Hanson Bridgett Adds Land Use Counsel
July, 2022 - San Francisco, California
July 5, 2022 (San Francisco, CA) - Hanson Bridgett LLP, an AmLaw 200 law firm serving all of California and beyond, is pleased to announce that Dana Dean has joined as Counsel in the Walnut Creek and Sacramento offices. Ms. Dean joins the firm's Real Estate + Environment Section, bringing with her a wealth of experience in complex land use and real estate transactions and litigation. Previously, Ms. Dean founded and managed The Law Offices of Dana Dean from 2003-2022.
"Dana is a wonderful addition to our firm, supplementing our existing land use practice with her well-developed expertise,” said Jordan Lavinsky, who chairs Hanson Bridgett’s Real Estate + Environment Section. “Her unique blend of substantial experience in land use matters, from inception to fruition, and robust real estate litigation practice is a true asset.”
Ms. Dean has practiced real estate and land use law, focusing on litigation and land use development for nearly two decades. She has worked throughout Northern California on land use matters that involve sustained, long range advocacy efforts, detailed analyses, and extensive communications with governing entities, interested community groups, developers, and property owners.
With an emphasis on commercial and industrial development, Ms. Dean represents landowners, project developers, and community groups alike at city and county levels during all stages of development permitting, with a focus on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process. She also frequently appears before state agencies, such as BAAQMD, BCDC, CalRecycle, DTSC, and State Lands Commission, and represents clients in interactions with federal agencies such as U.S. EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Her land use work involves traditional development, as well as alternative energy, resource recovery, and water related development projects.
In addition, Ms. Dean represents companies and individuals in litigation involving boundary and easement disputes, purchase and sale disputes, and other traditional real estate claims.
Ms. Dean is known as a passionate advocate and skilled strategist. With her substantial experience in representing all types of parties in real estate and land use disputes, Ms. Dean brings an experienced, unique perspective to resolving real estate and community land use disputes with empathy and efficiency.
“I am so thrilled to join a firm of this caliber and look forward to playing a role in the continuing growth of our land use practice,” Dean said. “I know my clients will benefit from Hanson Bridgett’s unique, collaborative culture and the knowledge and experience of our team members. I am honored to be here.”
Ms. Dean also has a long history of community involvement, with particular focus on children’s health, well-being, and education. Having previously served 5 years on the Benicia Unified School District Governing Board, Ms. Dean has now served for 9 years on the Solano County Board of Education. She is Past President of California County Boards of Education (CCBE). She has served on the Board of Directors of the California School Boards Association (CSBA) and the CSBA Legislative Committee, which reviews and determines positions on education related legislation. She currently serves on the CCBE Board of Directors. She also sits on the CSBA Education legal Alliance Steering Committee, which is responsible for reviewing litigation of state-level importance to the education community. She serves as a conference presenter on issues of public process and governance and as an expert witness in litigation related to governance.
