Mitchell M. Tsai

Mitchell M. Tsai concentrates his practice on environmental and land use law. As the principal of Mitchell M. Tsai Law Firm, in Pasadena, California, Mr. Tsai represents individuals, businesses and organizations in Pasadena and throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Over the course of his career, Mr. Tsai has appeared before state and federal courts and participated in various administrative proceedings. He is the author of articles for the Daily Journal and Los Angeles Lawyer magazine and holds licenses to practice law before all California state courts and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Mr. Tsai is an Associate Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, and a member of the Trial Law Institute and Diversity Law Institute. Mr. Tsai earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations with a minor in gender studies from the University of Southern California. He received his law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. He also earned a certificate in environmental and natural resources. Prior to founding his law firm, Mr. Tsai acquired legal experience by clerking for the U.S. Department of Justice Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment Now, Los Angeles Waterkeeper and two private attorneys. He also practiced as an associate with a private firm, handling complex land use and environmental matters. Before embarking on his legal career, Mr. Tsai was a researcher and policy advocate for organizations, including the California League of Conservation Voters, the Fund for the Public Interest, Taiwan Environmental Action Network and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research. He is a former fellow in the Southern California Leadership Network. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Mitchell M. Tsai included in a Super Lawyers® list Other Sources of Feedback About Mitchell M. Tsai Included on the 2026Southern California Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Southern California Super Lawyers list 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers list 2023 Southern California Super Lawyers list 2022 Southern California Super Lawyers list 2021 Southern California Super Lawyers list 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers list

• Principal

• The Law Office of Gideon Kracov, Associate
• United States Department of Justice Environmental Enforcement Section, Santa Monica Baykeeper (now known as Los Angeles Waterkeeper), Law Clerk
• Environment Now, Law Offices of Robert Ukeiley, Law Clerk
• Rod Danielson Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee, Law Clerk
• Air Quality Coordinator for the Northwest Environmental Defense Center
• Languages
• Mandarin Chinese

• Mitchell Tsai, “How To Stop Major Development Projects in California” New American Leaders Fellowship Meeting (Dec. 4, 2013).
• Gideon Kracov, Shufan Sung, & Mitchell M. Tsai, “Can Citizen Suits Help China Battle Pollution” Los Angeles Daily Journal (Jan. 8, 2014).
• Mitchell M. Tsai, “CEQA ‘Reform’ Begins To Take Hold” Los Angeles Daily Journal” (Aug. 25, 2014).
• Mitchell M. Tsai, “Til The Well Runs Dry: Administrative Record Preparation Cost Recovery Under The California Environmental Quality Act” American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources Energy and Natural Resources Litigation Committee Newsletter (Dec. 2014).
• Mitchell M. Tsai, “Concerns about a CEQA Reform That Favors Multimodal Transportation” Los Angeles Lawyer” (Jan. 2015).
• Mitchell M. Tsai, “The Ports of Los Angeles And Long Beach Backstop Rule: An Indirect Way For States To Make Polluters Live Up To Their Commitments” American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources Air Quality Committee Newsletter (July 2015)
• Southern California Leadership Network, 2013-2014 New American Leaders Fellow –Fellowship program providing leadership and communications training to develop leadership skills for first and second generation Americans.

• United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
• California League of Conservation Voters
• Taiwan Environmental Action Network
• Fund for Public Interest Research

• Supreme Court of California
• U.S. District Court Central District of California
• California
• District of Columbia Court of Appeals
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

• Litigation Counsel of America (Associate Fellow, Order of Veritas)
• Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy (Board member)
• Central Committee for the Los Angeles County Democratic Party (Elected member)