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  • Sean Matsler

    Partner
    smatsler@manatt.com
    Download Contact (.vcf)

    Costa Mesa
    Direct: 714.371.2534
    General: 714.371.2500
    Fax: 714.371.2550
    Education

    University of Southern California Law School, J.D., 2003.
    Submissions Editor and Staff, Southern California Law Review.

     

    University of California, Berkeley, B.A., Political Science and History, 1999.

     

    Visiting Student at Oxford University, 1999.
    Bar Admissions
    California
    • Profile
    • Representative Matters
    • Honors & Awards
    • Publications
    • Memberships & Activities
    • Speaking Engagements

    Profile

    Sean Matsler’s practice focuses on land use with an emphasis on securing entitlements for controversial residential, commercial, and institutional real estate development projects. 

    He advises clients on compliance with local planning and zoning regulations, the California Coastal Act, and the California Environmental Quality Act, guiding them through the entitlement process from site selection to project approval.  Mr. Matsler understands the litigation risk associated with California Environmental Quality Act compliance, having represented clients on both sides of such litigation.  He has also appeared before both state and local administrative bodies to secure approvals on behalf of clients.  His clients include residential, commercial, and mixed use developers, as well as churches, temples, schools, banks, REITs, and individual property owners. 

    Prior to joining Manatt, Mr. Matsler was an associate in the land use practice group for an international law firm.  He has also worked for a number of political campaigns, including service as the Deputy Finance Director for Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.

    Representative Matters

    Honors & Awards

    2009 Religious Liberty Award, American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.

    Publications

    “Compulsory Voting in America,”  76 S. CAL L. REV. 953, 2003.

    Memberships & Activities

    OC Marathon Foundation Board of Directors.

    City of Newport Beach Citizens Bicycle Safety Committee.

    Law Day Committee, Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County.

    Public Counsel Land Use Task Force

    Member, Urban Land Institute.

    City of Newport Beach Task Force on Cycling Safety, 2009-2010.

    Bet Tzedek Justice Ball Planning Committee, 2003-2006.

    Speaking Engagements

    Orange Section of the California Chapter of the American Planning Association: APA Awards Jurist and Presenter, 2013.

    California Department of Transportation: Expert Delphi Panel participant for High Desert Corridor project, 2013.

    National Association of Environmental Professionals/Association of Environmental Professionals 2013 Joint Conference: CEQA Exemptions: Not All They're Cracked Up To Be?, 2013.

    Public Counsel: Early Care & Education Works: 5th Annual Symposium on Child Care Development, 2012.

    Association of Environmental Professionals: Fall 2012 CEQA Basics Workshop, 2012. 

    Public Counsel: Building Child Care From the Ground Up webinar, 2012. 

    Association of Environmental Professionals: Spring 2012 Advanced CEQA Workshop, 2012.

    Association of Environmental Professionals: Fall 2011 CEQA Basics Workshop, 2011.

    Public Counsel: Fourth Annual Symposium on Child Care Development, 2011.

    Association of Environmental Professionals: Fall 2010 CEQA Basics Workshop, 2010.

    California Pro Bono Conference: Cultivating Future Pro Bono Leaders, 2010.

    Public Counsel: Third Annual Symposium on Child Care Development, 2010.

    Association of Environmental Professionals: Spring 2010 Advanced CEQA Workshop, 2010.

    Public Counsel: Smart Kids, Smart Growth Planners' Summit, 2008.

    Association of Environmental Professionals: Spring 2009 Advanced CEQA Workshop, 2009.

    Building Industry Association of Orange County: CEQA Basics and Updates, 2009.