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  • Victor De la Cruz
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Victor De la Cruz

De-la-Cruz_Victor_New-Bio-Template-730-x-730-(1)

Partner

Land Use
Contact
  • vdelacruz@manatt.com
  • Phone: 310.312.4305
  • Download vCard
  • Los Angeles
Bar Admissions
  • California
Education
  • Harvard Law School, J.D., 2003

    Yale University, B.A., with distinction, 2000

Languages
  • Spanish
Services
  • Government and Regulatory
  • Los Angeles Government and Land Use
Industries
  • Hospitality and Leisure
  • Infrastructure
  • Land Use
  • Manatt Real Estate

Show Full Bio

  • Profile
  • Experience
  • Honors & Awards
  • Memberships
  • Publications
Profile

Profile

Victor De la Cruz leads Manatt’s land use practice. He counsels developers, institutions, individuals, for-profit corporations and nonprofit organizations on matters at the nexus of law and government, including real estate development and land use entitlements, bid protests, and government contracts. In 2016, the Daily Journal named him one of the top 40 attorneys under the age of 40 in California, and in 2018, in recognition of his work in the area of land use, he received the California Lawyer of the Year award, which recognizes lawyers whose work has had a significant impact on public policy, the law and the profession.

Working with clients and consultant teams to craft legal, political and community outreach strategies, Victor has facilitated the approval and development of a wide variety of projects, many of which have played a prominent role in shaping and defining the Southern California landscape. He advocates for clients’ projects before agencies, boards, commissions and legislative bodies, and defends land use entitlements in litigation as necessary.

Victor has substantial experience with the California Environmental Quality Act, the Coastal Act, the Subdivision Map Act, historic preservation statutes and regulations, and other laws related to the development of land throughout the state. Among his projects are regional malls, transit-oriented developments, athletic arenas, university master plans, big-box retail stores, residential high-rises, large-scale signage projects and commercial office complexes.

Victor also counsels clients on government contracts and bid protests with the city and county of Los Angeles, the county of San Diego, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Los Angeles World Airports, the California Department of General Services and the California Office of Administrative Hearings. His representation of clients in these forums includes preparing bids and proposals (including coordinating media and political strategies), filing and defending protests, and participating in contract negotiations.

Victor served as the co-chair of the Housing, Land Use & Development Committee of the Central City Association of Los Angeles from 2016 to 2018. He is a registered lobbyist with the city and county of Los Angeles and the cities of West Hollywood and Long Beach.

Experience

Experience

Representation of The Related Companies in the entitlement of The Century, a 650,000-square-foot, 42-story condominium high-rise. Work included all land use entitlements and California Environmental Quality Act review.

Representation of Kilroy Realty with respect to its $450 million Academy Square, a 3.5-acre project on a full city block in Hollywood, with a 23-story apartment tower and midrise buildings with 280,000 square feet of office and retail space. Representation included all land use entitlements and California Environmental Quality Act review.

Representing Mount Saint Mary’s University in connection with entitlements and California Environmental Quality Act review for the university’s Wellness Pavilion project at its Chalon Campus in Brentwood.

Representation of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art with the entitlements for the Broad Contemporary Art Museum and Resnick Pavilion buildings.

Representation of Live Nation, and Andy Hewitt and Bill Silva Presents for the ten-year exclusive license agreement to the Hollywood Bowl (2018–27). Representation included advising on successful response to the RFP against competing concert promoter and negotiation of license agreement.

Representation of Athens Services in connection with a development agreement and franchise agreement with the City of Irwindale for the development and operation of an approximately 262,641-square-foot materials recovery facility and transfer station on a 17.22-acre city parcel. Representation included all land use entitlements and California Environmental Quality Act review.

Representing the Marina Admiralty Co. on its lease with the County of Los Angeles and the California Environmental Quality Act review and approvals for its 23-acre Mariners Village, the largest County-owned residential community in Marina del Rey.

Representation of Duty Free Shops on a ten-year agreement for the development and exclusive operation of the duty-free merchandise concession at Los Angeles International Airport. Representation included advice on successful response to the RFP against seven other international bidders, defeat of bid protests and advice on negotiation of the $1.5 billion agreement, which included $42 million in concession space improvements and minimum annual rent payments to Los Angeles World Airports of $30–33 million a year.

Assisted in obtaining entitlements and overseeing the California Environmental Quality Act review for the University of Southern California’s Galen Center & Athletic Pavilion.

Representation of Regency Outdoor Advertising on litigation matters, land use and government advocacy in various municipalities.

Representation of Delaware North Companies in connection with food and beverage concessions contract with Los Angeles International Airport. Representation included advice on successful response to the RFP for two of the available contracts, successful bid protests and negotiation of approximately $650 million concessions agreement.

Advising a property owner in connection with the entitlements, development agreement and environmental review for nearly two million square feet of a downtown Los Angeles mixed-use project, which will cover approximately three city blocks and include over 1,000 residential units, 250,000 square feet of retail space, two boutique hotels and a small college campus.

Assisted one of the world’s largest retailers in the development of various big-box stores, including the preparation of entitlement applications, counsel on initiatives and referenda, and defense of environmental impact reports in California Environmental Quality Act litigation.

Honors & Awards

Honors & Awards

Named as one of the Top-Ranked Attorneys, Chambers USA, 2021–2022

Most Influential Minority Lawyers in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2016, 2018, 2020–2022

Named as one of The Best Lawyers in America, 2018–2022

Thomson Reuters Southern California “Rising Star,” 2013–2018

Recipient, 2018 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award, presented by the Daily Journal for extraordinary achievement in the area of Land Use

Thomson Reuters Top 100 Up and Coming Attorneys in Southern California, 2017

“Top 40 Under 40” Attorneys in California, Daily Journal, 2016

Memberships

Memberships

Admitted to practice in California and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Board of Directors, Bet Tzedek Legal Services

Board of Directors, Community Partners

Board of Directors, Mexican American Bar Foundation

Board of Directors, Uncommon Good

Co-Chair, Central City Association of Los Angeles, Housing, Land Use & Development Committee, 2016–18

Advisory Council, Miguel Contreras Foundation, 2015–18

Scholarship Committee, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund

Member, Westside Urban Forum

Member, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Land Use Committee

Member, Urban Land Institute

Board Member, Watts Village Theater Company, 2008–10

Commissioner, City of Los Angeles Relocation Appeals Board, 2006

Board Member, Southern California Planning Congress, 2004

Advisory Board Member, Mar Vista Family Center, 2004

Publications

Publications

Featured, “Leaders Of Influence: Minority Attorneys,” Los Angeles Business Journal, January 24, 2022.

Quoted, “Developer Mohamed Hadid facing criminal charges over Bel-Air mansion,” Los Angeles Times, December 14, 2015.

Quoted, “Developer Denied Extra Time to Bring Bel-Air Mansion Into Compliance,” Los Angeles Times, June 2, 2015.

Quoted, “Inspectors crack down on Bel-Air mansion for additional code violations,” Los Angeles Times, April 8, 2015.

Quoted, “L.A. council votes to oppose Live Nation running iconic Greek Theatre,” Los Angeles Times, February 11, 2015.

Quoted, “Either council choice on Greek Theatre operator has a political risk,” Los Angeles Times, February 9, 2015.

Quoted, “Council committee rejects panel’s advice to change Greek’s Operator,” Los Angeles Times, January 26, 2015.

Quoted, “Live Nation’s bid to run Greek Theatre gets parks panel’s backing,” Los Angeles Times, October 23, 2014.

Quoted, “L.A. parks commission fails to decide on Greek Theatre operator,” Los Angeles Times, October 9, 2014.

Quoted, “Neighbors alarmed as entertainment titans battle to run Greek Theatre,” Los Angeles Times, October 1, 2014.

Quoted, “L.A. revokes construction permits for hilltop house in Bel-Air,” Los Angeles Times, September 10, 2014.

Quoted, “A real Hollywood flop,” Los Angeles Times, March 28, 2013.

Interviewed, “Ferrari With a View,” KCET, March 25, 2010.

Quoted, “Ferrari owner’s dream garage grinds neighbors’ gears,” Los Angeles Times, February 4, 2010.

Victor in the News

  • 06.01.22

    Manatt Receives Top Band Rankings in Chambers USA 2022

    Manatt has once again been ranked among the nation’s leading law firms in Chambers’ 2022 USA Guide. The Firm and its professionals were ...

  • 01.24.22

    Cooke, De la Cruz Named to Los Angeles Business Journal’s Top ...

    Michelle Cooke, Manatt's Chief Diversity officer and leader of the IP Protection & Enforcement practice, and Victor De la Cruz, leader of ...

  • 08.19.21

    77 Manatt Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers 2022 Guide

    Seventy-seven Manatt attorneys have been named to the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in America, which recognizes the nation’s leading lawyers ...

  • 05.20.21

    Manatt Receives Top Band Rankings in Chambers USA 2021

    Manatt has once again been ranked among the nation’s leading law firms in Chambers’ 2021 USA Guide.

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