Land Use Law & Planning Conference

A perennial staple and favorite at the conference, hear distinguished counsel representing all sides—petitioner, respondent, and real party in interest—survey the latest judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in the CEQA arena, providing invaluable and strategic insights as to their implications for legal practitioners, consultants, and lead agencies.

Moderator

David Smith
Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Panelists

Kevin Bundy
Of Counsel, Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger

Tina Thomas
Founding Partner, Thomas Law Group

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David Smith is a partner with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and splits his time between the firm’s Orange County and San Francisco offices. Mr. Smith counsels land developers, conservation companies, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and individuals at the intersection of law and government on land use entitlement, real estate development and regulatory compliance. He is frequently engaged in entitlement and permitting matters for development projects that are, or have the potential to be, particularly contentious and complicated.

Mr. Smith’s expertise includes all facets of land use and related regulatory compliance including the California Environmental Quality Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, climate change, the McAteer-Petris Act and California’s planning and zoning laws. In addition to his practice, Mr. Smith frequently speaks as law schools and conferences throughout the state.

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Kevin Bundy is an attorney at Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP, where he primarily represents public interest and community groups in environmental and land use matters, with a particular focus on CEQA litigation and local ballot measures. Kevin also spent several years as a Senior Attorney and Climate Legal Director with the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute, where his practice focused on regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the federal Clean Air Act, the California Environmental Quality Act, and AB 32, as well as on broader California climate, forest, and energy policy issues.

Kevin holds a J.D. from the University of California Berkeley School of Law. He also served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Procter R. Hug, Jr., of the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and the Honorable David W. Hagen of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.

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Tina Thomas specializes in environmental, land use, and natural resource litigation, including compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Subdivision Map Act, and the California Endangered Species Act. Tina represents both developers and governmental agencies, helping them navigate the complex environmental review and entitlement processes. Much of her practice is focused on infill and mixed-use development throughout California, serving as legal counsel for numerous cutting-edge projects that incorporate smart growth principles.

Tina’s work extends beyond the traditional role of attorney, shaping not only land use legislation, but also the way it is practiced and understood. Tina was one of the original authors of the Guide to the California Environmental Quality Act, a text that served as a leading reference on CEQA and an instrumental classroom resource. Tina has also participated in drafting CEQA legislation over the past three decades and in 2007/2008 she played an extensive role in the passage of California Senate Bill 375, authored by Senator Darrell Steinberg, which encourages smart growth and infill development.

Prior to forming Thomas Law Group in 2012, Tina was a founding partner at Remy, Thomas, Moose & Manley, LLP (RTMM), serving as managing partner for 28 years.  In 2005, the Sacramento Bar Association named Tina “Distinguished Attorney.”

What's New from California's Judicial and Legislative Branches?

Extra! Extra! Hear all about it! 

California courts and our state legislators worked mightily in 2020 tackling important planning, zoning and development law issues. Join our panelists as they walk through the high points of last year’s statutory and case law adventures, which will undoubtedly put you ahead of the rest on your land use trivia.

Moderator

Alisha Winterswyk
Partner, Best Best & Krieger LLP

Panelists

Matt Klopfenstein
Legislative and Legal Advisor, California Advisors, LLC

Todd Leishman
Of Counsel, Best Best & Krieger LLP

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Alisha Winterswyk is a partner in the Environmental and Natural Resources practice group at Best Best & Krieger LLP.  She is a CEQA and land use lawyer that advises public and private clients on an array of environmental, planning and municipal laws.

Alisha’s practice is both transactional and litigation-based as she takes a “soup-to-nuts” approach to representing clients and in the development process. Over the past several years, Alisha has contributed to the UCLA Land Use and Planning Conference as a speaker and she is delighted to now serve as a co-chair for this fantastic event.

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Matthew Burris is the Deputy City Manager over Community and Economic Development for the City of Rancho Cucamonga. He has over 17 years of experience working with local government working for a variety of private sector firms as well as for local governments as an employee. Matt also served as a Planning Commissioner for California’s newest City of Jurupa Valley.

In addition to his work in community development, Matt has regularly taught planning courses for both UC Berkeley and UC Riverside. He in a Certified Planner, a LEED Accredited Professional, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara, as well as a Master of Science in City and Regional Planning and a Master of Science in Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Both Matt in his professional capacity, and many of the projects he has been instrumental in, have won state and national awards.

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Todd Leishman, an attorney at Best Best & Krieger LLP, uses his background in environmental and real estate law to assist public agencies and private developers with real estate and land use regulatory matters. He serves as general counsel to planning commissions and departments in the cities of Big Bear Lake, Indian Wells, Azusa, and Artesia and as assistant general counsel to the Santa Margarita Water District.

Download the conference brochure (pdf)

Once you have paid the registration fee, you will receive an automated email with receipt from UCLA Extension.

Before the start of the conference, registered attendees will receive an email from the Public Policy Program at UCLA Extension that includes the Zoom registration link (when you receive the email will depend upon when you registered for the event).

We recommend that you register for Zoom before the day of the event to ensure a smooth login process. When you register for the webinar, you will receive an email from Zoom that includes your unique link to the event. Please do not share this link as it will only be active for one participant.

When registering for the Webinar, please use the same name that you used when you paid the registration fee through UCLA Extension.

If you have any issues, contact humsci@uclaextension.edu for assistance.

Attend this year's conference and earn up to 3.0 Credit Hours (0.3 CEU) from Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)* and APA - American Planning Association**