GONZALES LAW GROUP APC - Key Persons
Michael Gonzales, GLG's Shareholder and founder, focuses his practice on all aspects of land use & zoning, real estate and redevelopment. Michael spent almost 7 years at the premier real estate firm Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis, LLP where Michael honed his legal skills amongst California's premier real estate practitioners. Michael's practice also encompasses affordable housing, density bonus law, historical resources, local sustainable development compliance, and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance.
Michael has significant experience in developing entitlement strategies and obtaining entitlements for a range of commercial, residential and mixed-use projects in numerous Southern California jurisdictions. Projects include entertainment venues, restaurants, hotels, and urban in-fill mixed use projects. Michael is adept at managing the entitlement and development process, including assembling qualified project teams, overseeing technical consultants, negotiating with government agencies and officials, and, at times, negotiating with community groups. Michael never loses sight of the goal, successfully carrying development project from concept to reality. Michael has substantial experience advocating for project at all levels of the administrative process, including design review boards, zoning administrators, planning commissions and legislative bodies.
Michael is very familiar with the process surrounding CEQA compliance, including environmental impact reports, negative declarations and initial studies. He advises clients on state land use laws, including CEQA, the Subdivision Map Act, and the California Redevelopment Law. Michael has significant experience conducting due diligence review of complex land use issues, including local zoning ordinances, subdivision issues, specific plans, redevelopment plans and related matters. He has also drafted numerous redevelopment agreements for both commercial and residential transactions, loan agreements, ground leases, easement agreements, and development agreements for various development projects.
Michael has substantial land use and related development experience conducting due diligence review for lenders in connection with determinations to foreclose on troubled assets. Similarly, Michael has substantial experience conducting due diligence review in connection with the acquisition of real estate assets by investment funds, developers and other private entities. Michael is extremely skilled at quickly identifying land use issues that could impact a client's bottom line and finding solutions to achieve client goals.