Ryan Michael Leaderman
Partner
Overview
Ryan Leaderman is a Los Angeles environmental attorney who focuses his practice on obtaining and negotiating land use entitlements for complex land use planning and mixed-use developments. Mr. Leaderman also handles securing project approvals for all types of major developments in California.
Mr. Leaderman represents clients in all aspects of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). He has extensive experience in guiding high-profile residential, commercial, mixed-use and medical/hospital development projects through the approval process. Mr. Leaderman's experience encompasses all types of land use permits, such as variances and conditional use permits, as well as general plan and zoning amendments. He also interacts regularly with governmental agencies at all levels, including local governments and California's Housing and Community Development Department (HCD). Mr. Leaderman assists developers in complying with CEQA, and planning and zoning regulations throughout California, with a particular emphasis on mixed-use housing development projects in the Los Angeles area.
Mr. Leaderman has successfully navigated projects to completion by balancing community concerns with the rights and needs of clients. Mr. Leaderman is well versed in assisting with variances, general plan amendments, zone changes, conditional use permits, site plan reviews, subdivision maps, development agreements and other entitlements or permits necessary to move a project forward. He also utilizes recent state law changes, such as the State Density Bonus Law, Housing Accountability Act (HAA) SB 35, AB 2011, Surplus Land Act and Housing Crisis Act (SB 330), to further clients' interests. He advises clients with regard to any exaction or dedication requirements that governments may impose.
Mr. Leaderman has a wealth of knowledge with the preparation of environmental impact reports (EIRs) and mitigated negative declarations (MNDs) detailing the expected impacts of a project on the environment and assists with all aspects of mitigation measures. He is also well versed and experienced in CEQA streamlining options, such as sustainable communities environmental assessments (SCEAs), addenda to previous environmental review documents, and categorical or statutory exemptions. He has reviewed and supervised the preparation of many EIRs and other environmental review documents, and possesses extensive experience in CEQA compliance and provides counsel with regard to the air quality, coastal, climate change/greenhouse gases, historic resources, noise, transportation and wildfire issues that may confront clients and their projects. In addition, Mr. Leaderman handles water rights and supply issues, analyzes water rights issues and water supply sufficiency in order to aid clients in the project development.
In addition, Mr. Leaderman deploys his wealth of land use knowledge to conduct numerous complicated land use due diligence analyses.
Representative Experience
- Represented client in acquiring entitlements and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review for a 41-story, mixed-use high-rise and the conversion of an existing 19,972-square-foot historic church building into restaurant uses for a total of 36,400 square feet of commercial uses; the project will contain 367 residential dwelling units, including 11 percent as affordable housing (very low and extremely low income), with entitlements including a General Plan Amendment, Zone Change, Height District Change and a Main Conditional Use Permit for alcohol service, and an environmental review including an Addendum to a Sustainable Communities Environmental Assessment (SCEA).
- Represented client for a 70-story mixed use tower in downtown Los Angeles consisting of 794 dwelling units and more than 12,500 square feet of commercial space
- Represented client in entitlements and environmental review for a 64-story, 781 dwelling unit and 6,700-square-foot commercial mixed-use tower adjacent to the thriving FIGat7th retail center in downtown Los Angeles
- Represented client with all aspects of its project consisting of two seven-story buildings with a combined 369 apartments and 22,000 square feet of commercial uses
- Represented client on entitlements and environmental review for a mixed-use complex in the historic South Central area of Los Angeles; the seven-story building will include 296 apartments above 5,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and a partially subterranean garage; the project includes 25 very low income residential units
- Represented client on entitlements and environmental review for a mixed-use complex consisting of 243 dwelling units and 3,500 square feet of commercial space; CEQA compliance includes adoption of a Mitigated Negative Declaration
- Represented client in acquiring entitlements and CEQA review for the 178 unit and approximately 37,000 square feet of commercial mixed-use 27-story tower in the Chinatown neighborhood of Los Angeles
- Represented client in the acquisition of entitlements and environmental review for a 27-story, mixed-use project consisting of 305 dwelling units and 6,171 square feet of commercial space adjacent to the historic Eastern Columbia in the South Park/Historic Core area of downtown Los Angeles
- Represented client in the acquisition of entitlements and environmental review for a mixed-use project consisting of 452 dwelling units more than 13,000 square feet of commercial space in the Fashion District area of downtown Los Angeles
- Represented the developer of a mixed-use project with nearly 2 million square feet of floor area, including 1,560 dwelling units, 310 hotel rooms and almost 75,000 square feet of retail in four high-rise buildings on 6.3 acres in downtown Los Angeles
- Represented client in the acquisition of entitlements and environmental review for a mixed-use project consisting of 154 dwelling units and 10,700 square feet of commercial space in downtown Los Angeles
- Represented client in the acquisition of entitlements and environmental review for the 28-story, mixed-use project consisting of 208 residential condominium units and 6,700 square feet of commercial space in the South Park area of downtown Los Angeles
- Represented client in the acquisition of entitlements for a 50-story, mixed-use project consisting of 583 dwelling units and 4,500 square feet of commercial space, and a mixed-use project consisting of a 40-story tower and 31-story 310 dwelling unit tower atop 8,000 square feet of commercial space in the South Park area of downtown Los Angeles
- Represented client for a mixed-use, transit-oriented urban infill project in the South Park neighborhood of downtown Los Angeles; the project includes 410 apartments and 42,000 square feet of retail/commercial spaces on 1.86 acres
- Represented client in a mixed-use project that includes 464 dwelling units, 27,000 square feet of retail and up to 14,000 square feet of restaurants in the Wilshire Center area of Los Angeles
- Represented client in the mixed-use shopping center at the Santa Anita Racetrack, consisting of 804,000 square feet of retail and 300 residential dwelling units, as well as a 98,000-square-feet racetrack simulcast center
- Represented client on behalf of the owner of a large high-rise office tower to review and comment on the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority proposed Regional Connector mass transit project
- Represented client for review and comment on the California Department of Transportation's (Caltrans) environmental impact report (EIR) for an expansion of Interstate 10; filed CEQA litigation on behalf of a property owner adversely impacted and settled a lawsuit with Caltrans
- Represented client in the acquisition of entitlements to renovate and reposition the 200-room London Hotel (formerly the Bel Age) by adding up to 23 new hotel rooms, new bars and a restaurant
- Represented client in the proposed development of a 1.7 million-square-foot warehousing and distribution facility, counseling on preparation and approval of an EIR and a site plan
Credentials
- UCLA School of Law, J.D.
- UCLA, B.A., Political Science, magna cum laude
- California
- Central City Association of Los Angeles (CCA)
- West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, Board of Directors Vice Chair
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Top Minority Attorney, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2020
- Southern California Super Lawyers magazine, 2014-2019
- Rising Star, Southern California Super Lawyers magazine, 2007-2013
