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2023-05-26: Updated: 2023-05-26 15:03:42 New Sixth Circuit Decision Clarifies Important Takings Law

2023-03-15: Updated: 2023-03-15 15:05:20 JMBM Wins Another Significant Housing Accountability Act Lawsuit

2022-08-29: Updated: 2022-08-29 11:38:12 JMBM Land Use Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers for 2023

2022-01-31: Updated: 2022-01-31 09:21:25 JMBM’s Land Use & Zoning Practice Receives National Tier 1 Ranking in 2022 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2020-11-10: Updated: 2020-11-10 11:05:47 JMBM’s Land Use & Zoning Practice Receives Highest Ranking in 2021 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”

by Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2020-09-30: Updated: 2020-10-13 11:46:10 California Assembly Bill 1561 supports housing development

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2020-06-17: Updated: 2020-06-17 17:01:55 County of San Diego’s Latest Effort to Adopt an Adequate Climate Action Plan Fails

by Neill Brower of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2020-03-05: Updated: 2020-03-05 10:28:33 Alert: Major Changes to ADU Laws Permit Additional Units to Single and Multi-Family Buildings

by Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2019-11-01: Updated: 2019-11-01 11:06:29 JMBM’s Land Use & Zoning Law Practice Ranked in 2020 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms.”

by Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2019-09-04: Updated: 2021-04-30 16:21:21 Ben Reznik named “Lawyer of the Year” in Land Use & Zoning in Los Angeles

by Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2019-05-13: Updated: 2019-05-13 09:34:03 JMBM Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Coalition Challenging Ventura County Wildlife Corridor Ordinance Approved Without Environmental Review

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2018-11-02: Updated: 2018-11-02 12:03:57 California Appeals Court Upholds Legislative Workaround that Mooted CEQA Suit Targeting Development Project in Los Angeles

by Martin Stratte of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2018-11-01: Updated: 2018-11-01 10:29:50 JMBM’s Land Use & Zoning Practice Ranked as Metropolitan Tier 1 “Best Law Firm” in 2019 by U.S. News & World Report

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2018-06-19: Updated: 2020-11-12 13:24:43 New California Prop 65 Warnings Required by August 30, 2018 – Is your business ready?

by Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2017-08-18: Updated: 2021-04-30 16:51:19 JMBM Government, Land Use and Environmental Lawyers Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America® Guide

by Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2015-08-05: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:27 State Agencies Cannot Use State Budgetary Uncertainties to Escape Mitigation Obligations under CEQA

by Neill Brower of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2015-04-13: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:28 Government & Land Use Lawyer Daniel F. Freedman Joins Jeffer Mangels in Los Angeles

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2015-03-20: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:30 Land Use Lawyer: Football in Los Angeles? It’s All About The Land.

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2015-02-05: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:31 California Land Use Lawyer: Will We See CEQA Reform In 2015?

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2015-01-07: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:32 Residential Development in California: New Density Bonus Law Makes New Affordable Housing Difficult to Build

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2014-12-05: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:34 Developers of single- and multi-family density bonus projects should submit their applications now

by Neill Brower of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2014-11-24: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:36 Land Use Lawyer: Downtown Los Angeles Benefits from Chinese Investment

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2014-11-10: Updated: 2017-04-20 10:59:47 CEQA Bill to Protect Native American Cultural Resources Creates New Challenges and Opportunities for Project Applicants

by Kerry Shapiro

2014-11-05: Updated: 2017-05-26 08:00:48 JMBM Named as a 2015 Best Law Firm in Land Use and Zoning Law for Third Year in a Row

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2014-10-10: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:40 Downtown Los Angeles Real Estate is Taking Off

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2014-04-09: Updated: 2017-04-20 11:01:23 New Law Allows Mining Operators to Remedy Compliance Issues and Retain AB 3098 List Status

by Kerry Shapiro

2014-03-24: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:43 Bowman v. California Coastal Commission: New California Court of Appeal Decision Holds that a Collateral Attack is no Substitute for Challenging a Condition Imposed upon the Issuance of a Quasi-Judicial Permit through a Direct Appeal

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2014-03-21: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:44 Property Reserve, Inc. v. Superior Court: California Property Owners Secure Victory in New Eminent Domain Opinion

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2014-03-07: Updated: 2017-04-20 11:01:40 SB 1270 Proposes Significant California Mining Reform

by Kerry Shapiro

2014-03-03: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:46 Tower Lane Properties v. City of Los Angeles: JMBM Prevails in Published Court of Appeal Opinion Holding that a City’s Erroneous Interpretation of an Ordinance At Odds with its Historical Practice is Entitled to No Deference

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2014-03-03: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:48 Appellate Court Rules in Favor of Saudi Prince in Benedict Canyon Case

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2014-02-25: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:49 New California Court of Appeal Opinion Holds That Supreme Court’s Seminal Nollan and Dolan Opinions do Not Apply Where a Permit Condition Does Not Otherwise Constitute a Taking

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2014-02-25: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:50 Foothill Communities Coalition v. County of Orange: New California Court of Appeal Upholds Use of “Spot Zoning” Where a “Substantial Public Need” Exists

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2013-11-08: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:52 JMBM Hotel Developers Forum: Miguel Santana advocates hotel expansion for downtown Los Angeles

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2013-11-01: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:53 JMBM Recognized as a 2014 Best Law Firm in Land Use & Zoning Law

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2013-09-24: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:54 Last-Minute CEQA Bill Brings Significant Changes for Major Infrastructure Projects and Projects within Transit Priority Areas

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2013-08-13: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:56 Planned Use of Eminent Domain Powers to Condemn Underwater Mortgages Faces Uncertain Constitutional Outcome

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2013-08-05: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:58 California Supreme Court to Local Agencies: Hypothetical Future Baselines in CEQA are not per se Improper in All Cases, but likely are Improper in the Vast Majority

by Neill Brower of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2013-07-26: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:34:59 Citizens for Ceres v. Superior Court: New California Court of Appeal Opinion Addressing Privilege Issues in Connection with Review Under California’s Environmental Quality Act Will Have Lasting Impact on Litigation Involving Land Use Entitlements

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2013-07-16: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:00 Good News for Developers and Affordable Housing Advocates: California Court of Appeal Rejects Significant Challenge to State’s Density Bonus Law

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2013-06-19: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:01 State Law Preemption of Local Land Use Regulations and the Supreme Court’s Recent Decision Upholding Citywide Ban on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2013-06-17: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:02 Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Withstands Facial Challenge in New California Court of Appeal Decision; California Building Industry Association v. City of San Jose

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2013-06-07: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:03 Developers’ Rights Alert: California Property Owner Prevails in Significant Regulatory Takings Case

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2013-04-25: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:04 CEQA Claimants Be Warned: New California Court of Appeal Opinion Holds That CEQA Filing Deadlines are Mandatory and Not Subject to Extension for Good Cause

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2013-03-14: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:05 JMBM 2013 California Real Estate Survey finds opportunities moving from distressed properties to more normalized real estate

by Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2013-02-15: Updated: 2017-04-20 11:01:50 Ninth Circuit Ruling in Center for Biological Diversity v. Salazar Creates Tension Between Federal and California Law Regarding Idle Mines and Interim Management Plans

by Kerry Shapiro

2013-02-08: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:08 Saudi Prince Files a $25 Million Lawsuit Against the City of Los Angeles for Illegally Blocking Construction of His Family Residential Estate in Benedict Canyon

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2013-01-09: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:10 Property Owner Prevails on Appeal in Eminent Domain Case After Trial Court Erroneously Excludes Expert’s Appraisal Opinion

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-12-14: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:11 Turn Out the Lights: New Court of Appeal Opinion Invalidates Settlement Agreement Allowing for Digital Conversion of Billboards

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-12-05: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:12 New Eminent Domain Opinion From California Court of Appeal Holds That Business Owner is not Entitled to Jury Determination of Lost Goodwill Until Trial Judge Makes Preliminary Determination of Existence of Business Goodwill

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-11-18: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:14 New Court of Appeal Opinion Concerning Sign Rights Highlights Need for Diligence on the Part of Billboard Companies

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-11-01: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:15 New Ninth Circuit Opinion Finds Regulatory Takings Claim Fails Where Economic Impact of Manufactured Home Park Zoning Ordinances Was Minimal

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-10-26: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:16 Bad News and Good News for Billboard Companies: Ninth Circuit Refuses to Recognize Limit on City of Los Angeles Sign Ordinance but Curbs the Power of the City to Classify Commercial and Noncommercial Speech

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-09-27: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:18 Property Rights and Eminent Domain: Court Overturns Condemnation Victory On Right to Take Where Taking Did Not Result in Landlocked Parcel

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-08-28: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:21 Eminent Domain and Inverse Condemnation: Court of Federal Claims Opinions Recognize Limits to Right of Compensation for Less Than Permanent Takings

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-08-25: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:23 Los Angeles Superior Court Rules Saudi Prince’s Benedict Canyon Project Was Illegally Subjected to L.A. Building Code Provisions

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-08-08: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:24 Litigating Property Rights Cases in California: Law Seminars International

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-07-29: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:25 Bay Island Club v. California Coastal Commission; Newport Beach Property Owner Succeeds in Invalidating Coastal Commission Permit Condition in Litigation Implicating Regulatory Takings Theories

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-07-12: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:26 Developers’ Rights and Due Process; Illegal Moratoria Do Not Give Rise to Section 1983 Civil Rights Claims

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-06-15: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:28 Attention Sign Companies and Outdoor Advertisers: New Ninth Circuit Decision Partially Invalidates on First Amendment Grounds Permit Scheme Regulating Commercial Weddings

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-05-29: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:29 Development Rights and CEQA Challenges: Court of Appeal Upholds 3-Year Tolling Agreement in CEQA Lawsuit – Cause of action governed by a 30-day limitations period

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-05-22: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:30 Litigant’s Failure to Establish Basis for Property Tax Base Transfer Highlights the Need to Exercise Special Care in Administrative Proceedings to Ensure that Judicial Remedies are Preserved

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-04-13: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:32 State Law Permitting Establishment of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Trumps Local Zoning Ordinances; Are There Implications for Sign and Supergraphics Litigation?

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-03-08: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:33 Following up on Avenida San Juan Partnership v. City of San Clemente: Judges’ reluctance to issue a writ prior to final judgment demonstrates need for clarification of Palma footnote

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-03-07: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:35 Heads Up Property Owners and Developers! Local challenges implicating Subdivision Map Act may impose 90-day statute of limitations – Aiuto v. City and County of San Francisco

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-03-07: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:37 Spot-Zoning and Regulatory Takings: Developer Succeeds in California Court of Appeal – Avenida San Juan Partnership v. City of San Clemente

by Matthew Hinks of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2012-01-20: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:40 City of LA Adopts Job Killer Policy

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2011-12-29: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:56:12 California Supreme Court Decision Eradicates Redevelopment Agencies

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2011-12-16: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:55:27 CEQA: State Agencies and Extra-Jurisdictional Impacts

by Neill Brower of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2011-12-01: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:35:45 Current Flux of California Redevelopment Law

by Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2011-11-23: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:55:31 CEQA: Sunnyvale Court Affirms Use of Multiple Baseline Scenarios in EIRs

by Neill Brower of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2011-11-09: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:48:25 Why is L.A. determined to treat the Deputy Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia unfairly?

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2011-11-03: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:48:35 Vanity Fair visits Benedict Canyon and exposes the real motivation of opponents to home of Saudi Prince

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2011-11-01: Updated: 2022-10-10 16:07:52 JMBM’s Land Use And Zoning Practice receives national first-tier ranking and metropolitan first tier ranking (Los Angeles)

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2011-10-19: Updated: 2017-04-20 11:02:00 Mining Lawyer: SB 108, A first step in solving the interim management plan problem (Part 3)

by Kerry Shapiro

2011-10-17: Updated: 2017-04-20 11:07:17 Mining Lawyer: SB 108, A first step in solving the interim management plan problem (Part 2)

by Kerry Shapiro

2011-10-14: Updated: 2017-04-20 11:07:26 Mining Lawyer: SB 108, A first step in solving the interim management plan problem (Part 1)

by Kerry Shapiro

2011-07-11: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:36:00 JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® announces formation of the Chinese Investment Group™

by Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2011-05-24: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:56:08 JMBM proposes amendments to CEQA

by Sheri Bonstelle of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2011-05-24: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:55:29 Court decision changes CEQA-related traffic impact analyses

by Neill Brower of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2011-05-24: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:48:27 Eldercare housing crisis looming

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2010-11-11: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:48:31 Gambol Industries, Inc.’s open letter to the Los Angeles City Council

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2010-11-01: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:48:29 Area Planning Commissions need help

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2010-11-01: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:56:10 Update: Los Angeles City Council approves ban on new supergraphics in Hollywood

by Sheri Bonstelle of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2010-10-29: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:48:38 Christine Essel, CEO of CRA/LA speaks at JMBM Business Issues Forum: Inside Look

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

2010-05-25: Updated: 2017-02-22 14:48:40 Affordable housing mandates must comply with state law

by Benjamin M. Reznik of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

Benjamin M. Reznik

Ben Reznik is the founder and chair of the Government, Land Use, Environment and Energy Department at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP. Ben's practice emphasizes real estate development entitlements, zoning and environmental issues. He appears regularly before planning commissions, city councils and other governmental boards and agencies, as well as the courts. Ben and his work have been featured in the Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Business Journal, and he has been included in the Los Angeles Daily Journal as one of California's "Top 100" lawyers. Ben leads a group of distinguished attorneys whose work has resulted in JMBM's inclusion in the U.S. News & World Report / Best Lawyers® list of Best Law Firms (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) with a National First-Tier Ranking and a Metropolitan First-Tier Ranking (Los Angeles) in the area of Land Use and Zoning Law. Contact Ben at BMR@jmbm.com or 310.201.3572.

Kerry Shapiro

Kerry Shapiro has a comprehensive government, land use, environmental, and natural resources practice, with extensive experience working with NEPA, CEQA, the Endangered Species Acts, the Mining Law of 1872, FLPMA, the Mineral Materials Act, SMARA, and the Clean Water Act, in relation to various entitlements and public land matters and related litigation, at federal, state, and local levels. Kerry has also specialized in representing the construction and building materials industry on mineral extraction and land development projects for over 20 years, and has secured entitlements for the largest federally-approved sand and gravel project in the United States, obtained the first-ever vested rights confirmation from the State of California for the largest construction aggregate deposit in California, and successfully represented clients before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on federal endangered species and mining law matters. Contact Kerry at KShapiro@jmbm.com or 415.398.8080.

Sheri Bonstelle

Sheri Bonstelle's practice focuses on land use, zoning, environmental, litigation and construction matters. She manages all aspects of the entitlement process, including representing clients before local and state agencies, commissions and councils. She coordinates environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and obtains permits and approvals necessary under the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, California Coastal Act, and historic preservation laws. She also negotiates participation and development agreements with the Community Redevelopment Agency, and obtains approval of adaptive reuse projects in historic buildings in Los Angeles. She coordinates land use and environmental diligence review for large multi-property portfolio sales and represents signage companies and building owners with respect to preserving signage rights in Los Angeles. Sheri is a licensed architect in the State of New York. Contact Sheri at SBonstelle@jmbm.com or 310.712.6847.

Neill Brower

Neill Brower represents JMBM's clients in environmental and land use issues, including permitting and regulatory compliance under CEQA, NEPA, CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Water Act, and the California Fish and Game Code. Prior to his legal career, Neill worked for 10 years managing and preparing a variety of environmental and urban planning documents, including environmental impact reports and statements, archaeological and historic resources technical studies, and natural resources permit applications. He also provided peer review of planning and technical documents. During this time, Neill worked extensively with local and state agencies as clients and as regulators. Contact Neill at NBrower@jmbm.com or 310.712.6833.

Matthew Hinks

Matthew Hinks is a litigator with a wide-ranging practice that focuses primarily on the representation of real estate developers in difficult land use cases. Matt has extensive experience litigating complex mandamus actions and other claims involving signage disputes, governmental takings, CEQA challenges, planning and zoning law, civil rights violations, eminent domain issues, title disputes, lease disputes and community redevelopment and density bonus law. He has extensive experience in both federal and state courts, including trial courts and courts of appeal, as well as in arbitration, mediation and administrative settings. Contact Matt at MHinks@jmbm.com or 310.201.3558.

Martin Stratte

Martin Stratte is a land use and environmental attorney who assists with the entitlement of complex projects throughout California in accordance with CEQA, NEPA, and California's greenhouse gas emission and climate change regulations. He also represents clients in related litigation. Contact Martin at MStratte@jmbm.com or 415.984.9627.