Lesley Forbes is a senior paralegal in the San Diego office of Latham & Watkins LLP, specializing in environmental law. She has worked as a paralegal for over 25 years in the San Diego area and joined Latham & Watkins LLP in 1986. Forbes has expertise in a broad range of environmental practice areas, including land use, complex litigation and regulatory compliance matters. During her 22 years with the firm, Forbes has assisted on numerous Superfund, toxic tort and private cost recovery matters and is nationally recognized within her firm as an expert in these areas. Forbes also has extensive experience in land use matters, including issues relating to entitlement, permitting and development of major residential, master-planned and redevelopment projects, and compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Her CEQA work includes assisting with the preparation and certification of adequate environmental impact reports, administrative records and other procedural aspects of the CEQA litigation process at both the trial and appeal court levels.

In addition to her client work, Forbes has served as the local coordinator of the firm’s Project Assistants Program and has participated in a variety of paralegal training programs, passing on her knowledge and expertise to more junior paralegals. She also devotes time to the firm’s pro bono matters and has appeared before the Social Security Income Appeals Board through the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program’s SSI Appeals Advocate Program.

During her career, Forbes has been active in a number of professional organizations, including University of San Diego Paralegal Alumni Association, San Diego Association of Legal Assistants and Voices for Children. Outside work, she is an active member of Volunteer San Diego and has organized numerous fundraising events for public schools within her community.

Forbes graduated from San Diego State University in 1980 and received her paralegal certification with honors from the University of San Diego in 1981.