Overview
Benjamin Hanelin is a partner in the Real Estate practice at Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Los Angeles office. His practice encompasses a wide range of counseling and litigation, including writ of mandamus litigation in California trial and appellate courts and securing regulatory approvals for infrastructure energy and real estate development projects. His practice includes all areas of environmental law, with a particular focus on major infrastructure improvements, local planning and zoning regulations, and state land use laws, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act.
Benjamin represents clients in CEQA litigation and provides strategic counsel on governmental and administrative law, including matters involving local and state administrative and legislative decision-making.
Prior to joining the firm, Benjamin served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Irma E. Gonzalez, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. He is admitted to practice before the Ninth Circuit, the U.S. District Courts for the Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California, and all California state courts.
Education
- University of California, Los Angeles, J.D., 2004
- University of California, Berkeley, B.S., 1999
Representations
- Counsel for Real Parties in Interest and Respondent in an original writ proceeding, The Protect Our Communities Foundation, et al. v. California Public Utilities Commission, et al., decided in 2021 (Case No. S265790)
- Counsel for Real Party in Interest and Respondent, teamed with other counsel, in an original writ proceeding, Community for a Better Environment v. California Public Utilities Commission, et al., decided in 2012 (Case No. S194079)
- Counsel for Real Party in Interest and Respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in Save Tara v. City of West Hollywood, et al., decided in 2007 (Case No. S151402)
- Counsel for Real Party in Interest and Respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in California Endowment v. Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Auth., et al, filed and dismissed in 2023 (Second Appellate District, Case No. B327868)
- Counsel for Real Party in Interest and Respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in Coalition to Preserve LA, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, et al., dismissed per settlement in 2021 (Second Appellate District, Case No. B308351)
- Counsel for Real Party in Interest and Respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in AIDS Healthcare Foundation v. City of Los Angeles, et al., decided in 2020 and review denied by Supreme Court (Second Appellate District, Case No. B303308)
- Counsel for Real Party in Interest and Respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in AIDS Healthcare Foundation v. City of Los Angeles, et al., decided in 2019 and reviewed denied by Supreme Court (Second Appellate District, Case No. B292816)
- Counsel for Real Party in Interest and Respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in Concerned Citizens of Beverly Hills v. City of Los Angeles, et al., filed in 2018 and dismissed in 2019 following settlement (Second Appellate District, Case No. B289923)
- Counsel for Real Party in Interest and Respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in Beverlywood Homes Ass’n, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, et al., decided in 2018 (Second Appellate District, Case No. B280620)
- Counsel for Real Party in Interest and Respondent, teamed with counsel representing another party, in Stewards of Public Land v. City of Pasadena, et al., decided in 2018 (Second Appellate District, Case No. B277996)