Matthew F Chalmers

Birch Citadel CEO and founder Matt Chalmers is a seasoned environmental attorney with over seven years of experience practicing at the forefront of climate change and energy law and policy, administrative law, CEQA, NEPA, land use planning, and permitting.

Experience: From 2014 to 2023, Matt served as an attorney for seven years with the California Energy Commission as well as in technical and policy advisor capacities. He was the lead attorney on numerous aggressive and high-profile energy efficiency rulemakings such as California's 2019 and 2022 Energy Codes, which implemented first-in-the-nation requirements that most new construction in California be built with solar panels and, in some cases, batteries. In addition to saving consumers and businesses billions of dollars, these regulations also reduced millions of tons of carbon emissions and were projected to save thousands of lives annually. During this time, Matt served as in-house legal counsel for the State of California and worked on over a dozen diverse areas of law, with a focus on energy and the environment.

Education: While studying at Stanford University, Matt had the opportunity to study and work under numerous IPCC WG2 Nobel Laureates, and was invited to be a Phi Beta Kappa speaker in 2012. After graduating, Matt was asked to return to help develop curriculum for the Stanford Woods Institute as an academic consultant. Following this, Matt went on to earn his J.D. from U.C. Davis School of Law, named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which is known for its environmental, public service, intellectual property, and international law programs. Matt completed rigorous courses of study in each, and received an Environmental Law Certificate as well as Witkin Awards in both Climate and Energy Law.

University of California, Davis, School of Law

J.D. (2015)

2012 - 2015

Honors: Environmental Law Certificate Witkin Award, Climate Law Witkin Award, Energy Law

Stanford University

B.A. (2012) | Political Science

2008 - 2012

Honors: Speaker, Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society

CEO and Founder

Birch Citadel

2023 - Current

Senior Counsel

California Energy Commission

2016 - 2023

Witkin Award for Academic Excellence for Climate Change Law and Policy

Witkin Legal Institute

2013

Witkin Award for Academic Excellence for Energy Law

Witkin Legal Institute

2013

State Bar of California  # 309306

Member

Current

Energy Bar Association

Member

2023 - Current

California Lawyers Association

Environmental Law Section

2017 - Current

California

State Bar of California

ID Number: 309306

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  We offer fixed-fee legal services as well as a reasonable and competitive standard hourly rate. Please contact us for additional information. Our team is standing by and ready to help: no legal matter is too big or too small for us to help you with. Call the Birch Citadel front desk at (916)-272-1410 or schedule an appointment at https://calendly.com/birch-citadel-matt-chalmers

• Climate Change Law & Policy
• Energy Law & Policy
• Renewables & Power Transmission