Menu
Emily L. Brough's practice focuses on land use regulation and related real estate litigation, including writs & appeals and challenges to local ordinances and administrative decisions. She has substantial experience in matters involving the California Environmental Quality Act, and using California pro-housing laws, such as the Housing Accountability Act, Housing Crisis Act, Density Bonus Law, and ADU laws to negotiate project scopes and and compel project approvals.
During law school, Emily L. Brough won CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in evidence, community property, and eDiscovery. She also won best opposition brief in Moot Court, 2nd best brief in the Judge John R. Brown National Appellate Advocacy Competition, and was a staff member of the University of San Francisco Law Review.
Emily L. Brough is an East Coast native, but since moving to the Bay Area over 20 years ago, is a Californian at heart. She currently resides in Santa Cruz County with her family, and enjoys cycling, hiking, beaching, and supporting local artists.
Areas of Practice
- Real Estate Litigation
- Writs & Appeals
- Administrative Law
- Land Use Disputes
- Environmental Litigation
- Property Rights
Bar Admissions
- California
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco, California
- J.D. – 2012
- Honors: cum laude
- Honors: CALI Awards in Community Property, Evidence, and eDiscovery
- Honors: Moot Court, Best Opposition Brief, 2010
- Honors: Judge John R. Brown National Appellate Advocacy Competition, 2nd Best Brief, 2011
Representative Cases
- Coyne v. City and County of San Francisco, Nos. A145044, A146569, 2016 WL 455483 (Cal. Ct. App., Feb. 23, 2016)
- Small Property Owners of San Francisco Institute v. City and County of San Francisco (2018) 22 Cal.App.5th 77
- Kaileh v. San Francisco Residential Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Board, No. A156704, 2020 WL 7640297 (Cal. Ct. App., Dec. 22, 2020)
- Hilaly v. Allen (2019) 36 Cal.App.5th Supp. 12
- Owens v. City and County of San Francisco, No. A157981, 2021 WL 402411 (Cal. Ct. App., Feb. 5, 2021)
- California Renters Legal Advocacy & Education Fund v. City of San Mateo (2021) 68 Cal.App.5th 820
- Reznitskiy v. County of Marin (2022) 79 Cal.App.5th 1016
- San Francisco Apartment Association v. City and County of San Francisco, No. A161866, 2023 WL 3192774 (Cal. Ct. App., May 2, 2023)
- Durkin v. City and County of San Francisco (2023) 90 Cal.App.5th 643
- Oswald v. Landmark Builders, Inc. (2023) 97 Cal.App.5th 240
- Widen v. City and County of San Francisco, A167010, 2023 WL 5672414 (Cal. Ct. App., Aug. 22, 2023)
- NCR Properties, LLC v. City of Berkeley (2023) 89 Cal.App.5th 39
- San Francisco Apartment Ass’n v. City & Cnty. of San Francisco (2024) 104 Cal.App.5th 1218
- Keegan v. Halpern, No. A169399, 2024 WL 4675572 (Cal. Ct. App. Nov. 5, 2024)
- Emeruwa-Neuberg v. Lucchetti, No. A169573, 2024 WL 4795982, (Cal. Ct. App. Nov. 14, 2024)