LOS ANGELES—Real estate law firm Mayer Brown has hired Edgar Khalatian as a partner in its government and global trade group, representing investors and developers in real estate transactions. He will have a special focus in entitlements and the California Environmental Quality Act.

Khalatian comes to Mayer Brown from Paul Hastings, bringing with him experience in land-use regulation and the entitlements process. “Edgar is a highly regarded real estate and land use attorney who has established a leading reputation handling high-profile development projects throughout California, and we are delighted to welcome him to the firm,” says Phil Recht, partner-in-charge of Mayer Brown's Los Angeles office. “He will add considerable strength to our existing government and real estate capabilities and greatly benefit both public and private sector clients across numerous industries.” In addition to his position as partner, Khalatian serves as the co-chair of the Los Angeles Zoning Advisory Committee, a position appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Department of City Planning director Michael LoGrande.

In his career, Khalatian has provided legal counsel for some major Los Angeles developments, most notably representing the J. Paul Getty Trust in land-use issues for the Getty's property holdings. His resume also includes working on a 3-million-square-foot mixed-use property in Downtown Los Angeles and an 875,000-square-foot mixed-use project in Hollywood. “The cross-sell between Mayer Brown's world renowned real estate and government relations practices make the firm an ideal fit for the type of work I do—Mayer Brown is one of the only international firms that offers this type of experience,” says Khalatian. “I looking forward to working on high-profile and high-stakes land use issues and litigation that the firm's clients face on a daily basis.”