Arthur J. Friedman is a litigation partner in the Real Estate, Land Use, Natural Resources and Environmental Practice Group in the firm's San Francisco office.

Areas of Practice

Mr. Friedman's practice encompasses land use and commercial litigation. Mr. Friedman was recognized once again this year as a Northern California Super Lawyer (2014) for Environmental, Business Litigation. Super Lawyers lists the top 5 percent of attorneys in a state or region who have attained a high level of recognition and professional achievement.

Land Use Litigation

Mr. Friedman has extensive experience litigating disputes under California's Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). His CEQA practice involves representation of public agencies, project applicants and petitioners. Mr. Friedman presently represents the developers of the high-profile Hollywood Millennium Project in pending litigation challenging the project's approval under CEQA. He previously represented the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce as an intervenor in CEQA litigation challenging the City of Los Angeles' approvals of the updated Hollywood Community Plan. Last year, he represented the Oakland Zoo in defeating a CEQA challenge to the zoo's amendment of its plan. He was lead counsel for the City of Sacramento in its successful defense of the high profile Sacramento Railyards Specific Plan Project, one of the largest urban development projects in the state, which was challenged in three separate CEQA lawsuits. This victory was listed as one of the "2009 Top Defense Verdicts" by the San Francisco Daily Journal. This is the second time Mr. Friedman has made this list.

Mr. Friedman's project applicant clients include national retailers Walmart Stores, Inc. and Lowe's HIW, national developers Millennium Partners, Regency Centers Corporation, Syufy Enterprises L.P. and Thomas Enterprises, Inc. and national homebuilders such as Brookfield Homes. In recent years, Mr. Friedman has successfully defended a variety of commercial, residential and mixed-use projects challenged under CEQA in more than a dozen communities throughout California.

Mr. Friedman also has successfully litigated numerous matters involving title claims, easement disputes, and has defended several property owners in response to eminent domain actions. For example, Mr. Friedman defended Walmart Stores in setting aside the City of Hercules' unlawful taking of Walmart's property.

Mr. Friedman also is a frequent speaker at professional conferences in California and throughout the nation on various environmental topics.

Commercial Litigation

Mr. Friedman's commercial litigation practice encompasses contract disputes, unfair business practice claims, insurance coverage, real estate and construction defect disputes.

Mr. Friedman was co-lead counsel in obtaining a defense verdict for a large food manufacturer, in a $1.3 million breach of contract claim, following a three-week jury trial in the San Jose Federal District Court. The matter was listed as one of the "2006 Top Defense Verdicts" by the San Francisco Daily Journal(See San Francisco Daily Journal, February 8, 2007, page 8). Currently, Mr. Friedman represents several large corporations, small businesses and individuals in both bringing and defending a variety of commercial litigation matters.

Mr. Friedman was an associate at Hancock, Rothert & Bunshoft, LLP in San Francisco from 1992 to 1998 during which time the bulk of his practice consisted of representing Lloyds of London and other London-based insurers in complex environmental insurance coverage disputes. In 1998 Mr. Friedman joined Tatro, Coffino, Zeavin, Bloomgarden LLP in San Francisco, where his practice spanned a variety of commercial matters. Prior to joining Sheppard Mullin, Mr. Friedman was a partner at Steefel, Levitt & Weiss, where his practice focused on land use and commercial litigation.