73 Allen Matkins Lawyers Recognized in Best Lawyers in America

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – August 21, 2025 – Allen Matkins announced today that a total of 73 lawyers across 17 practice areas were recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America®, including corporate, real estate, private equity, land use, environmental, natural resources, litigation, tax, and bankruptcy.

Of the 73 lawyers ranked, 42 were ranked as “Best Lawyers,” and 31 were recognized as “Ones to Watch.” In addition, three lawyers earned “Lawyer of the Year” rankings, including:

• Jeffrey A. Chine (Land Use and Zoning Law, San Diego)
• Ted G. Fates (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights, San Diego)
• Valentine S. Hoy (Litigation – Real Estate, San Diego)

The following were ranked as Best Lawyers:

• John J. Allen (Environmental Law)
• Pamela L. Andes (Environmental Law)
• David H. Blackwell (Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law)
• Stuart I. Block (Environmental Law)
• Anthony R. Burney (Real Estate Law)
• Jeffrey A. Chine (Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law)
• John C. Condas (Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law)
• Drew M. Emmel (Real Estate Law)
• Barry H. Epstein (Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law)
• Ted G. Fates (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law)
• Matthew R. Fogt (Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law)
• Neil N. Gluck (Real Estate Law)
• Julie K. Hoffman (Real Estate Law)
• Valentine S. Hoy (Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate)
• Timothy M. Hutter (Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate)
• Sandy Jacobson (Real Estate Law)
• Kamran Javandel (Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental)
• Spencer B. Kallick (Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law)
• Baldwin J. Lee (Employment Law – Management)
• Scott J. Leipzig (Litigation – Real Estate)
• Nancy N. Lundeen (Real Estate Law)
• Nicole M. Martin (Environmental Law)
• Michael L. Matkins (Real Estate Law)
• Gary S. McKitterick (Real Estate Law)
• Mark Mengelberg (Real Estate Law)
• Brian W. Michel (Real Estate Law)
• Erin L. Murphy (Real Estate Law)
• Emily L. Murray (Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law)
• Anton N. Natsis (Real Estate Law)
• Sandi L. Nichols (Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Environmental, Natural Resources Law)
• Brad Nielsen (Real Estate Law)
• David L. Osias (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy)
• Dana P. Palmer (Environmental Law)
• Dean Pappas (Real Estate Law)
• Jeffrey R. Patterson (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law)
• Michael C. Pruter (Tax Law)
• Debra A. Riley (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law)
• Heather S. Riley (Land Use and Zoning Law)
• Jennifer E. Sung (Real Estate Law)
• David B. Stone (Real Estate Law)
• John M. Tipton (Real Estate Law)
• Marc D. Young (Real Estate Law)

The following were ranked as Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch:”

• Jacob E. Aronson (Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Environmental)
• Courtney Barr (Real Estate Law)
• Amarveer Brar (Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law)
• Miles Carter (Real Estate Law)
• Jonathan D. Consani (Real Estate Law)
• Brenn Coyle (Real Estate Law)
• Andrew Demirchyan (Real Estate Law)
• Amanda D. Donson (Real Estate Law)
• Nicholas DuBroff (Land Use and Zoning Law)
• Joseph P. Dzida (Real Estate Law)
• Steven M Farenbaugh (Real Estate Law)
• Kathryn Garcin (Corporate Law)
• Peter A. Griffin (Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate Law)
• John Jefferson (Real Estate Law)
• Shaunt M. Kodaverdian (Real Estate Law)
• Adam B. Korn (Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Action – Def, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)
• Catriona Lavery (Commercial Litigation)
• Julia Lee (Real Estate Law)
• Matthew E. Lee (Commercial Litigation)
• Joseph L. McGeady (Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate)
• Morgan Medlin (Real Estate Law)
• Gregory Noblitt (Real Estate Law)
• Tara E. Paul (Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Natural Resources Law)
• Max Rawn (Real Estate Law)
• Annette Rittmuller (Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment)
• Matthew T. Sessions (Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Ariel Shaeps (Construction Law, Real Estate Law)
• Kelly C. Smith (Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate)
• Nazani Temourian (Commercial Litigation)
• Nancy Grant Waters (Real Estate Law)
• Shauna Woods (Commercial Litigation)

Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Best Lawyers employs a survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Their process is designed to capture the opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

ABOUT ALLEN MATKINS

Allen Matkins, a law firm with over 270 attorneys, was founded with deep roots in real estate and has leveraged that foundation to grow and build prominent litigation, corporate, tax, labor and employment, land use, and environmental practices, allowing us to partner with clients across myriad industries and markets. For more than 45 years, Allen Matkins has worked with clients drawn to us by our reputation for market-leading solutions, pragmatism, exemplary quality, approachability, and our unparalleled network of contacts and connections in business and government. For more information about Allen Matkins please visit www.allenmatkins.com.