Craig A. Tristao

Partner

CRAIG A. TRISTAO

Partner

Experience

Craig was admitted to practice in 2008. Prior to joining Coleman & Horowitt, LLP, he was part of the Fresno firm Perkins, Mann & Everett Incorporated, and the Law Offices of Joseph A. Uremovic.

Craig is a partner in the litigation and transactions departments of the firm’s Fresno and Sacramento offices. He provides representation to clients in litigation matters involving agricultural law, environmental law, construction law, land use and natural resource law, water law, probate and estates, and eminent domain matters that involve the California High Speed Rail Authority. Craig also assists clients with regulatory compliance issues concerning the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Porter-Cologne Act, and the Clean Air Act (CAA). In addition to litigation, Craig also represents clients before the Regional Water Quality Control Boards and the State Water Resources Control Board, air districts, and the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Craig has representated clients in state and federal court litigation and arbitrations involving custom farming agreements, breach of contractual obligations, construction defect, the California Environment Quality Act (CEQA), the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and note issuance and security agreements (NISAs). Craig also provides counsel on entity formation, estate planning, and transactions.

Prior to entering the practice of law, Craig was engaged in research at Crocker Nuclear Laboratory at UC Davis regarding agricultural operations and air quality, and interned at the Joint Force Headquarters for the California Army National Guard and Air National Guard where consulted on compliance with the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Clean Air Act (CAA), the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Craig works primarily out of the Firm’s Fresno, Visalia, Los Angeles, Sonora, and Bakersfield offices. 

Honors & Awards

Super Lawyers “Rising Star” 2015-2016 (2.5% of lawyers practicing under 10 years)
Witkin Award – Water Law
American FFA Degree

 
Craig A. Tristao
 

Practice Areas

Education

  • San Joaquin College of Law, J.D.
  • University of California, Davis, College of Agricultural and Environmental Science, B.S.

Admissions

  • All California Courts, United States District Court, Eastern and Central Districts

Professional Associations

  • California State Bar Association
    – Agricultural Law Section
    – Business Law Section
    – Environmental Law Section
    – Litigation Section
  • Fresno County Bar Association
    – Agricultural Law Section
  • California League of Food Processors
  • Manufacturer’s Council of the Central Valley
  • Kings County Farm Bureau
  • Fresno County Farm Bureau
  • San Joaquin Valley Association of Certified Air Pollution Permitting Professionals

Coleman & Horowitt, LLP

COVID-19 News

SEE OUR MOST UPDATED ALERTS REGARDING COVID-19:

Office Update

Shortly after Governor Newsom and the City of Fresno issued shelter-in-place orders, we at Coleman & Horowitt, LLP have been proactive. Though these orders allowed law firms to remain open as “essential businesses” we knew we could not continue business as normal. Instead, we took steps to protect our clients and employees by eliminating in- person meetings to the extent possible, and instead promoted video conferencing as an alternative. We allowed our employees – attorneys and non-attorneys alike – to work remotely and made sure our clients remained up-to-date on any COVID-19 related issues they may face via e-mail newsletters available on our website (see www.ch- law.com/covid).

While we have not defeated COVID-19, and much work remains to be done until we get an “all clear” to return to our pre-COVID-19 lives, the shelter-in-place orders are being relaxed to the point that we can reopen our offices to employees and clients alike. While we will continue to provide the creative, responsive and value-driven representation our clients expect, we will do so in such a way that our clients and employees will be protected.

Starting June 1, 2020, all of our offices will be open to clients and we will welcome back our employees who were working from home. To protect everyone, we will follow the guidelines provided by the CDC...

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For more information contact:

Jennifer Lopez (559) 248-4820 E-mail: jlopez@ch-law.com