Tim Paone

Experienced land use counsel can steer clients to solutions in situations where less-seasoned lawyers might only see problems. Creative "been down this path before" thinking is needed to overcome the tangled web of federal, state, and local regulations facing owners and developers of land in California. For more than four decades, Tim's insight has been shaped by work on some of California's most challenging projects, experience in private land development, land use litigation in courtrooms throughout the State, and public service. As a result, he offers an uncommon blend of experience, technical expertise, and strategic thinking critical to getting that "Yes" from government.

Tim's practice emphasizes CEQA, the Coastal Act, Development Agreements, and local planning. Geographically, his practice covers not only Southern California’s coastal counties and the Inland Empire, but also communities in central and northern California. In addition to his land use practice, Tim has managed entitlement for The Irvine Company's properties in Newport Beach, Anaheim, and Orange, served as a Planning Commission Chair and a Governor's appointee to the California Law Revision Commission, and taught land use as an Adjunct Law School Professor.

The highly respected Best Lawyers® publication, which is based solely on peer review, has recognized Tim’s prominence every year since 2007, including naming him as Orange County’s “Lawyer of the Year” for Land Use and Zoning Law in 2020. In 2012, Tim was named one of "California's Top 30 Real Estate Lawyers" by California's leading legal publication, The Daily Journal.

Beyond his own skillset, Tim brings to his clients the considerable resources of Cox Castle’s deeply experienced statewide Land Use & Natural Resources practice group, a team honored by Best Lawyers® as the nation's "Law Firm of the Year" for land use and zoning in 2015, 2018, 2020, and 2024.

Tim also has been active throughout his career serving on the Boards of professional, charitable, and community organizations. Currently, he is a Board member of HomeAid Orange County and will serve as HomeAid’s 1^st Vice-President in 2024. He also is a longstanding Board member of the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation, of which he is a former Board President. Among many other organizations in which he previously was active, Tim was a Founding Board Member and President of the Community Foundation of Orange and a member of the Boards of the Orange County Chapter of the Building Industry Association, the Orange County Forum, and the Foundation for the Great Park.

Land Use Litigation

Litigation: CEQA, Coastal Act, takings, and other land use litigation in Orange, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and San Francisco counties.

PLANNING AND ENTITLEMENT (Limited Examples)

Coastal Zone Projects: Aerie (Newport Beach), Bolsa Chica (Huntington Beach), Newport Coast (County of Orange, Newport Beach), Villa Venetia (Marina del Rey), Hoag Hospital  (Newport Beach), Paradiso del Mare (County of Santa Barbara), Windward (Huntington Beach), and single-family homes in Carlsbad and Newport Beach.

Single-Family Residential Projects / Communities: Baker Ranch (Lake Forest), Paseo del Sol (Temecula), Sommers Bend (Temecula), Brookside (Walnut), Bolsa Chica (Huntington Beach), Newport Coast (Newport Beach), Paradiso del Mare (County of Santa Barbara), Windward (Huntington Beach), Deep Creek (County of San Bernardino), SouthShore (Oxnard), Pacific Point (San Juan Capistrano), One Ford Road (Newport Beach), Colby Circle Townhomes (Claremont), Tustin Ranch (Tustin).

Multi-Family Projects: Aerie (blufftop condominiums, Newport Beach), Eleven10 West (260 units, Orange), Villa Venetia (240 waterfront units, Marina del Rey), The Marc (416 units, San Marcos), Alexan Orangewood (1000 units, Platinum Triangle, Anaheim), Bayview Landing (seniors affordable housing, Newport Beach), 1901 E 1st Street (254 units, Santa Ana), Colby Circle (Claremont).

Malls: Santa Monica Place (Santa Monica), Fashion Island (Newport Beach), Garden Walk (Anaheim).

Retail Projects: Retailers in Newport Beach, Oxnard, Santa Ana, Laguna Beach, San Clemente, and Anaheim. "Big Box" entitlement and litigation in Anaheim, Torrance, Perris, Ontario, among others.

Mixed Use Projects: Gene Autry Experience (Platinum Triangle, Anaheim), Alexan Pacific Grove (278 units, Orange), Palomar Station (San Marcos), and Vantis (Aliso Viejo).

Commercial/Industrial Projects: Pacific Commercentre (County of Orange), Baker Ranch (County of Orange), various projects in Orange and Los Angeles counties and throughout Inland Empire.

Oilfield Operations: Newport Banning Ranch, a coastal oil field in Newport Beach.

Hotels: A five-star resort in Dana Point, boutique hotel and tennis club in Newport Beach.

Health Care Facilities: Major hospital campus expansion (Newport Beach), Oasis Wellness Village MOB Master Plan (Palmdale), an 80-bed acute psychiatric care facility (Mission Viejo)

Schools and Churches: A private school in Orange, a Cathedral in Santa Ana, a church and entertainment center in Anaheim, school mitigation agreements in many communities.

Open Space/Recreational: County Regional Park dedications (Upper Newport Bay, Back Bay, and Upper Peters Canyon), Bayview Park (Newport Beach).

Honors & Recognitions

Best Lawyers, Land Use & Zoning Law, 2007-2024

Best Lawyers, “Lawyer of the Year,” Land Use & Zoning Law, 2020

California's Top 30 Real Estate Lawyers for 2012, The Daily Journal

Professional Affiliations

Building Industry Association of Orange County, Board of Directors, 1994-2006, Executive Committee, 1995-1996, Housing Committee, Co-Chair, 2000-2009

Chapman University School of Law, Adjunct Professor (Environmental Law Practice), 2005-2011

Urban Land Institute, Orange County/Inland Empire

Public Service

California Law Revision Commission, 1985-1989 (Appointee of Governor George Deukmejian)

Huntington Beach Planning Commission, 1978-1980, 1981-1983; Chairman: 1979, 1982-1983

Community Affiliations

Community Foundation of Orange, Board of Directors, 2001-2009, President, 2006-2008

Foundation for the Great Park, Board of Directors, 2005-2013

Home Aid Orange County, Board of Directors, 1998-2014, Executive Committee, 2006-2009; 2011-2014

Orange County Youth Sports Foundation, Board of Directors, 1977-Present; President, 1981-1982