David Waite, CRE

Partner, Cox, Castle Nicholson, LLP

David is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Cox, Castle Nicholson, LLP.   David has practiced land use and environmental law for over thirty years. He is recognized as one of Southern California’s leading entitlement lawyers.  He serves as a trusted strategic advisor to his clients, assisting developers and public entities navigate California’s complex legal and regulatory requirements on matters pertaining to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), climate change, development agreements, conditional use permits and other discretionary approvals, infrastructure agreements, public-private partnerships, subdivisions, zoning, and environmental regulatory compliance.  David has an active litigation practice.  He defends a variety of legal challenges seeking to overturn administrative land use and regulatory approvals.  David advises his clients on a variety of product types including mixed use, urban infill, transit oriented development, master-planned communities, schools, retail and regional shopping centers, hotels, resorts, recreational facilities, market rate multifamily and affordable housing, health care, senior housing and assisted living, and industrial development.  He has also represented clients on major infrastructure projects including landfills and developing recycled water facilities.  He has particular development expertise on projects involving Brownfields and other environmentally impaired real property.

David is a member of The Counselors of Real Estate (“CRE”).  He is a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (“ACREL”). He has been selected by the Los Angeles Daily Journal as one of the “Top 50 Development Attorneys” in California.  David is actively involved in numerous Real Estate Industry associations.  He is a ULI Governor.  He has served as the past Chair of the Urban Land Institute’s Los Angeles District Council (“ULI-LA”).  He is a board member of the Los Angeles Headquarters Association, board member of the Skid Row Housing Trust, and a member of the Westside Urban Forum. He previously served on the Advisory Board of the California Infill Builders Federation.