SAN FRANCISCO-Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP has added Kristina D. Lawson to the San Francisco office as a partner in the real estate and land use practice. Lawson comes to the firm from Miller Starr Regalia, where she was a shareholder.
According to a prepared statement, Lawson has substantial experience in obtaining land use entitlements and permits from local, state and federal agencies for real estate and energy projects, and has a sophisticated understanding of matters involving the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Additionally, Lawson has environmental compliance experience and frequently serves as an advisor to public and private clients on water quality, air quality, hazardous materials, and other regulatory matters.
More recently, her practice has focused on climate change-related matters, including those related to AB 32, SB 375, the Bay Area Air Quality District's CEQA Guidelines, and the San Francisco Bay Plan. “Kristina has worked on significant land use projects throughout California, including a wide variety of residential, commercial, retail and mixed-use projects. She is known as an adaptable and creative thinker—key qualities in the land use entitlement and real estate space—and someone who can successfully complete challenging projects,” says Susan K. Hori, co-chair of Manatt’s real estate and land use practice group.
Lawson regularly appears before state and local agencies throughout the Bay Area and California on behalf of private clients. In addition, she often serves as special counsel to public agencies on complex land use and environmental matters, including matters involving California’s tidelands trust, and emergency water supply projects.
“Structuring a real estate project has become increasingly complex due to increasing economic, political and regulatory challenges,” says Clayton Gantz, co-administrative partner of the San Francisco office. “Manatt’s Real Estate and Land Use practice is nationally recognized for delivering successful projects from conception to acquisition to disposition, and Kristina’s talents and experience provide additional depth to help us help our clients achieve their objectives in Northern California.”
Lawson’s broad advisory and advocacy practice focuses on all aspects of California land use and environmental law, from the interpretation and application of local general plans, specific plans, and zoning ordinances, to local land use initiatives and referenda, to state and federal natural resources, air, and water law.
“Manatt has a well-deserved reputation for excellence and a true commitment to land use and environmental law,” Lawson says. “I am excited to join Manatt’s prominent national real estate land use practice."
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Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com and GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
