Amy Nefouse concentrates her practice on real estate development in California. She has represented developers and municipalities in litigation involving California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), wetlands, California Planning and Zoning Law, the California Subdivision Map Act, endangered species, historic preservation and other related state and federal requirements. In addition, she has assisted private developer clients in land use entitlement planning and obtaining the necessary governmental approvals and permits for their projects, including the preparation of EIRs, EISs, and development agreements.

Ms. Nefouse has worked on a broad range of projects including commercial, residential, office, hotel, landfill, power plant, schools and open space / park projects. Ms. Nefouse also has experience in commercial litigation and environmental compliance counseling.

The respected English publisher Chambers & Partners recognizes her in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business.

Recent Matters

• Representation of IDS Equities in defending a challenge to an EIR Addendum approved by the LA Community Redevelopment Agency for changes to the Metropolis Mixed Use Project in downtown Los Angeles. The Project consists of approximately 3 million square feet of development including 836 residential units, 480 hotel rooms and over one million square feet of office and retail uses. Mani Brothers v. City of Los Angeles (2007) 153 Cal. App. 4th 1385.
• Representation of CBL Associates in preparation of an EIR, entitlement processing and defense of a CEQA law suit in connection with an approximately 775,000 square foot commercial development project in the city of El Centro, CA.
• Representation of The Irvine Company in connection with preparation of EIRs for two residential development projects, one in the City of Orange (Santiago Hills/East Orange) and one in the City of Anaheim (Mountain Park). Together, these projects included entitlements for over 6,500 residential units, schools, parks, trails, recreational facilities, and permanent preservation of open space, on over 9,000 acres.
• Representation of The Irvine Company in connection with environmental review and CEQA litigation challenging the City of Irvine's approval of the Northern Sphere Project, which included a general plan amendment and zoning for more than 7,000 acres of land in order to accommodate future development of 12,350 residential units, approximately 7 million square feet of commercial, medical and science, and institutional uses, four elementary and middle schools, neighborhood parks and recreational uses, and dedication of over 4,000 acres of open space. Defend the Bay v. City of Irvine, 119 Cal. App. 4th 1261 (2004).
• Representation of the San Diego Padres baseball team and master developer JMI Realty in connection with preparation of a subsequent EIR for a proposed downtown ballpark and related ancillary hotel and residential development, and in various litigation matters concerning the proposed project involving CEQA, redevelopment law and eminent domain issues.
• Representation of Cadiz, Inc. in connection with joint preparation with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California of an EIR/EIS for a large conjunctive use project for storage and transport of Colorado River Aqueduct water and indigenous groundwater.
• Representation of Cousins MarketCenters, Inc. in connection with state and federal litigation challenging the City of San Diego's approval of its mall project in Mira Mesa and the Army Corps’ issuance of a Section 404 permit. Issues included CEQA, wetlands, endangered species, the City’s Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP), and general plan consistency issues.
• Representation of the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation to defend the City of West Hollywood's approval of its 40-unit apartment project dedicated to low-income persons with AIDS. Litigation involved CEQA and state and local historic preservation law. Citizens for Responsible Development v. City of West Hollywood, 39 Cal. App. 4th 490 (1995).

許可

• California
• United States Supreme Court
• United States District Court for the Southern District of California
• United States District Court for the Central District of California

專業資格

• San Diego County Bar Association
• San Diego Lawyers Club

公民與慈善

• San Diego Hadassah Attorneys Council, Co-President (2002-2004)