Litigation - Land Use and Zoning Land Use and Zoning Law Water Law
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Los Angeles.
Edward J. "Ed" Casey
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2015 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Ed Casey represents a variety of residential, retail and commercial developers in land use matters, including those arising under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). His practice encompasses every facet of the entitlement process, from pre-acquisition due diligence to permitting, and he has successfully prosecuted and defended CEQA and other land use lawsuits for a number of major development projects. Ed was listed in the 2015 and 2016 editions of The Best Lawyers in America© and named a “2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Energy, Environmental, and Land Use Law” by The Recorder. In 2012, Ed was featured in the Daily Journal as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers in California,” and in 2011, the Daily Journal named Ed one of California’s Top 25 Land-Use Leaders.
Ed’s practice also focuses on water supply issues arising from development projects. He has represented private landowners and developers in connection with securing sufficient water supplies for their projects in accordance with recent water supply legislation.
Ed is a member of the board of governors of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation and chairs the Land Use Committee of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. He received his J.D., with honors, from the University of Chicago in 1985.
Ed’s practice also focuses on water supply issues arising from development projects. He has represented private landowners and developers in connection with securing sufficient water supplies for their projects in accordance with recent water supply legislation.
Ed is a member of the board of governors of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation and chairs the Land Use Committee of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. He received his J.D., with honors, from the University of Chicago in 1985.
Overview
- University of Chicago, J.D., graduated 1985
- Hofstra University, BA
- California, United States
- California, United States
- University of Chicago, J.D., graduated 1985
- Hofstra University, BA
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Litigation - Land Use and Zoning, Los Angeles (2026)
- Litigation - Land Use and Zoning, Los Angeles (2020)
- Land Use and Zoning Law, Los Angeles (2018)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Land Use and Zoning Law
- Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
- Water Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Environmental Law
News & Media
Additional Information
- Entitlement Experience
- Represents a major private utility in Southern California on CEQA and other environmental matters for a variety of infrastructure projects.
- Represented the developer of the “Grand Avenue Project,” a large residential, hotel and commercial project in downtown Los Angeles, including securing CEQA clearance from multiple Los Angles agencies.
- Represents the developers of a new mixed-use project near new transit stations in Los Angeles.
- Represents a national movie theater chain in new development projects throughout California.
- Represents a variety of residential developers throughout the City of Los Angeles, including Hollywood.
- Represented the developer of the new Broad Art Museum in downtown Los Angeles in securing CEQA clearance and other land use approvals.
- Represents a variety of Southern California residential developers in securing water supplies from central and northern California, including a multiagency water supply agreement for a “new town” development in eastern Riverside County.
- Represented museums and hospitals in obtaining entitlements and CEQA approvals.
- Land Use Litigation Experience
- Represents the developer of the largest mixed-use project in the Westside of Los Angeles (Playa Vista), which is composed of 2,600 residential units, 150,000 square feet of retail and other commercial uses. Secured favorable appellate and trial court decisions upholding EIR and Addendum for the project.
- Represents Westfield, an international shopping center developer, in various land use matters and lawsuits throughout California, including Los Angeles, Arcadia, San Diego and Sacramento.
- Represented the Autry Museum, a major Los Angeles museum, in CEQA and Ralph M. Brown Act related litigation. Secured multiple trial and appellate court decisions that allowed the Autry to use a multimillion-dollar grant from the state to renovate its Griffith Park facility.
- Representing a mixed use developer, successfully defended two CEQA lawsuits at trial court level.
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