Our Practice

Land Use and the Environment. Our lawyers offer clients “one-stop shopping” or a full spectrum approach to land use and environmental matters. The combined expertise of our lawyers allows clients to achieve efficient and successful solutions to the gamut of legal, environmental, and political obstacles that impede development. Our clients’ matters often require numerous agency approvals and permitting at multiple levels of government.

 

Types of Projects We Handle for Clients:

  • Administrative Appeals
  • Annexations/Sphere of Influence Decisions by LAFCO
  • CEQA/NEPA reviews
  • Conservation Easements
  • Conditional Use Permits
  • Development Agreements
  • Design and Architectural Reviews
  • Variances/Dedications/Exactions/Conditions of Approval
  • General and Specific Plan Approvals and Amendments
  • Land Use Due Diligence, Approvals and Defense of Approvals
  • Master-Planned Communities
  • Subdivisions
  • Water Supply (SB 221/610) Assessments
  • Water Quality Regulatory and Enforcement Cases
  • Drainage and Hydrology Dispute Resolution
  • Zoning Regulations

Agencies with Whom We Have Experience:

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • California Coastal Commission
  • California State Office of Historic Preservation
  • California Department Housing and Community Development
  • California Department of Fish and Game
  • California Department of Toxic Substance Control
  • California Office of Planning and Research
  • California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
  • California State Water Resources Control Board and Regional Water Quality Control Boards
  • Local Agency Formation Commissions
  • Counties of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura and Cities within these Counties
  • Local Planning, Building, Transportation and Cultural Resources Boards and Commissions

 

 Real Estate. Our real estate practice includes all aspects of real estate development, including acquisition, due diligence review, entitlement processing, leasing and property disposition. Todd Elliott has substantial expertise in negotiating the purchase and sale of real estate and in representing landlords and tenants in all types of lease transactions as well as litigation.  In addition to being a licensed attorney, Mr. Elliott is a licensed real estate broker in the state of California.

 

Business Transactions/Licensing. Our practice includes representation of corporations, Real Estate Investment Trusts, individuals, and companies in obtaining licensing approvals from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). We counsel and provide hospitality industry clients with the necessary information and expertise to obtain licensing approvals from the ABC. Where necessary, we defend the rights of ABC license holders before Administrative Agencies and the ABC Board of Appeals.

Litigation. Our lawyers engage in a full range of litigation and alternative dispute resolution matters. We prosecute and defend cases in state and federal courts as well as before arbitrators and regulatory agencies with a focus on real estate, land use and environmental disputes.   Ms. Truman has substantial experience at the trial and appellate court levels, representing and defending projects and developers challenges to land use approvals.

 

Environmental/Water Resources. Working cooperatively with public agencies and consultant teams, we obtain resource agency permits required to proceed with development projects.  Ms. Truman has over two decades of experience shepherding project through the CEQA process from the pre-application phase through defense of legal challenges.  With regard to water resources, Ms. Beltran has particular experience in the resolution of regulatory matters and disputes, including enforcement actions, related to water quality, drainage, and wetlands issues.