Overview
Benjamin Hanelin is a partner in the Real Estate practice at Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Century City office. His practice encompasses a wide range of counseling and litigation, including writ of mandamus litigation in California trial and appellate courts and securing regulatory approvals for hospitality, residential, commercial and infrastructure energy development projects. His practice includes all areas of environmental law, with a particular focus on major infrastructure improvements, local planning and zoning regulations, and state land use laws, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act.
For more than 20 years, Benjamin has represented clients in CEQA litigation and provides strategic counsel on governmental and administrative law, including matters involving local and state administrative and legislative decision-making.
Prior to joining the firm, Benjamin practiced at a leading international law firm, where he advised on a broad range of complex real estate transactions. Benjamin also served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Irma E. Gonzalez, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. He is admitted to practice before the Ninth Circuit, the U.S. District Courts for the Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California and all California state courts.
Education
- University of California, Los Angeles, J.D., 2004, Order of the Coif
- University of California, Berkeley, B.S., 1999
Representations
- Developers of Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and the under-construction One Beverly Hills hotel and residential project.
- Crescent Heights on various projects in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, including 8844 Burton Way, the Palladium Residences, 11th & Olive, and 3100 Wilshire.
- Various property owners and hospitality venues in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Los Angeles relating to permitting, expansion and city approvals.
- Private homeowners involving highly controversial development of new single-family homes in Beverly Hills.
- Real parties in interest and respondent in an original writ proceeding, The Protect Our Communities Foundation, et al. v. California Public Utilities Commission, et al., decided in 2021 (Case No. S265790).
- Real party in interest and respondent, teamed with other counsel, in an original writ proceeding, Community for a Better Environment v. California Public Utilities Commission, et al., decided in 2012 (Case No. S194079).
- Real party in interest and respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in Save Tara v. City of West Hollywood, et al., decided in 2007 (Case No. S151402).
- Real party in interest and respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in California Endowment v. Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Auth., et al, filed and dismissed in 2023 (Second Appellate District, Case No. B327868).
- Real party in interest and respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in Coalition to Preserve LA, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, et al., dismissed per settlement in 2021 (Second Appellate District, Case No. B308351).
- Real party in interest and respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in AIDS Healthcare Foundation v. City of Los Angeles, et al., decided in 2020 and review denied by Supreme Court (Second Appellate District, Case No. B303308).
- Real party in interest and respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in AIDS Healthcare Foundation v. City of Los Angeles, et al., decided in 2019 and reviewed denied by Supreme Court (Second Appellate District, Case No. B292816).
- Real party in interest and respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in Concerned Citizens of Beverly Hills v. City of Los Angeles, et al., filed in 2018 and dismissed in 2019 following settlement (Second Appellate District, Case No. B289923).
- Real party in interest and respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in Beverlywood Homes Ass’n, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, et al., decided in 2018 (Second Appellate District, Case No. B280620).
- Real party in interest and respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in Stewards of Public Land v. City of Pasadena, et al., decided in 2018 (Second Appellate District, Case No. B277996).