ISY offers broad experience in all aspects of zoning and land use, as well as the business and legal aspects of real estate development. This experience is combined with a comprehensive understanding of the complicated state and local regulatory environment that governs and controls the land use and development approval process. Our attorneys work closely with clients during the due diligence phase of a real estate transaction to understand existing conditions and constraints while helping to determine the approach to the local land use regulatory and political scheme that will result in achieving our clients’ goals and objectives. We prepare all necessary applications and present the proposals before public interest groups and at government hearings. We also have solid relationships with elected officials and municipal staff, as well as community, public interest and civic groups.

ISY strives to assist our clients, who include real estate owners, corporations, institutional investors, lenders, homebuilders and developers, in creating effective strategic approaches to the most complex land use, entitlement, regulatory and development issues. Our attorneys have significant experience assisting financial institutions in evaluating distressed real estate assets and preserving or reviving previously secured entitlements. Our land use practitioners collaborate with the firm’s real estate and finance attorneys in order to provide comprehensive advice to our clients with respect to the land use, planning, zoning and environmental aspects of real property.

We provide counsel to our clients in connection with all aspects of state and local regulations including general plans, zoning, development permits, subdivisions, environmental impact reports, coastal development, historic preservation, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and development exactions and conditions. We manage the entitlement process, oversee project teams and negotiate with municipal staff and elected officials. ISY’s attorneys also possess significant experience in dealing with the technical aspects of real estate development, including addressing building department, public works and infrastructure issues.