Rebecca Harrington is a senior associate and provides an array of legal services regarding the development of real property. Her practice focuses on California and federal environmental laws, entitlement procedures, land use planning, regulatory permitting and litigation, including litigation involving the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Subdivision Map Act, the Endangered Species Act, the California Coastal Act and other zoning and planning laws. She provides vital assistance to public and private sector clients in complying with CEQA, NEPA, the California and federal Endangered Species Act (including NCCP/HCPs), the Subdivision Map Act, Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the Native American Grave and Repetition Act. She is also versed in pre-acquisition due diligence, negotiating entitlements (such as development agreements and implementing agreements) and processing permits with state and federal regulatory agencies. Prior to joining the firm, Rebecca was an environmental and land use planner.
Rebecca was named a 2013 Southern California “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers.
Rebecca is active in pro bono cases as well, including the defense of the Los Angeles affordable housing ordinance, guardianship and adoption cases, and consulting on the reform of China’s eminent domain laws.
- Advises retail development clients on essential state and local entitlements and CEQA compliance for a lifestyle center and a mall expansion.
- Obtained entitlements and CEQA compliance for a multiuse subdivision located in and adjacent to a Natural Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan area.
- Counsels a client on CEQA and NEPA compliance for a controversial multimillion-dollar stormwater clean up.
- Conducted review of and comments to an environmental impact report for a wind energy project.
- Represented a developer of a single-family residential subdivision located in an environmentally sensitive area in CEQA litigation.
- Co-counsel representing a developer in an eminent domain and inverse condemnation action.
- Successfully defended entitlements and permits to develop beachfront resident property in the city of Malibu against Coastal Act and CEQA claims.
- Advises a private fish-stocking interest in challenging more stringent regulations addressing species and biological impacts.
- Defended an energy company against a legal challenge to its entitlements for a new pipeline to transport jet fuel to the Los Angeles International Airport.
- Represents a client in the redevelopment of the old Tower Records site in the city of West Hollywood.
- Counsels a client in its inadvertent discovery of human remains during development regarding compliance with state and federal laws.
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Rebecca Harrington, senior associate in the firm’s Environmental & Land Use Group, has been nominated by the Los Angeles Business Journal for its 2013 Women Making a Difference Award as one of Los Angeles’ most successful women business leaders who make a difference in the Los Angeles community.
May 1, 2013
In the Press
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"SB 375 May Result in State Control of Land Use," Los Angeles Daily Journal, May 16, 2012.
May 16, 2012
Publications
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On December 29, 2011, the California Supreme Court upheld the Legislature's dissolution of all redevelopment agencies across the state, but rejected a companion bill that provided an option for cities and counties to save their redevelopment agencies by making payments for schools and other local services. (California Redevelopment Association v. Matosantos (Cal. Sup. Ct. Case No. S194861, filed Dec. 29, 2011)). The two bills at issue were enacted in June 2011 in response to California's budget crisis and were intended to increase funding for public schools and public safety by re-allocating redevelopment agency funding.
January 2012
Publications
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December 2011
Publications
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"Resolving a Legislative Challenge in the Golden State," American Infrastructure, Fall 2011.
Fall 2011
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“The New Frontier of NIMBYism,” Law360, April 2011.
April 2011
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“Is My Backyard Getting Bigger?” Trends in Litigation, Spring 2011.
Spring 2011
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"Prop 23 Won’t Derail Climate Change," The Recorder, October 13, 2010.
October 13, 2010
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February 23, 2009
Publications
- Urban Land Institute
- Building Industry Association
- Los Angeles After School All-Stars, Junior Board Member