Best Lawyers in California, United States for Land Use and Zoning Law
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Cities
Douglas J. Evertz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Douglas J., who practices law in Costa Mesa, California, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Douglas J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Tamsen Plume is a partner in Holland & Knight’s Public Policy & Regulation Group. Her practice concentrates on land use and environmental law. She represents project proponents in land use and environmental permitting, compliance, and due diligence matters for complex land use, development and redevelopment projects. Ms. Plume’s practice includes: Local land use entitlements, including development agreements, general plan amendments, zoning amendments, variances, design re...
Matthew Francois is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law. Matthew, 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 Matthew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
David has over twenty-five years of land use and environmental law experience. His practice focuses on CEQA, climate change, development agreements, discretionary permits and entitlements, infrastructure agreements, public-private partnerships, subdivisions, zoning, environmental regulatory compliance, CERCLA, RCRA, and Proposition 65. David regularly appears before planning commissions, city councils, and other federal, state, and local government agencies on land use and regulatory matters....
Alisha Patterson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law. Alisha, who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alisha is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Victor De la Cruz leads Manatt’s land use practice. He counsels developers, institutions, individuals, for-profit corporations and nonprofit organizations on matters at the nexus of law and government, including real estate development and land use entitlements, bid protests, and government contracts. In 2016, the Daily Journal named him one of the top 40 attorneys under the age of 40 in California, and in 2018, in recognition of his work in the area of land use, he received the Califor...
Mitchell B. Menzer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Mitchell B., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mitchell B. 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...
Bradley B. Brownlow is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law. Bradley B., 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 Bradley B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Sean Matsler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law. Sean, who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sean is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Morgan L. Gallagher is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law. Morgan L., who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Morgan L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.
David P. Lanferman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Litigation - Land Use and Zoning. David P., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
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.
Skillfully navigates complex and controversial development and infrastructure projects. More than 25 years of experience helping clients accomplish their land use, environmental law and litigation goals. Significant experience in CEQA matters. Diane offers her clients—developers, investors, cities and other private sector clients—land use and environmental law counsel, as well as proven litigation skills. With a deep understanding of public agency administrative processes, she str...
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.