SAN FRANCISCO – Land use attorney Michelle Moore McDermott was elected to a partnership in real estate and business law firm Allen Matkins’ San Francisco office.
McDermott is a San Francisco Bay area native and has worked in the area of land use for nearly nine years. She focuses on project entitlements at the city and county level, as well as California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance for those projects.
“To further my interest in sustainable development and design, I became a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP),” McDermott told the Northern California Record. “This accreditation helps me work with my clients and their consultants to navigate through the LEED process and the Green Building requirements of a particular city or county.”
McDermott represents developers and other companies in the local land use entitlement process for new projects, such as new office buildings, retail developments and multi-family developments, from the project application stage through the CEQA compliance process to the planning commission and city council hearings.
Additionally, McDermott said she performs land use due diligence on proposed sites for occupancy or redevelopment for a prominent Silicon Valley technology company, including highlighting the local, state, and federal permitting requirements and public review procedures as well as the required CEQA approval process. She also facilitates discussions with clients regarding long-term strategic land use growth strategies in the Silicon Valley.
“I enjoy working with a client (and sometimes a larger project team) toward the goal of developing a physical/tangible project,” McDermott said.
McDermott received her Bachelor of Arts from UCLA and her Juris Doctor from the UC Davis School of Law.
“After many years in school and almost nine years practicing law, it is very rewarding to be recognized for my efforts at the firm and in my practice. I am thankful to be a part of such a prestigious firm and land use practice in the state of California. We have a great land use group here in San Francisco and in our offices across southern California.”
In addition, Allen Matkins elected real estate attorney Stephen N. Etheredge in its Los Angeles office and real estate attorney Julie K. Hoffman in its Century City office to the firm partnership. All three partnership elections will be effective as of July 1.
Etheredge focuses his practice on complex real estate transactions, with significant experience in acquisitions and dispositions, real estate-related finance, joint venture formation and leasing in connection with various raw-land, multifamily residential, office, industrial and mixed-use projects. He has also assisted clients on issues involving distressed debt, restructuring and loan workouts, as well as land use and development matters.
Hoffman represents purchasers and sellers in the negotiation and documentation of commercial real estate transactions for office, residential and industrial real property, including note purchases and subsequent foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure processes. Her practice also includes the preparation and negotiation of commercial, industrial and retail leases of projects throughout the West Coast. Like McDermott, Hoffman is also a LEED AP.
“This new partner class reflects the firm’s focus on excellence, diversity and commitment to clients,” managing partner David L. Osias said in a firm news release.