Carina Valdez

Carina Valdez is a Senior Counsel at Sterling & Hayes LLP, where she has dedicated 15 years to mastering the complexities of state and local regulatory compliance. She earned her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, where her focus on administrative law laid the groundwork for her current specialization. Carina advises municipalities, developers, and businesses on a broad spectrum of issues, from land use and zoning ordinances to environmental permitting and public-private partnerships, always with an eye toward sustainable development. Her professional philosophy emphasizes clear, actionable legal guidance that empowers clients to navigate intricate legal landscapes effectively. Carina is the author of "The Municipal Code Handbook: A Practitioner's Guide to State Preemption," a definitive resource for legal professionals. Readers can expect her articles to offer insightful analysis, practical strategies, and up-to-date information on the evolving dynamics of state and local laws, presented with clarity and precision