of environmental law as it applies to the rapidly growing space industry. He counsels leading space companies on regulatory compliance and is a recognized voice on the environmental challenges shaping the industry, regularly speaking and publishing on these issues. He serves on the steering committee of Space Beach Law Lab, the preeminent organization focused on legal issues affecting space companies.

Jon advises companies exploring or developing data center projects in California. He has deep experience with the agencies and regulations that govern data center siting and operations, and is expanding his focus in this area as demand for these facilities continues to grow.

Jon has a long track record of public service. He is the elected mayor of Tiburon and has served for eight 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 
    • Town of Tiburon
      Mayor, 2021–22 & 2025–Present
      Councilmember, 2018–Present
    • California Natural Resources Agency
      Special Assistant to the Secretary 
    • Town of Tiburon
      Mayor, 2021–22 & 2025–Present
      Councilmember, 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

  • Professional Activities and Memberships

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

    Professional Activities and Memberships

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

Jon's Insights

Client Alert | 2 min read | 10.23.26

CA SB 253: As November 10 deadline approaches, CARB issues letter to potentially covered entities, plaintiffs remind Ninth Circuit of pending decision

One of the two landmark climate-disclosure laws California enacted in 2023 has its first reporting deadline in just over two weeks, amid continued uncertainty regarding its constitutionality.  ...

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Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America: Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental, Natural Resources Law, 2027
  • Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law; Litigation — Environmental; Natural Resources Law; Real Estate Law, 2016–2026

Jon's Insights

Client Alert | 2 min read | 10.23.26

CA SB 253: As November 10 deadline approaches, CARB issues letter to potentially covered entities, plaintiffs remind Ninth Circuit of pending decision

One of the two landmark climate-disclosure laws California enacted in 2023 has its first reporting deadline in just over two weeks, amid continued uncertainty regarding its constitutionality.  ...

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Insights

Client Alert | 2 min read | 10.23.26

CA SB 253: As November 10 deadline approaches, CARB issues letter to potentially covered entities, plaintiffs remind Ninth Circuit of pending decision

Event | 10.16.26 - 10.18.26

35th Annual Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite

Firm News | 5 min read | 08.20.26

Crowell & Moring Earns Top Honors in The Best Lawyers in America® 2027 Edition, with Two Attorneys Named Lawyer of the Year

Speaking Engagement | 05.27.26

"Trade Secrets and Talent Mobility in the Space Industry: The View from Inside," Crowell & Moring Seminar, Long Beach, CA.

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