Shanda M. Beltran
Practice Areas:
Land Use, Water Law, CEQA,- and Related Environmental Clearances, Business Transactions,
Shanda Beltran is an experienced environmental and land use attorney with an emphasis on water resources and CEQA matters. Shanda is recognized state-wide as an authority in water quality enforcement and has handled all types of water resource matters. She is also adept at complex CEQA and land use projects, having worked on numerous high-profile and complex projects throughout California.
After relocating to California, Shanda initially worked for Nossaman, focusing on endangered species and serving primarily the land development community. From 1998 to 2007, Shanda practiced with Latham & Watkins, as both an associate and senior counsel. She defended numerous clients in water quality compliance and enforcement actions, both at the state and federal administrative levels and in citizen-initiated lawsuits. She also represented other clients in water rights disputes, water supply and wetlands determinations, and drainage and flooding matters. She prepared and defended complex CEQA and other land use documents representing some of the largest landowners and homebuilders in the state and nation as well as major industrial operators, the energy sector, and agricultural operators.
Most recently, Shanda served as the Executive V.P. and General Counsel to the Building Industry Association of Southern California and Building Industry Legal Defense Foundation, from 2013 to 2018. While there she directed all legal activities for both organizations on local, state and national levels and across a broad swath of matters impacting the building industry, including development fees, local growth control, CEQA, construction defect, overregulation through environmental laws/rules, affordable housing, and other land use and planning regulations. She also handled all contracts, corporate governance, tax questions, human resources, and other business-related legal questions.
Professional Affiliations:
Shanda is a frequent public speaker and author of numerous articles on water law. In addition to her legal work, Shanda serves on the Board of Directors for the Construction Industries Alliance—a fundraising arm of the City of Hope National Cancer Center.
Education:
Shanda earned a B.A. with honors in Government from the University of Texas at Austin in 1994. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Texas in 1997. She is admitted to practice law in California and Texas.