Best Lawyers in America for Land Use and Zoning Law
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Ivan M. Lui-Kwan was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii. He has practiced law for over 50 years, focusing on Hawaii’s land use, administrative and real estate law. Mr. Lui-Kwan is a Director of the law firm, has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America ® for Administrative/Regulatory Law, Government Relations Practice, Land Use and Zoning Law, Leisure & Hospitality Law, Real Estate Law, and named “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu by The Best Lawyers in America ®...
Edward J. Kus is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Municipal Law. Edward J., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Edward J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
A persuasive and successful litigator, Phil has handled a variety of litigation matters including complex commercial disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims, partnership and shareholder disputes, adverse possession claims, prescriptive easement claims, quiet title actions, landlord/tenant cases, and collection actions. He frequently appears in the Connecticut Probate Court system representing beneficiaries, fiduciaries, and creditors in a variety of probate litigation matters, including con...
Robert B. Frost, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Municipal Law. Robert B., who practices law in Knoxville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Benjamin T. McCall is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law. Benjamin T., who practices law in Portland, Maine, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Stephen D. Rees, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law, Municipal Law and Real Estate Law. Stephen D., who practices law in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jeff E. Wright is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law and Litigation - Land Use and Zoning. Jeff E., who practices law in Naples, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeff E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Nearly 30 years’ experience representing leading gaming companies. Skilled at navigating Nevada’s regulatory requirements. Deep understanding of licensing requirements and strategies to ensure clients secure licensure and remain in compliance. Sonia Church Vermeys helps clients navigate Nevada's complex regulatory requirements related to commercial development and liquor and gaming licensing. Her practice primarily focuses on commercial transactions, including complex financings, ...
Ethan B. Wasserman is a member of the Land Use Practice of the firm’s Miami office. Ethan focuses his practice on land use, development and general real estate matters. He represents clients in all aspects of the development approval process, from site diligence, subdivision and concurrency impacts, land use/zoning applications and construction permitting. During and post construction, clients call on Ethan to assist with day-to-day local government matters, including building and code ...
Bill Patterson helps lenders, developers, investors, and business owners move real estate deals from concept to closing efficiently and with confidence. Since 2000, he has primarily focused his practice on real estate financing and commercial transactions, advising clients throughout the full lifecycle of real property matters from initial structuring through post closing issues. Bill works with local, regional, and national banks and other financial institutions on commercial real estate tra...
Todd E. Lehder is co-chair of the Real Estate team at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. Mr. Lehder is ranked by Chambers USA for Real Estate in New Jersey and is a fellow with the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. Mr. Lehder represents professional developers, real estate investors, lenders, and property management companies, as well as borrowers, landlords, and tenants in a variety of office, industrial, retail, and residential projects in New Jersey. He handles complex commercial ...
Chris Colwell concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial real estate transactions, representing owners, sellers, and developers in a variety of transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, routine and complex leasing matters, financings and development of commercial real estate properties throughout South Carolina and the United States. Chris has significant third-party legal opinion experience for real estate lending in the State of South Carolina. Chris also...
Mr. Policastro is a transactional, business attorney, who focuses his practice in development, redevelopment, environmental compliance cases, corporate transactional matters, land use, zoning and business counseling. Admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York, he has represented numerous national developers, manufacturers, cogeneration facilities and utilities, automobile dealerships, lenders, borrowers and municipal boards in myriad land use contexts, including commercial and residentia...
Mr. Stearns has extensive experience advising a broad range of clients in commercial real estate developments and managing the permitting, financing and development of office, residential and other commercial development projects. Such clients include developers, institutional investors, buyers, sellers, financial institutions, hospitals, securitized mortgage brokers, landlords, tenants and others involved in real estate and business transactions. Mr. Stearns has significant experience appear...
Nectaria Chakas is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law. Nectaria, who practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nectaria is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Stacy Plotkin Silber is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Stacy Plotkin, who practices law in Bethesda, Maryland, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stacy Plotkin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.