Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP has a strong land use practice focusing on complex developments in California, which is bolstered by the team's ability to draw on firmwide strengths in real estate and government matters. Leading the group from Los Angeles, Victor De La Cruz is noteworthy for his ability to handle complex land use matters for a wide variety of clients, such as colleges and universities, waste haulers, signage companies and real estate developers. Susan Hori is based in Orange County and handles the full range of land use and development matters, with a particular emphasis on CEQA and entitlement issues. Sigrid Waggener is based in San Francisco and advises clients on entitlement, permitting and regulatory issues. Los Angeles-based environmental and real estate litigation expert Fernando Villa joined from Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in February 2023.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Knowledgeable about the issues, connections with decision-makers, and strong research/ fact finding.’
‘A lot of personal interaction and customized support. They are responsive and attentive.’
'I can count on Manatt to deliver very sophisticated analysis and legal strategy. They excel at the hard stuff.'
'The land use team also has a pretty deep bench on virtually everything. They do a lot of land use litigation, which I like because they are always able to provide counsel that avoids litigation or protects us down the line. They are also very politically connected and have very good judgment on anything political.'
'This firm stands out because I always feel like they go to bed thinking about us. They are extremely responsive and care about our business so much I view them as part of the team, not outsiders. They also go out of their way to understand our business, which allows them to deliver advice that is not just good legally but has a lot of business savvy.'
'Victor De la Cruz and his team have been my go-to for the longest time in this regard. Another partner that I like working with a lot is Jennifer Lynch. The planners on the team are great too.'
Key clients
- Mount Saint Mary’s University
- Aera Energy LLC
- Athens Services
- CapRock Partners
- Lendlease Corporation
- American Musical and Dramatic Academy
- Lyon Management Group, Inc.
- Synergy Oil and Gas, L.P.
- Trumark Homes
- Brookfield Properties
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Sigrid Waggener
Practice head
Victor De la Cruz
Other key lawyers
Susan Hori; Sigrid Waggener; Fernando Villa; Jennifer Lynch