Louise Renne: Legal Pioneer and Environmental Champion

Louise Renne is a legal pioneer on environmental, consumer, and women’s issues.

She's also one of CLCV's inspiring honorees at tonight's CLCV Environmental Leadership Awards.

Named one of the state's most powerful attorneys by California Law Business Magazine in 2000, Louise Renne's early career included serving for 11 years as California deputy attorney general in the environmental and criminal divisions and arguing on behalf of the state before the California and United States Supreme Courts.

Renne was appointed to the San Francisco City Attorney's office in 1986 by then-mayor Dianne Feinstein. She was later elected to the office for subsequent terms and served through 2001, when she chose not to seek a fifth term.

During her tenure, Renne took on tobacco companies, gun manufacturers, big banks, slum lords, hate crimes, and utilities, to name just a few of her successful David-versus-Goliath-style legal battles.

Renne established the first-ever Environmental Unit in San Francisco history as city attorney. She also served as a member of the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

She was recently profiled by the San Francisco Chronicle, which described one of her many well-known cases:

Renne's most noteworthy case may have been suing tobacco companies in 1996 for endangering public health - and winning a $12 billion settlement that was divvied up among the state and counties.

"Rather than just defending the city, which we did do, we ought to be more proactive on behalf of consumers and taxpayers," she explained.

Perhaps most important from an environmental perspective, Renne was co-counsel on the landmark case establishing the precedent of requiring environmental impact reports (EIRs) for all projects having a significant impact on the environment.

CLCV is proud to honor Louise Renne, a legal pioneer and champion for the environment and the public's health, at our Environmental Leadership Awards this evening. We hope to see you there.