Overview
Christian advises residential, commercial, and light industrial developers, public agencies, and utilities regarding land use entitlements and environmental strategies. His practice focuses on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Housing Crisis Act (SB 330), the Density Bonus Law, the Housing Accountability Act, the Subdivision Map Act, the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Act. Christian has processed entitlements through numerous local and state agencies. He has also litigated land use, property, and environmental actions before trial and appellate courts, as well as the California Supreme Court.
Before joining the firm, Christian clerked with the Environmental and Natural Resources Sections of the California Attorney General's Office and the California Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials.
Experience
Advised developer of 150,000 sq ft mixed-use project in San Mateo, California on density bonus and CEQA strategy.
Advised developer of residential project in Sunnyvale, California on density bonus strategy.
Advised developer of logistics industrial center in Solano County, California on entitlement strategy including resource permits, Subdivision Map Act compliance, and reciprocal easement agreements.
Advised developer on entitlement strategy to covert and existing office development into a 190-unit residential project in San Mateo, California on entitlement strategy, including its density bonus application and rezoning.
Advised developer of 130-unit residential project in Redwood City, California on entitlement strategy, including a development agreement and new zoning district.
Advised developer of 130-unit residential project in Vacaville, California on entitlement strategy including an annexation, agreement, vesting tentative subdivision map, and CEQA compliance.
Advised developer of 700-unit residential project in Vacaville on entitlement strategy including an annexation, specific plan, development agreement, vesting tentative subdivision map, and CEQA compliance.
Advised client on entitlement strategy for mid-rise office building in Redwood City.
Advised developer regarding its CEQA strategy for a 500-unit residential project in Livermore.
Advised a group of commercial property owners regarding the protection of development rights against changes to an airport land use compatibility plan.
Advised developer of master planned community in Sacramento County on wetlands permitting.
Insights
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Awards & Affiliations
Honors & Recognitions
Best Lawyers, in Land Use & Zoning Law, 2023-2025
Northern California Rising Star, 2015-2016
Professional Affiliations
California Lawyers Association, Environmental Legislation Committee
Bay Area Council, Housing Committee
Practice Areas
Industries
Bar & Court Admissions
- State Bar of California
Education
J.D., University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, 2006, cum laude
B.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1997, with honors