Jeffrey Forrest

Jeffrey W. Forrest is a Land Use partner in the San Diego office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, LLP and has been practicing law for 20 years after graduating from George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. with an emphasis on environmental law.

Now a Californian, Mr. Forrest’s practice includes complex land use planning, obtaining entitlement approvals, and land use litigation defense for clients such as Holland Partner Group, Hines, Cisterra, Lincoln Properties, Loews Resorts, Hotel Del Coronado, JStreet Hospitality, Choice Hotels, Lowe Enterprises, Greystar, BioMed Realty, Pardee Homes, KB Home, Brookfield Homes, Caydon U.S.A., Chevron, Integral Communities, Jay Paul Company, Steelwave, solar and renewable energy developers, Allied Waste, the Building Industry Association, Citigroup, Comerica Bank, Black Mountain Ranch, Sovereign Capital, LLJ Investors, and Lane Field Developers.

Mr. Forrest specializes in counseling compliance with and litigating the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”), California Coastal Act, Subdivision Map Act, Mitigation Fee Act, Endangered Species Act, and global warming laws and regulations.

In doing so, his land use work covers all aspects of advising and representing residential, industrial and commercial developers through all phases of the land use regulatory process, including real estate due diligence investigations; negotiating development agreements, easements, annexation agreements, water supply assessments, and environmental permits; processing land use entitlements, and appearing before governmental agencies and commissions.

Prior to joining Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, he served in the U.S. Congress as the Legislative Director & Counsel to Congressman Mike Castle following the Congressman’s terms as Delaware’s Governor. In Congress, he focused on bankruptcy reform, financial services modernization, corporate governance, environmental, appropriations and tax legislation.

Mr. Forrest is a Board member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties and a registered lobbyist with the City of San Diego, the County of San Diego, and San Diego Regional Airport Authority, and the San Diego Port Authority.

Education:

• J.D., George Washington University Law School, 1996
• B.A., State University of New York at Binghamton, 1993, magna cum laude

Admissions:

• California
• Virginia
• Maryland

Memberships:

• National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (San Diego Chapter), Co-Chair of Legislative Policy Committee
• Building Industry Association of San Diego, Co-Chair of North County Legislative Committee
• Imperial County Economic Development Corporation
• Delegate, State Bar of California’s Conference of Delegates