Diane G. Kindermann

Diane G. Kindermann is a Director in Fennemore’s Land Use practice group, representing private clients and public agencies in a wide range of environmental and land use matters. Her work includes issues involving planning and zoning laws, CEQA, NEPA, the Federal and State Endangered Species Acts, wetlands, water rights and water quality, mineral rights, timber and forestry resources, and hazardous waste matters, including CERCLA. She represents development, agricultural, industrial, mining, and other landowner interests across California.

Diane’s real estate experience includes purchase and lease transactions, easements, permit acquisition from federal, state, and local agencies, and litigation in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels.

In addition to representing private entities, Diane has served as special counsel to public agencies, including cities, counties, special districts, and joint powers authorities. Her public agency work includes advising on general plans and specific plans, annexations, and other planning and zoning matters, as well as CEQA and NEPA compliance. She has represented water districts such as the Central Delta and Southern Delta Water Districts in multijurisdictional litigation.

As special counsel on numerous private client matters, Diane advises commercial, residential, and industrial developers, landowners, agricultural interests, mining companies, vintners, and other businesses on projects throughout California. Her experience spans projects in cities including Angels Camp, Auburn, Calistoga, Citrus Heights, Davis, Dunnigan, Folsom, Galt, Loomis, Patterson, St. Helena, Rocklin, Roseville, Rutherford, Sacramento, San Andreas, Sutter Creek, Stockton, Tracy, Woodland, and Yountville, as well as counties including Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Glenn, Madera, Napa, Placer, San Joaquin, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tehama, Tuolumne, and Yolo.

• J.D., University of Northern California
• B.A., University of San Diego
• Certificate, International Law and Legal Studies, Sorbonne Assas-International Law School

• California Super Lawyers®, Top Women Attorneys in Northern California
• Top Women Attorneys in Northern California
• Best of the Bar in Sacramento

• University of California Extension Land Use and Natural Resources Program in Land Use, Environmental and Real Property Law, Instructor on Select Topics, 1989-Present
• State Bar of California, Continuing Education of The Bar Classes, Instructor on Select Topics, 1989-Present 
• University of California at Davis Law School, Instructor on Select Topics, 1989-Present
• Abbott & Kindermann, Inc, Land Use Environmental and Real Estate Update, 2001-2024

• Member, State Bar of California
• Member, Sacramento County Bar Association
  • Past President, Real Property Section, Sacramento County Bar Association
  • Past Chair, Environmental Law Section, Sacramento County Bar Association
  • Past Commissioner, Sacramento Environmental Commission
• Board Member and Executive Committee Chair, Sacramento Regional Transit Authority’s Friends of Light Rail Board
• Council of Counsel, Environment Committee, and the Government Affairs and Legal Action Committees, California Construction Materials Association
• Chair, Environment Committee, California Precast Concrete Association
• Member, California Association of Winegrape Growers
• Past Legislative Director and Board Member, Sacramento Valley Chapter, American Planning Association
• Past Legal Affairs Committee and Wetlands/Endangered Species Task Force, Association of California Water Agencies
• Chair, Board of Trustees, St. Francis Catholic High School
• Advisory Council, Assistance League of Sacramento
• Lambda Alpha International Member (Historic Land Use Economic Society)

• California
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of California

• French