Linda Klein
Partner
Cox Castle

Linda Klein is a land use attorney who focuses on California land use entitlement and litigation.

Linda’s practice has a strong emphasis on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and she routinely helps clients navigate the complex regulatory hurdles facing development projects in California. Over the course of her career, Linda has worked on a diverse range of projects, including residences, corporate headquarters, large mixed-use master planned communities, industrial facilities, and independent and charter schools. From the initial acquisition to the entitlement approvals, she ensures project files contain evidence to support the agency’s determination. If a project approval is challenged, Linda vigorously defends her clients’ interests through to final judicial hearings in trial and appellate courts.

Housing
Housing law is an area of rapid change and Linda is attuned to the latest developments. Her knowledge of housing law helps her clients avoid unnecessary hearings and discretionary approvals, as well as maximize a site’s development potential.

Sustainability & Green Building
Among the thorny issues Linda routinely faces in getting projects approved is how to address GHG emissions under CEQA. Linda has litigated some of the key CEQA cases concerning climate change and draws on her experience and informed perspective to minimize risks for her clients while protecting their projects from unworkable alterations or mitigation.

Background
One of the unique attributes Linda brings to client matters is her understanding of the building process. With a background in civil engineering and architecture, Linda works productively with lead agencies to ensure regulation is clear and practical, so that once approved, a project can smoothly proceed. Linda also uses her knowledge of architecture to advise clients on historic resource issues, including assessing whether a building is historic, navigating historic regulations, and crafting appropriate mitigation measures.

Prior Legal Experience
Linda clerked for the Honorable Sandra S. Ikuta of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. After her clerkship, Linda was a litigation associate at Irell & Manella, LLP.