On September 26, 2024, Daniel Freedman, partner at JMBM, participated in a webinar hosted by Less Red Tape titled, “Historic Districts and Implications to Owners.” The webinar addressed the growing trend of historic designations across the state as well as the legal and practical impacts for property owners. Click here to watch the webinar. JMBM […] The post JMBM Partner Daniel Freedman Speaks on Historic District Designations in Webinar Hosted by Less Red Tape appeared first on California Land Use Blog ..read more

Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP’s (JMBM) Housing Strategy and Litigation Group recently achieved a notable victory for an affordable housing project in West Los Angeles. This development, comprising 43 rental units and one manager’s unit, is a 100-percent affordable residential project. The City of Los Angeles’ Department of City Planning approved the project on […] The post JMBM’s Housing Strategy and Litigation Group Successfully Defends ED-1 Affordable Housing Project appeared first on California Land Use Blog ..read more

In the case of Sheetz v. County of El Dorado, the United States Supreme Court reviewed a challenge by George Sheetz of a traffic impact mitigation fee imposed by the County of El Dorado. This fee was required as a condition for Sheetz to obtain a permit for constructing a small prefabricated single-family home in Placerville, California. Sheetz argued that the fee constituted an unconstitutional taking under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and that a legal challenge to the fee should be reviewed under the heightened scrutiny standards established in Nollan v. Cal. Coastal Comm’n ..read more

JMBM is pleased to announce that Daniel Freedman, a distinguished partner in JMBM’s Government Land Use and Energy department and co-chair of the firms Housing Strategy and Litigation Group, has been chosen as an adjunct professor for the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Urban Planning graduate program. This prestigious appointment highlights his exceptional expertise at the intersection of law and urban planning. Daniel has also served as an adjunct professor in the graduate urban planning program for California State University Northridge. Being selected to teach at one of the nation’s p ..read more

JMBM’s Housing Strategy and Litigation Group represents an affordable housing developer proposing to construct a 44-unit, 100 percent affordable, residential development in the West Los Angeles community. The LA Department of City Planning approved the project in December 2023 and found that it meets the requirements of the Los Angeles Mayor’s Executive Directive-1 (ED-1) program – which provides for expedited approvals and prevents appeals for projects that are 100 percent affordable. Two weeks later, the Department accepted an appeal from a neighborhood group challenging the project’s approv ..read more

In recent years, a series of powerful housing laws have been passed by the California legislature to restrict local agencies from delaying, downsizing, or rejecting housing development projects. These measures aim to enhance the enforceability of key statutes, such as the California Housing Accountability Act (HAA) and the Housing Crisis Act (SB330). The overall objective is to begin to address the state-wide housing crisis by streamlining the approval process for new housing projects while simultaneously curbing a local agencies ability to obstruct the permitting process. JMBM’s Government, L ..read more

The Land Use lawyers of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (JMBM) represent Neighbors for Hillside Safety, an unincorporated association of homeowners, residents, and stakeholders who live and work within the proposed Wildlife Ordinance District being considered as part of the City’s Wildlife Pilot Study and the associated Wildlife Ordinance District. This proposed ordinance would rezone over 23,000 acres of the City, impacting tens of thousands of homes without any environmental analysis and without legally adequate notice. Ben Reznik, Chair of the Firm’s Government, Land Use, Environme ..read more

Los Angeles—JMBM’s Land Use Group is pleased to announce that three partners in the practice were recognized by Best Lawyers in America® for Land Use and Zoning Law. Department Chairman Benjamin M. Reznik was included on the Best Lawyers in America list for 2023, and partners Neill E. Brower and Daniel F. Freedman were recognized as “Ones to Watch.” Best Lawyers in America is based on a comprehensive peer-review survey in which tens of thousands of top lawyers evaluate the legal abilities of other lawyers within their practice areas. The “Ones to Watch” list recognizes lawyers earlier in their ..read more

LOS ANGELES–Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (JMBM) is pleased to announce that the Firm’s Land Use & Zoning practice has again received the highest possible designation of National Tier 1 in the 2022 U.S. News and World Report – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings. The report recognizes the top law firms in the country for professional excellence based on peer review. “I’m proud of the level of service we offer, the expertise we have developed, and the results we achieve,” said Benjamin Reznik, Chair of the Government, Land Use, Environment & Energy Department ..read more

LOS ANGELES—Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (JMBM) is pleased to announce that the firm’s Government, Land Use, Environment and Energy Department has once again been ranked as a National Tier 1 practice by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” for 2021. The designation, which is the highest ranking given by the publication, reflects the practice’s commitment to legal excellence and achieving positive results for clients developing real estate projects throughout the country. “It’s rewarding to have our work recognized by U.S. News again this year,” said Benjamin Reznik, Chair of ..read more