Insights
Firm News

Farella Braun + Martel’s Steven Vettel Named Among the Daily Journal’s Top 25 Land Use Leaders in California

April 27, 2011 Accolades

SAN FRANCISCO (April 27, 2011):  Farella Braun + Martel announces that Partner Steven Vettel has been named among the Daily Journal's "Top 25 Land Use Leaders" in California.  The inaugural list recognizes the leadership and accomplishments of California land use attorneys who have taken complex projects to fruition in the state's notoriously challenging development environment.

The Daily Journal recognized Vettel for his leadership in persuading San Francisco planning officials to sign off on entitlements for a controversial reconfiguration and increased capacity of the 3,200-seat auditorium at the Nob Hill Masonic.  Representing owner California Masonic Memorial Temple and Live Nation Worldwide, Inc., he is now defending his clients against four lawsuits brought by neighbors in the San Francisco Superior Court.  Vettel is also representing the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in a major expansion of its facilities and a developer in planning for a billion-dollar American Indian tribal resort project in Richmond proposed to include hotels, a casino, performance venues, a shopping center, residential development and tribal administrative facilities on a former naval site along the San Francisco Bay.

Vettel's practice focuses on representing Northern California developers, property and business owners in land use, zoning, and legislative matters.  He regularly appears before planning commissions, legislative bodies, redevelopment agencies and zoning officials.  In addition, he counsels on California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance and defends his clients' environmental review documents in both administrative and judicial forums.  He serves as a director and was former vice-chair of the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR), is on the Executive Committee of the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition and serves on the San Francisco Planning Department's Action Plan Advisory Committee.  Vettel earned his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (1984).

Farella Braun + Martel represents clients throughout the United States and abroad in sophisticated business transactions and high-stakes commercial, civil and criminal litigation. Founded in 1962, the firm is headquartered in San Francisco and maintains an office in the Napa Valley focused on the wine industry. Farella Braun + Martel lawyers are known for their imaginative legal solutions, dynamism and intellectual creativity. With an unwavering service ethic and interdisciplinary team approach, the firm is committed to advancing clients' objectives in the most effective, coordinated and efficient manner. Farella Braun + Martel is a green business. www.fbm.com

Contacts:
Melinda Hepp / Traci Stuart
Blattel Communications   
415.397.4811
[email protected] / [email protected]   

Cheryl Loof
Farella Braun + Martel LLP
415.954.4433
[email protected]

Firm Highlights

Publication

Add Value to Your Winery by Monetizing Land Use Entitlements

With today’s emphasis on increasing the bottom line of winery businesses, winery owners often overlook a simple strategy for increasing their revenue and the value of their investment: the land use entitlements process. Wineries...

Read More
Publication

Downtown San Francisco Adaptive Reuse Legislation Slated To Go Into Effect

As we alerted you on May 9 , legislation to incentivize office and commercial building conversions to housing had begun working its way through the Board of Supervisors after approval by the San Francisco...

Read More
News

Affordable Housing Outlook: What Challenges Will 2024 Pose?

Real estate partner CJ Higley provided expert commentary in the Multi-Housing News article "Affordable Housing Outlook: What Challenges Will 2024 Pose?" The article is available here .

Read More
News

Ashley Breakfield Elected 2024 President of CREW SF

Farella Braun + Martel is proud to announce that real estate and land use partner Ashley E. Breakfield has been elected president of the Commercial Real Estate Women of San Francisco (CREW SF) Board...

Read More
Publication

San Francisco Board of Supervisors Passes Housing Fee Reform Legislation

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors took the first of two votes to approve housing fee reform legislation last week. The legislation reduces by as much as a third the affordable housing fees and...

Read More
Publication

California Court Issues First Decision Addressing Builder’s Remedy; Decision on Related Lawsuit Pending

The first California court decision to issue declaratory relief to a developer under the “builder’s remedy” appears to be on the horizon. The builder’s remedy has garnered significant attention over the past two years...

Read More
Publication

Achieving Compatibility Between Solar Project Developers and Mineral Estate Holders

By Dirk R. Mueller , Alyssa Netto , and Will Russ Texas and California lead the country in terms of solar energy generating capacity while also maintaining major oil and gas production operations, which...

Read More
Publication

AB 1633: The Housing Accountability Act

The Housing Accountability Act (HAA) requires local agencies to approve housing projects that meet objective zoning, general plan, subdivision, and design standards unless there is a specific, adverse impact upon public health and safety...

Read More
News

Lawdragon Names 7 Farella Lawyers Among “Leaders in Environmental Law”

Northern California legal powerhouse Farella Braun + Martel is pleased to announce that seven lawyers were selected to The Lawdragon Green 500: 2024 Leaders in Environmental Law . Farella lawyers selected for inclusion: Sarah...

Read More
News

Farella Braun + Martel Earns 2024 Best Law Firms® Rankings

Read More