Cox, Castle & Nicholson Announces 2019 Partners
COX, CASTLE & NICHOLSON LLP NAMES TWO NEW PARTNERS
Attorney elevations support firm’s robust land use, joint venture practice groups
LOS ANGELES – Jan. 2, 2019 – Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, one of the preeminent full-service law firms focused on real estate in the United States, proudly announces the election of Alexander DeGood and Christopher Stark to the firm’s partnership, effective immediately. DeGood and Stark each have contributed significantly to the firm’s land use and joint venture practice teams, serving as counsel on myriad complex development projects that have significantly shaped California’s real estate landscape.
“DeGood and Stark’s best-in-class legal services, passion and commitment to their practices have earned them the trust and esteem of clients and peers alike,” said Mario Camara, senior partner on Cox, Castle & Nicholson’s Management Committee. “We are proud of their accomplishments and look forward to their continued achievements as they advance our capabilities in two essential practice areas of our firm.”
DeGood joined Cox, Castle & Nicholson’s land use practice group in 2013 and handles zoning matters, environmental compliance and litigation, with a focus on California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance. DeGood also maintains an active litigation practice, frequently representing developers and property owners on high-stakes land use and CEQA matters. DeGood served on the litigation team that successfully secured a $35 million settlement on behalf of Forest Lawn in 2017 to remedy damage caused by Caltrans freeway construction and improper maintenance. He also served as lead counsel to Philena Properties overseeing and managing every aspect of the entitlement process for one of Los Angeles’ largest mixed-use projects, the Martin Expo Town Center. Currently as lead counsel to Ratkovich Company, he is working to secure entitlements for its more than 1,000-unit residential project in Alhambra.
DeGood is on the editorial board of California Land Use Law & Policy Reporter and is a member of Westside Urban Forum, Moriah Society for Real Estate Professionals and Lambda Alpha Los Angeles.
“It’s a great honor to help grow Cox Castle’s preeminent land use practice. I’m grateful to be part of a firm that encourages all attorneys to be well-rounded professionals and authoritative figures in their practice areas,” said DeGood.
As a transactional attorney in Cox, Castle & Nicholson’s joint venture team, Stark leverages more than two decades of experience to champion acquisitions, dispositions and sophisticated development work for institutional developers and homebuilders. He has extensive experience representing developers and investors in the formation of real estate joint ventures and recently represented Carmel Partners on its property acquisition and joint venture to develop 595 apartments and 15,000 square feet of retail space in Los Angeles. Stark also is experienced in M&A deals and represented Taylor Morrison in a $165 million homebuilder M&A that involved extensive purchase agreement negotiations and risk management analysis. He is a member of the SoCal chapter of NAIOP and Lambda Alpha Los Angeles.
Stark added, “I am proud to be a part of an accomplished group of legal professionals who are recognized leaders in the real estate industry. With the full resources of the firm, I am well positioned to provide our clients with sound business and expert legal advice during their most complex real estate transactions.”
DeGood and Stark both earned a J.D. from University of Southern California, Gould School of Law. DeGood holds a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and Stark graduated cum laude from Arizona State University. Both partners are based in the firm’s Los Angeles office.
About Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP
Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP delivers strategic legal counsel and services to developers, public agencies, energy companies, lenders, investors, joint ventures, pension funds, landlords, tenants, corporations, high net-worth individuals and others in the management of their complex real estate, business and litigation challenges. Founded in 1968, the firm has more than 130 attorneys in offices in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Francisco. For more information, visit www.coxcastle.com. Follow the firm on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.