TOP REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT LAWYERS 2025
DAN MILLER MILLER BARONDESS, LLP LOS ANGELES D an Miller has built his legal career on the intersection of complex contracts and economic reality. Over 24 years of practice, he has represented banks, developers and investment firms through some of the most challenging periods in recent real estate history. Miller’s specialty lies in real estate litigation, where he finds himself drawn to cases that blend intricate legal arguments with human and financial consequences. “What drew me to real estate litigation was the challenge of connecting complex contractual issues with the underlying human and economic realities — whether it’s a developer facing a financial crisis or a bank protecting its interests,” he said. His track record includes several high-profile victories that have shaped his reputation in the field. During the 2008 financial crisis, Miller represented a real estate developer facing foreclosure on a large condominium project. Despite a clear contract breach, he secured a preliminary injunction by arguing impossibility of performance due to the economic downturn — a case that gained media attention for its relevance to crisis-related legal claims. The pandemic presented similar challenges. Miller successfully represented a client seeking to exit a commercial property purchase agreement after COVID-19 fundamentally altered the business landscape. He argued that the pandemic triggered a material adverse change clause, allowing his client to rescind the deal. The case settled on confidential terms. One of Miller’s most significant career victories came in representing Cathay Bank against a prominent real estate developer who sued for breach of contract and fraud, claiming millions in damages based on an alleged oral agreement with the bank’s CEO. Miller filed counterclaims and summary judgment motions that resulted in a complete dismissal of the developer’s claims and a $1.5 million award for the bank. When the developer challenged the arbitration award in court, Miller successfully defended it. “This was a huge win for the client and led to more real estate work from clients who heard about the victory,” Miller said. His work has also involved complex ownership
RUSSELL E. MORSE MEYERS NAVE LOS ANGELES R ussell Morse’s journey to becoming a principal in Meyers Nave’s land use, groups began in an unexpected place: the archaeological sites of Peru. Before navigating complex real estate transactions and land use entitlements, Morse was wielding trowels and brushes as a professional archaeologist. “I began my career as an archaeologist, of all things! After spending some time in Peru trying to be Indiana Jones (and there definitely were some adventures), I connected with a cultural resources management firm based in Southern California,” he said. environmental law and real estate practice Morse’s transition from archaeology to law occurred during his work on the Playa Vista development in Los Angeles, where he served as one of the main archaeologists during excavation and construction phases. Watching the massive dirt lot transform into a thriving community sparked his interest in the legal mechanics behind development projects. “As I learned about the transactions that made the project happen and the environmental review (CEQA) that every development project in the state must undertake, I knew then that I wanted to go to law school and become a real estate and land use attorney,” Morse said. Today, he focuses on real estate transactions and land use entitlements across housing, health care, institutional, commercial and mixed-use sectors. His work encompasses the full development lifecycle, from initial due diligence through final disposition, often requiring coordination among diverse teams of specialists. One of Morse’s most significant recent projects involved representing the Riverside University Health System on the Mead Valley Wellness Village Project, a $580 million healthcare campus integrating behavioral health services, medical care, and social support. Meyers Nave provided comprehensive real estate services, including ground and facilities leases, construction development agreement negotiations and environmental review guidance. “It was a massive undertaking, but we had a great team of partners, consultants, and stakeholders committed to getting the project processed and approved,” Morse said. The project received approval without legal challenge and is currently under construction.
ANNE E. MUDGE COX, CASTLE & NICHOLSON LLP SAN FRANCISCO A nne Mudge has spent 25 years navigating the complex web of California’s environmental regulations to bring utility- scale renewable energy projects to life. As one of the state’s leading attorneys specializing in siting and permitting for land use development and renewable energy projects, Mudge has guided some of California’s most significant clean energy developments through the approval process. “I was drawn to this field because I wanted to be part of California’s move towards a carbon- free future,” she said. “I am personally and professionally fulfilled in being able to use my legal skills to help California achieve its climate goals.” Her recent work includes serving as lead entitlement counsel on the Fountain Wind Project, which would provide 205 megawatts of clean power to the California grid. The project represents a milestone as the first non-thermal renewable project to opt into state- level review under AB 205 legislation. If approved, Fountain Wind would power 86,000 homes, generate hundreds of jobs and inject $50 million in tax revenues into the community over its 30-year lifespan. Mudge also served as lead counsel for the Edwards + Sanborn Solar and Storage Project, a 1,200-megawatt approved solar and battery storage facility spanning private land and Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County. The project, one of the largest of its kind in the United States, features 2.5 million photovoltaic panels and over 110,000 lithium-ion batteries. Her role included overseeing compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, advising on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and securing local, state, and federal approvals. Another major project under her guidance was the approved Daggett Solar + Storage Project in San Bernardino County. The 650-megawatt facility will generate $210 million in local economic activity during construction, create more than 500 union jobs and contribute $18.5 million in tax revenues. However, Mudge acknowledges that her work faces increasing challenges. “Developing utility- scale renewable energy projects is not getting any easier,” she said. “Because the best and more remote sites are already developed, projects are being proposed closer to population centers.” SEE PAGE 25
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PAGE 16 | DAILY JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT | JUNE 18, 2025
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