Rand Paster & Nelson adds four partners to California housing and land use team

By AI, Created 6:30 PM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Rand Paster & Nelson LLP has expanded its California housing, land use and environmental law practice with four new partners as demand grows for complex project approvals and litigation support. The move strengthens a firm known for helping advance housing developments under state law across California.

Why it matters: - California housing and development projects are facing more complex approval processes as state laws evolve. - Rand Paster & Nelson LLP is expanding capacity to handle entitlement, environmental review, and litigation work tied to housing and land use matters. - The firm has positioned itself around helping projects move forward under state housing streamlining laws.

What happened: - Rand Paster & Nelson LLP announced that Fred Gaines, Sherman L. Stacey, Kimberly A. Rible, and Alicia B. Bartley have joined the firm as partners. - The hiring expands the firm’s California housing, land use, and environmental law practice. - Managing Partner Elisa Paster said client demand for this work is increasing as approval processes become more contested.

The details: - Fred Gaines focuses on land use entitlements, environmental review under CEQA and NEPA, and related litigation. - Gaines has represented clients including Vons/Pavilions Stores, Sherwood Country Club, Williams Homes, The Shops at Sportsmen’s Lodge, and de Toledo High School. - Gaines previously served on the Calabasas City Council and completed two terms as mayor. - Sherman L. Stacey has conducted more than 1,500 hearings before the California Coastal Commission. - Stacey recently helped secure entitlements for the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica and the Lido House Hotel in Newport Beach. - Kimberly A. Rible works on land use, zoning, and environmental law, with experience in California Coastal Act and CEQA matters. - Rible supports projects from initial planning through approval. - Alicia B. Bartley handles litigation tied to property transactions and real estate development projects, along with real estate transactions. - Bartley represents clients across the full lifecycle of real estate matters. - The firm says it has entitled thousands of housing units across California using the Housing Accountability Act, Builder’s Remedy, Density Bonus Law, AB 2011, and other housing streamlining provisions. - RPN also advises on entitlement strategy, enforces state housing laws against local agencies when needed, and defends project approvals in litigation. - The firm’s attorneys and planners have decades of experience working with local agencies, planning bodies, elected offices, and state housing policymakers. - Founding Partner Dave Rand serves on the California Housing Partnership Corporation Board of Directors after an appointment by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Between the lines: - The additions suggest RPN is betting that demand will keep growing for lawyers who can navigate both state housing mandates and local permitting fights. - The firm’s mix of entitlement, environmental, and litigation experience is designed to cover projects from early strategy through courtroom defense. - The hires also deepen RPN’s bench in coastal and high-stakes development matters, where approvals often draw stronger scrutiny.

What’s next: - RPN is likely to use the expanded team to pursue more housing and mixed-use approvals across California. - The firm is also positioned to keep challenging local agency decisions when state housing law conflicts with local resistance. - Future work will likely center on complex entitlement strategies, CEQA disputes, and defense of approved projects in litigation.