Articles from Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, announced today that seasoned real estate and land use attorney Kenneth Kecskes has joined the firm as a Partner. Ken brings nearly three decades of experience counseling clients on complex transactional and entitlement matters statewide.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, proudly announces the election of attorneys Scott Laes and Jamie Sprague to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2026. Both attorneys are accomplished litigators whose practices span commercial real estate, complex business disputes, construction disputes, environmental and land use matters, insurance recovery, landlord/tenant disputes, and labor and employment litigation. Their elevation reflects the firm’s ongoing commitment to exceptional client service, combining deep subject-matter knowledge with a practical, client-first mindset.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, has once again been named the #1 firm in the Los Angeles Times Studio’s prestigious list of Top 25 Law Firms in Real Estate for the second consecutive year. This accolade underscores Cox Castle's unwavering commitment to delivering innovative solutions, expert guidance, and unparalleled service to clients in the real estate sector.

It is with profound sadness that Cox Castle announces Michael Zischke, a partner and leading land use and environmental attorney, passed away on Thursday, January 2nd. Mike was a partner in Cox Castle’s San Francisco office for nearly 18 years.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, proudly announces the election of three attorneys to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1st. These partners advise the top businesses, institutions, and individuals in the real estate, land use, environmental, and renewable energy industries on their most complex legal and business matters.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, has achieved Diversity Lab’s 2023-2024 Midsize Mansfield Certification Plus status. This is the second time Cox Castle has received Mansfield Certification Plus status.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate, announced today that seasoned attorney Robert Shaia joins the firm as Partner. Shaia joins Cox Castle’s litigation team, which has decades of experience partnering with its clients to find the shortest route from conflict to resolution. Based in Cox Castle’s Orange County office, Shaia specializes in all types of construction-related disputes in addition to surety and real estate matters.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, announced today that seasoned attorney Jason Adams has joined the firm as a Partner. Adams joins Cox Castle’s litigation team, which has decades of experience partnering with its clients to find the shortest route from conflict to resolution. Adams will focus on handling both construction disputes and insurance and risk management matters.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, proudly announces the election of three attorneys to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1st. These partners advise the top businesses, institutions, and individuals in the real estate, land use, construction, and renewable energy industries on their most complex legal and business matters.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, has achieved Diversity Lab’s Midsize Mansfield Certification Plus status. The Mansfield Certification recognizes the structural changes and actions Cox Castle has taken over an 18-month period – from September 2021 to March 2023 – to diversify leadership within the firm by broadening the slate of talent considered for internal leadership roles and increasing transparency with written and accessible advancement processes and role descriptions.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, has ranked in The American Lawyer's 2023 list of Top 200 law firms. This is the first time Cox Castle elected to submit for the Am Law rankings and was immediately recognized as a growing firm amongst its peers. Every year, American Lawyer Media, a top business news publisher, ranks the nation’s top revenue-grossing law firms. Cox Castle debuts on the Am Law list at #185.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, has been named NAIOP SoCal’s 2023 Service Provider of the Year. NAIOP SoCal, the leading organization for developers, owners, and investors of office, industrial, retail, and mixed-use real estate, recognized Cox Castle for its significant impact on the commercial real estate industry in 2022, the firm’s contributions outside of real estate, and its exceptional customer service. Cox Castle received the honor during the second annual NAIOP SoCal Awards Gala on May 11th in Los Angeles.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, announced today that two attorneys have joined the firm as Partners in the San Francisco office. Arielle Harris joins Cox Castle’s land use team, which is highly regarded for its ability to guide clients strategically and efficiently through the complex and dynamic processes that define California land use. Gordon Hart joins Cox Castle’s environmental team, which has decades of experience handling all aspects of complex environmental matters.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, announced today that seasoned real estate and land use attorney Morgan Gallagher has rejoined the Firm as a Partner. Gallagher specializes in transactional and litigation matters involving land use, zoning, entitlements, and environmental permitting for complex and controversial projects. She brings a wealth of experience to Cox Castle’s land use team, which is highly regarded for its ability to guide clients strategically and efficiently through the complex and dynamic processes that define California land use.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, proudly announces the election of Amanda R. Wolin to the Firm’s partnership, effective January 1st. A seasoned commercial real estate finance attorney, Wolin specializes in representing different types of lenders, including national and regional banks, insurance companies and private lenders, in connection with real estate financing transactions. Wolin’s advancement bolsters the Firm’s strong industry representation of a variety of traditional and nontraditional lenders in the financing of real property and other assets.

Cox Castle & Nicholson, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, announced the Mario Camara 1L Diversity Scholars Program as part of its commitment to continue to promote diversity and inclusivity in the Firm and the legal profession, particularly the real estate bar. Named in honor of the Firm’s former managing partner Mario Camara, the 1L Diversity Scholars Program is open to first-year law students belonging to groups that have been historically underrepresented in the legal profession (such as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, veterans, differently abled students, LGBTQ+ students, and students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds). The application for the summer 2023 program is currently open. More information can be found at https://www.coxcastle.com/careers/1l-diversity-scholars-program.

Cox Castle & Nicholson, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, announced that Partner Alicia Vaz has been appointed as its first Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Officer, effective immediately. Vaz will serve as a DEI ambassador, internally and externally, and will work closely with Firm management to advance, create and implement the Firm’s strategic short- and long-term DEI plans. Vaz also will continue to be the Chair of the Firm’s DEI Committee.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, announced today that leading land use attorney Mitchell B. Menzer has joined the Firm as Partner. A prominent attorney with a Legal 500 land use/zoning recognition, Mr. Menzer specializes in land use matters and obtaining entitlements for complex real estate development projects, including residential developments, mixed-use projects, shopping centers, hotels and office developments. He brings a wealth of experience to Cox, Castle & Nicholson’s Land Use and Natural Resources Practice, which is unparalleled in the western United States and offers tremendous depth and breadth of expertise across the entire spectrum of land use law. At Cox, Castle & Nicholson, Mr. Menzer will continue to focus on land use and development-related real estate transactions.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, announced today that leading environmental and renewable energy attorney Peter H. Weiner has joined the Firm as Partner. A nationally-recognized attorney with a top Chambers USA environmental ranking, Mr. Weiner specializes in solar energy and brownfield redevelopment. He brings a wealth of experience to Cox, Castle & Nicholson’s Environmental Practice, which is highly regarded for its ability to assist clients with complicated land use and environmental problems and in all aspects of brownfield redevelopment. At Cox, Castle & Nicholson, Mr. Weiner will continue to focus on complex environmental, energy, land use and real estate matters.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, proudly announces the election of Lisa D. Weil to the Firm’s partnership, effective immediately. A seasoned transactional real estate attorney specializing in affordable housing projects, Weil’s advancement bolsters the Firm’s strong industry representation of developers in all aspects of the acquisition, disposition, financing, development, and operation of affordable housing projects, including major mixed-income, mixed-use and inclusionary developments.