Robin L. Rivett

President
(916) 419-7111

Background
Mr. Rivett is responsible for the overall management and operation of this nearly 40-year-old national public policy litigation organization. He manages a staff of 55 employees including approximately 22 attorneys and 15 administration and fund raising professionals. He is the organization’s primary spokesperson and is responsible for:

• Development and implementation of the organization’s strategic plan.
• Oversight and management of a $8 million plus annual budget.
• Planning and executing growth of legal, public affairs, and fund raising programs.

Legal Experience

Public Policy Litigation
Mr. Rivett started with PLF in 1975. During his 30 years as a Staff and Principal Attorney, Mr. Rivett litigated cases across the country at the trial and appellate levels in both state and federal courts. These cases focused on property rights, natural resource development, and environmental regulation. Examples include:

• Battling successfully activist claims that federally mandated environmental impact study for a major water delivery project was inadequate because the facility would be growth inducing.
• Pursuing significant Endangered Species Act litigation including requiring the status reviews of 196 ESA listed species in California.
• Representing parties in Clean Water Act permitting cases that were the precursors to the Rapanos case won by PLF at the United States Supreme Court in 2006. Prior to being named president, Mr. Rivett was responsible for Pacific Legal Foundation’s Environmental Law Practice Group, including its primary programs focusing on regulatory abuse under the Endangered Species Act. He managed the efforts of attorneys involved in national litigation to further the concepts of limited government and reasonable, fact-based environmental regulation. Included in his responsibilities were:
• Planning and implementing litigation strategies challenging illegal environmental regulation, primarily impacting private property rights.
• Mentoring attorneys new to Pacific Legal Foundation and the practice of constitutional law.
• Participating as a member of Pacific Legal Foundation’s senior management group.

Program Management
Immediately prior to assuming the PLF presidency, Mr. Rivett directed the activities of PLF’s regional litigation centers in Washington State, Alaska, Florida, and Hawaii. Under Mr. Rivett’s leadership, several significant goals were achieved.

Pacific Northwest Center - Bellevue, Washington: This regional center grew to three full-time attorneys, plus administrative support and a fund development officer. This PLF office has become a key litigator ensuring the legal application of the ESA, and that regional growth control efforts are balanced with reasonable, productive land use goals.

Atlantic Center - Stuart, Florida: From a lawyer working from a home office, this regional center now has one full-time attorney, administrative support, and a fund development officer. The office focuses almost exclusively on precedent setting property rights issues.

Professional Accreditations
Admitted to practice in the State of California, before the United States Supreme Court, most federal Circuit Courts of Appeals, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Federal Claims.

Education

• B.A. University of California, Davis
• J.D. University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
• Graduate Business Studies, California State University at Sacramento

Personal
Life-long resident of Sacramento, happily married for 40 years and blessed with two married daughters, three grandsons, and one more on the way.