Attorneys

Miles J. Dolinger

Associate

Business Litigation; Environmental; Land Use & Municipal Law; Real Estate; Eminent Domain

Mr. Dolinger has over fourteen years of experience representing private and public clients in a wide range of land use, public law, real estate, development and environmental matters.  He currently represents land developers and other private clients in land use matters, and represents public agencies on a variety of legislative, planning, land use, administrative and other issues.  Mr. Dolinger joined Berliner Cohen in 2006.

Education/Honors

  • Golden Gate University School of Law, J.D., 1993
    • Public Interest Law Certificate
    • Environmental Law Award for Academic Excellence
  • University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A., Philosophy, 1988

Legal Experience

General Litigation:
  • Representing clients in various general business lawsuits, including small corporation fiduciary duty and accounting issues, and construction/architectural defect, delay and contractual indemnity issues
Development Law:
  • Represents private developers, other private business clients, and local public entity clients regarding land use entitlements, approvals and permit processing, with special emphasis on environmental review/CEQA and Subdivision Map Act compliance and litigation
Public Law:
  • Currently advises the City of Gilroy on a wide variety of municipal law issues, including permitting and code compliance, development, new legislation, contracts, and conflicts of interest
  • As staff counsel for the State Coastal Conservancy (1997 – 2001), negotiated and drafted real property acquisition, property management, consultant, construction, and grant agreements with a variety of project partners, including public and private grantees, federal and state government granting agencies, and private sellers; reviewed and resolved real property title and boundary issues; advised project and management staff on CEQA, State Coastal Act, bond act, state budget, and state procurement compliance issues; drafted agency regulations; and advised staff on numerous other government agency and real property issues, including property liability, easements, state and federal grant regulations, maternity leave, employment discrimination, landlord/tenant, federal affirmative action (M/WBE) requirements, and California Public Utilities Commission permitting
  • As a law clerk in the Berkeley City Attorney’s Office (1995 - 1996), advised City staff on issues involving construction contracts, employment discrimination, real property, land use and public streets
  • As an associate attorney at a private law firm in Guam (1994 - 1995), advised several Government of Guam agencies, including the Public Utilities Agency of Guam and the Guam Port Authority, on construction and insurance contract disputes, and on employment law issues
Environmental Law:
  • Several years of litigation experience enforcing environmental laws, including the federal Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Protection Act, and the federal Endangered Species Act

Professional Admissions

  • State Bar of California, 1993 - present

Activities/Memberships

  • Santa Cruz County Bar Association, 2001 - present
  • Santa Clara County Bar Association, 2005 - present
  • Guam Bar Association, 1994 - 1995
  • Association of Environmental Professionals, Monterey Bay Area Chapter, 2008 - present

Personal

  • Born in Los Angeles, California
  • Lives in Felton, Santa Cruz County, with wife and two small children
  • Interests include running, mountain biking, surfing, tennis and home improvement