Fennemore Wendel Silver Sponsor Spotlight

Amara Morrison understands municipal law, land use, and real estate from just about every angle. With more than 25 years of experience as an assistant city attorney, she’s worked closely with mixed use, residential, commercial, industrial and hotel developers, public agencies, and individuals and community groups on everything from land use approvals and subdivisions to capital improvement projects. She has extensive experience in all aspects of land use law, including compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Permit Streamlining Act, planning and zoning law, the Subdivision Map Act and affordable housing laws, including density bonus and SB 35.

Amara is currently general counsel to various transportation agencies and Geologic Hazard Abatement Districts (GHADs). Prior to private practice, Amara served as assistant city attorney for two Bay Area cities, where she advised officials and staff on matters including the California Public Records Act, the Ralph M. Brown Act, public finance and contracts, solid waste, risk management and conflicts of interest, First Amendment, and redevelopment. She drafted the state’s first comprehensive no-smoking ordinance, which banned smoking in the workplace (including bars and restaurants), cigarette vending machines, and smoking in multi-family housing units, an action followed by jurisdictions around the country.

Valued by clients for her responsive, determined, pragmatic style, she was named “Woman of Influence” by Globe Street Real Estate in 2019. Amara was also honored as one of San Francisco Business Times’ “Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business” in 2020 and a Northern California Super Lawyer® in 2023. She is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest rating available.

Amara is proud of her lengthy service to non-profit organizations, previously as Secretary and Board Member of Save Mount Diablo and currently as a Board Member of the Bay Planning Coalition. She is also Secretary for the East Bay Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW).

Amara is an avid dressage rider and hiker and proud parent of her daughter, Islay, who attends Brandeis University.