Ryan Michael Leaderman

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.