Nossaman LLP

Elizabeth Cousins

Elizabeth Cousins, chair of Nossaman's Infrastructure Group, has advised clients on an array of important infrastructure projects delivered through public-private partnerships (P3s), progressive and fixed price design-build, design-build-operate/maintain and other alternative delivery methods for more than 18 years. Public and private entities have benefited from her strategic and commercial advice in procuring complex and cutting-edge projects in the water, social and transportation infrastructure sectors. As a former attorney at one of Australia’s leading law firms, she advised on some of that country’s highest profile P3 deals. She now uses her skills to advance large U.S. projects – from business case and development to implementation and contract administration. As a result of her deep international and U.S. expertise in P3s and other non-traditional tools, Elizabeth is often called upon to help public agency clients launch their own alternative delivery programs to produce high-impact, one-of-a-kind projects. She handles a full range of issues in transactions including participating in industry engagement, developing and finalizing Requests for Qualifications and Requests for Proposals, carrying out contract negotiations, achieving commercial and financial close and contract administration.

Brad Kuhn, chair of Nossaman's Eminent Domain & Inverse Condemnation Group, is a nationally-recognized leader in the areas of eminent domain/inverse condemnation, land use/zoning and other property and business disputes. Brad has spent nearly two decades guiding public agencies, utilities and property owners through more than $30 billion of real estate development and infrastructure projects. An accomplished real estate and business litigation lawyer in California and across the United States, Brad focuses on the transportation, energy/gas, water, land use development and telecommunications sectors. His work has been profiled in numerous publications, including multiple cover features in Right of Way Magazine. He is a sought-after speaker and the author of several treatises on condemnation and real estate valuation. Both Chambers & Partners and Best Lawyers in America© recognize Brad for land use, zoning and infrastructure matters, commending his “responsiveness,” “practical, business-minded advice” and “high level of decorum.” He has earned the CRE® designation by the Counselors of Real Estate® and serves as Chair of the California (Southern) Chapter, distinguishing him as a leading advisor in complex real property matters. Some of Brad’s other accolades and recognitions include: Recognized as a “Top Real Estate and Development Lawyers” Lawyer for 2025 by Daily Journal Recognized as one of the “Top 100” lawyers in California by Daily Journal Identified as a Visionary in Commercial Real Estate by the Los Angeles Times Recognized by the Recorder as a California Trailblazer, a recognition given to only a “handful of attorneys that are truly agents of change” and have “made significant marks on the practice, policy and technological advancement of their practice” Selected for inclusion in the legal directory Best Lawyers in America© in the category of Land Use and Zoning Law Chosen for individual recognition by Chambers USA for Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use Law Recognized as the Top Rated Lawyer in Land Use and Zoning by the American Lawyer Named the Best Land Use/Zoning Attorney in Orange County by Orange County Register Recognized as the Best Eminent Domain Attorney by US Business News’ Legal Elite Selected as a Southern California Super Lawyer Rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, a rating given to only those attorneys who exhibit the highest level of professional excellence based on a review of their peers Brad serves as general counsel and sits on the Advisory Board for Mobility 21, and has served as general counsel to the International Right of Way Association (IRWA), where he was elected as President of the Inland Empire Chapter and named as the organization’s “Professional of the Year.”

Ben Rubin is chair of Nossaman’s Environment & Land Use Group. Ben assists developers, public agencies, landowners and corporate clients on a variety of complex land use and environmental matters. He counsels clients on matters dealing with the Federal and State Endangered Species Act, the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act, the California Hazardous Waste Control Act, the California Environmental Quality Act, the California Coastal Act, the California Permit Streamlining Act and the Federal and State Constitutions. These matters generally involve federal and state permitting issues, local zoning issues and variances, environmental planning and compliance, right-to-take challenges and valuation of property interests. Ben also has experience assisting property owners and businesses with lease disputes and breach of contract claims. Prior to joining Nossaman in 2007, Ben was a law clerk to the Honorable Andrew J. Guilford, United States District Judge. He also served as an intern for the Honorable Patrick J. Walsh, United States Magistrate Judge. Ben regularly comments on news, events and policies affecting endangered species issues in California and throughout the U.S. on the Firm's Endangered Species Law & Policy blog. He also frequently comments on court decisions, news and events impacting eminent domain on the Firm's Eminent Domain Report blog.