Photo of J. Gage Marchini

Gage Marchini is a Senior Associate with Abbott & Kindermann, Inc., since 2023. He represents local governments, public agencies, businesses, and individuals in the areas of land use, environmental, and real estate law, with a current emphasis on CEQA, planning and zoning law, Clean Water Act and SMARA. Mr. Marchini’s practice includes legal counseling, transactional representation, environmental compliance counseling, and litigation representation. He litigates matters involving CEQA, state and federal contamination and hazardous materials laws, and numerous real property and tort claims.

Previously, Mr. Marchini was an associate with the law firm of Stoel Rives, LLP, in Sacramento, California, representing public agencies, private clients, and indigenous organizations in environmental litigation and related matters, including the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Ralph M. Brown Act, the Political Reform Act, and Government Code section 1090 compliance, including many others. Prior to that, Mr. Marchini was an attorney with the law firm of Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood Campora, LLP in Sacramento, California. There, he represented clients in all aspects of litigation including law and motion, dispositive motion practice, mediation, and arbitration up to and including pre-trial motion practice and jury selection. Mr. Marchini obtained numerous six-figure settlements in favor of his clients through mediation and informal settlement negotiation. In one case which came before an arbitrator, Mr. Marchini obtained a $5.87 million damages award in his client’s favor.

Mr. Marchini is a Sacramento Magazine 2023 Top Lawyer in the area of general litigation. He was recently nominated for appointment to the Sacramento Environmental Commission as a representative for the County of Sacramento with confirmation following in February 2024. Mr. Marchini is a current member of the California Lawyers Association - Environmental Law Section, Lambda Legal, and SacLegal. Previously, Mr. Marchini has been affiliated with the Capital City Trial Lawyer’s Association, and the Consumer Attorneys of California; and has been a lawyer volunteer for the California Voter Protection Team and the Sacramento LGBT Community Center.

Mr. Marchini is a regular contributor to the Abbott & Kindermann Inc. Land Use Law Blog. His additional scholarship includes authoring Connecting the “Drops” of California Water Data: Analysis of AB 1755, The Open and Transparent Water Data Act, 48 THE U. OF PAC. L. REV. 785 (2017) and co-authored "Proposition 53: Revenue Bonds. Statewide Voter Approval," California Initiative Review (CIR): Vol. 2016, Article 4. "Proposition 64: Marijuana Legalization," California Initiative Review (CIR): Vol. 2016, Article 15.

Mr. Marchini attended California State University, Fresno and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Business, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, and a Certificate of Legal Studies. He then continued his studies at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law as a Justice Anthony Kennedy Fellow and graduated with a Juris Doctor and a Certificate of Concentration in Water and Environmental Law. While attending McGeorge, Mr. Marchini worked as a summer associate at the law firm Herum\Crabtree\Suntag Attorneys in Stockton, California and as a law clerk for the Governor’s office of Planning and Research and the San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority. In his final year of law school, Mr. Marchini was awarded the Ferris-White Prize for Excellence in Trial Advocacy.

Mr. Marchini is licensed to practice by the State Bar of California and the District of Columbia Bar.

Colyear v. Rolling Hills Community Assn. of Rancho Palos Verdes (2024) 100 Cal.App.5th 110

In Colyear v. Rolling Hills Community Assn. of Rancho Palos Verdes (2024) 100 Cal.App.5th 110, the Court of Appeal for the Second District held that the Rolling Hills Community Association of Rancho Palos Verdes (“Association”) could not enforce a

Temple of 1001 Buddhas v. City of Fremont (2024) 100 Cal.App.5th 456

In Temple of 1001 Buddhas v. City of Fremont (2024) 100 Cal.App.5th 456, the Court of Appeal for the First District held that the City of Fremont holding hearings for appeals of determinations related to building code violations in front of a single

Make UC A Good Neighbor v. Regents of the University of California (2024) 16 Cal.5th 43

In response to a proposed development that would increase student housing, Make UC a Good Neighbor and People’s Park Historic District Advocacy Group (“Good Neighbor”) brought a lawsuit against the Regents, the President, and the Chancellor of

City of Norwalk v. City of Cerritos (2024) 99 Cal.App.5th 977

In City of Norwalk v. City of Cerritos (2024) 99 Cal.App.5th 977, the Court of Appeal for the Second District addressed the appeal of a public nuisance action brought by the City of Norwalk (“Norwalk”) against the City of Cerritos (“Cerritos”

Planning & Conservation League v. Department of Water Resources (2024) 98 Cal.App.5th 726

In Planning & Conservation League v. Department of Water Resources (2024) 98 Cal.App.5th 726, the Third District Court of Appeal upheld the Department of Water Resources’ (“Department”) approval of amendments to existing water supply contracts under the State Water Project

Vichy Springs Resort, Inc. v. City of Ukiah (2024) 101 Cal.App.5th 46.

In Vichy Springs Resort, Inc. v. City of Ukiah (2024) 101 Cal.App.5th 46, the First District Court of Appeal held completion of a project did not render claims against a city alleging CEQA violations moot because effective relief was still possible. Additionally, the