Best Lawyers in California, United States for Land Use and Zoning Law
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Susan Hori's practice focuses on land use planning issues, including development entitlements and regulatory permits for real estate development projects and the resolution of environmental issues affecting real property. The hallmark of Susan's practice is her track record of success in navigating the complex process of multiagency permits and approvals. Her clients include landowners, financial institutions, developers and builders in the residential, retail, hotel/resort, and commercial an...
Neil Sekhri is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law. Neil, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Neil is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Sara Ghalandari is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law. Sara, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sara is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Paul Rohrer represents governmental entities, nonprofit educational institutions, health care providers, developers, and other property owners in land use and entitlement matters and in the acquisition, sale, optioning, and ground leasing of real property. He has extensive experience working with governmental entities and private developers to create public infrastructure, provide affordable housing, fully utilize government property, and create development opportunities. He has experience ne...
Timi Hallem is a partner in Manatt’s Los Angeles office and a member of the real estate practice group. With over 30 years of real estate law experience, she has earned a reputation as the lawyer to whom clients turn with their most challenging projects. Timi’s practice covers all aspects of real property and hotel ownership and development, including acquisition, entitlement, development, financing, leasing and disposition. She has a depth of experience in all types of real estat...
Robert C. Herr is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Robert C., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 1987. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Matthew Gray focuses his practice on land use entitlement processing and litigation. He represents a range of local agencies, real estate developers and landowners in all stages of the land use entitlement and development process. He assists clients in negotiating and securing approval of development agreements, general plan amendments, specific plans, zoning, subdivision approvals, and annexation of property into cities and special districts; regularly appears before planning commissions and...
Rachel B. Horsch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Rachel B., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Rachel B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Julie focuses on environmental and land use counseling and litigation for complex development projects. She resolves issues that arise under the California Environmental Quality Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act, federal and state species protection statutes, and a range of other local, state and federal statutes and common law doctrines that affect land use. An experienced litigator in California and federal courts, Julie defends projects and uses this experienc...
R. Clark Morrison is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation - Land Use and Zoning, Natural Resources Law and Real Estate Law. R. Clark, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which R. Clark is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Bryan C. LeRoy is a partner in our Real Estate practice group and is based in our Los Angeles office. Bryan represents private and public entities in zoning, land use, environmental compliance, energy and infrastructure and other property development matters. Clients seek his counsel on property rights, entitlement strategy and the processing of land use permits, securing zoning approvals and managing environmental concerns and other project impacts, particularly with regard to requirements o...
Cecily Barclay focuses her practice on land use and entitlements, real estate acquisition and development and local government law. She regularly assists landowners, developers and public agencies throughout Northern California in all aspects of acquisition, entitlement and development of land, including land use application processing, drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, negotiating and securing the approval of development agreements, general plan amendments, specific plan...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.