Land-use attorneys
Cox, Castle & Nicholson
Cox, Castle & Nicholson is a real estate law firm founded in Los Angeles in 1968, with offices in Los Angeles, Irvine, and San Francisco. It describes itself as one of the largest full-service law firms specializing in real estate in the United States, with more than 140 transactional and litigation attorneys and 55+ years serving the real estate community.
The practice spans land use, entitlement, and regulatory compliance, including coastal commission work and condemnation; environmental compliance; land and improved property acquisitions and dispositions; real estate development; commercial lending and institutional investment; property leasing and management; loan workouts and financial restructuring; renewable energy and natural resources; labor and employment; risk management and insurance; and tax and estate planning.
Asset classes include retail and mixed-use development, industrial, and single and multifamily residential. The firm takes an interdisciplinary approach across transactional matters and dispute resolution, and publishes California legal and regulatory updates and a podcast covering market and regulatory shifts.
Recognitions listed on the site include U.S. News Best Law Firms Law Firm of the Year for Land Use and Zoning Law in 2015, 2018, 2020, and 2024; National Tier 1 rankings in construction, environmental, land use and zoning, natural resources, and real estate law; an AmLaw 200 ranking; and Band 1 for Land Use/Zoning in Legal 500. Rates are not published.
Best for
Owners and developers entitling, buying, selling, financing, or litigating California real estate, particularly projects needing land use, environmental, and construction counsel from one firm. Its offices are all in California.
What they do
- Land use, entitlement, and regulatory compliance
- Coastal commission and condemnation matters
- Environmental compliance and environmental litigation
- Land and improved property acquisitions and dispositions
- Real estate development counsel
- Commercial lending and institutional investment
- Property leasing and management
- Loan workouts and financial restructuring
- Construction law
- Real estate litigation and dispute resolution
Details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1968 |
| Other offices | Irvine, CA, San Francisco, CA |
What stands out
- More than 140 transactional and litigation attorneys across its Los Angeles, Irvine, and San Francisco offices.
- Founded in Los Angeles in 1968; the site cites 55+ years serving the real estate community.
- Named Law Firm of the Year for Land Use and Zoning Law by U.S. News Best Law Firms in 2015, 2018, 2020, and 2024.
- Ranked as an AmLaw 200 firm, and Band 1 for Land Use/Zoning in Legal 500.
- Holds National Tier 1 U.S. News rankings in construction, environmental, land use and zoning, natural resources, and real estate law.