Best Lawyers in America for Land Use and Zoning Law
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State
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...
Timothy M. Burke is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation - Land Use and Zoning and Litigation - Municipal. Timothy M., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Timothy M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Elaine R. Albrich is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law and Land Use and Zoning Law. Elaine R., who practices law in Portland, Oregon, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Elaine R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Wayne A. Boyer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law. Wayne A., who practices law in Canton, Ohio, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Wayne A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Joe Calderon advises on real estate transactions, land use and zoning, and real property taxation. With more than 25 years of experience, Joe represents real estate developers, tenants and end users of real estate, business owners, individuals, nonprofits and governmental agencies in a wide range of matters and complex transactions. Joe advises on and manages zoning, development, leasing and real property tax issues, having handled hundreds of zoning cases, property tax assessment appeals and...
Clifford I. Hertz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Clifford I., who practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Clifford I. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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 ...
Phillip Hummel represents developers, property owners, nonprofits (including hospitals, museums, and religious organizations), and senior living facilities on zoning, planning, entitlements, permitting, historic preservation, development impact taxation, and other land use matters across several Maryland jurisdictions. He counsels clients from due diligence through permitting, regularly appears before municipal, county, and state agencies, and brings significant litigation experience to Maryl...
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.
Amanda J. Monchamp is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law and Litigation - Environmental. Amanda J., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amanda J. 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.
Jim focuses his practice on representing public and private sector clients in complex matters involving zoning, condemnation, economic incentives, elections, telecommunications, municipal law, environmental law and commercial real estate. He assists clients in landfill development, obtaining economic incentives from state and local governments, locating cell towers, condemnations, election challenges, rezonings, annexation disputes and procurement challenges. Jim practiced for 18 years in the...
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...
William W. Merrill, III is a shareholder at Icard Merrill. His nationally recognized practice in land use, planning, transportation and environmental law includes representation of both developers and public sector clients. He has received the "AV" rating, the highest rating available, from Martindale-Hubbell, which is recognized as the most respected source of authoritative and dependable information about members of the legal community and reflects confidential ratings by other lawyers and ...
Jeffrey has practiced land use and zoning law for over 35 years, and also has practiced in the fields of real estate law and litigation, earning recognition for himself and the firm he co-founded in 1996 with Michael Radell. As one of the most prominent attorneys in his field, Jeffrey represents real estate developers, landowners, institutional clients, lenders and other property owners. His practice covers all aspects of local, state and federal real estate permitting and licensing, includin...
Tim Grooms is widely recognized for his high-value and high-complexity real estate work as well as his dedication and commitment to his clients. He represents a diverse clientele including banks, health care providers, real estate developers and owners and brokers in a broad range of transactional matters. With significant experience in both real estate and commercial lending, Mr. Grooms regularly advises and has successfully negotiated hundreds of retail, office, and commercial purchase and ...
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.