Representative Experience Served as special counsel to the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission as to CEQA and related regulatory matters in its negotiations with the National Football League. Advised and represented Costco Wholesale Corporation in preparation of EIRs for its projects in La Quinta and National City, CA. Obtained approval by the respective city councils and the projects were not legally challenged. This favorable outcome saved our client millions of dollars by avoiding potential traffic, wetlands, sensitive species, replacement of natural resources mitigation and other requirements. Counseled the developer of mixed-use, 336-acre project in Chino Hills, CA in preparation of EIR, which was approved by the city council and not legally challenged. Helped the client avoid additional, costly mitigation measures or reduced density project alternatives. In addition, we persuaded the California Dept. Fish & Game (Streambed Alteration Agreement), the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana Division (Section 401 Water Quality requirements) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Section 404 Permit) to issue the required permits. This saved the client many thousands of dollars in mitigation and project delay expenses. Represented the developers of the Montage Hotel site, a public-private partnership between the developer and the City of Beverly Hills, in preparation of the EIR. We addressed complex urban in-fill issues including traffic, air quality and historic resources and the EIR successfully withstood legal attack by project opponents at the trial court and appellate levels. Served as special CEQA counsel to the City Attorney of Huntington Beach and the city on protecting the 1,600-acre Bolsa Chica Wetlands from a substantial residential development. Served as special CEQA counsel to the City Attorney of the City of Industry and the city on its proposal to construct a massive waste materials transfer facility using long-haul rail to remote disposal locations. Advised private developer of an approximately 600,000-square-foot industrial warehouse and distribution facility on how to address greenhouse gas emissions individually and cumulatively in the project. Represented the developer of a mixed-use development located on former industrial land against challenges that the development and its uses would pose a health risk to the community. Successfully worked with community groups and the local authorities to remove opposition to the project on these grounds. Achieved client goals in our representation of the developer of a golf course community opposed to a large-scale biosolid composting facility proposed by Waste Management. Our opposition efforts on local, regional and statewide fronts led Waste Management to abandon the project.
