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Attorney at law, Real Estate, Environmental, and Land Use

Location:
Lafayette, CA, 94549
Posted:
January 27, 2012

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Resume:

Martin E. Lysons, Esq.

**** ****** ***** *********, ** 94549

925-***-**** g1nst5@r.postjobfree.com

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

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Real Estate Law Land Use & Zoning Commercial Real Estate Development

Business Law Environmental Law Construction Law

Expert senior attorney with more than ten years of success in transactional work, negotiation, litigation support and alternate dispute resolution. A trusted leader and advisor in the boardroom and an invaluable asset in the courtroom and a winner at the negotiating table. Communicates effectively, institutes initiatives and creates positive change, successful litigation avoidance strategies and increased profitability.

Manages sensitive and critical situations with finesse. Handles a busy docket, ensuring quality, timeliness and favorable results. Maximizes shareholder values while under high pressure. Turns fluid or adverse situations into opportunities for growth and creativity. Leads successful cost-saving, compliance and efficiency programs and practices in environments where growth and accountability are paramount. Extensive qualifications in the following competencies:

Legal Compliance Risk Management

Government Relations Contract Negotiations & Closing

Client Relationship Management Project Management & Implementation

Cross-Functional Team Management Direction, Re-engineering of Mission Focus

CAREER SYNOPSIS

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Gagen McCoy, McMahon, Koss, Markowitz & Raines, Danville, CA 2000-present

SHAREHOLDER (2006-present)

LAND USE AND REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATE (2000-2006)

Lead attorney representing real property and land use clients in diverse matters. Guides and mentors junior attorneys. An expert in land use entitlements, condemnation defense, leasing, CEQA compliance, HOA conflicts, boundary and title disputes, land trusts, CC&Rs, eminent domain and construction contracts. Lead counsel to developers in all phases of the process, including consultant engagement, property owner meetings, relations with government agencies and elected officials, traffic and other environmental issues, and presentations before governmental bodies.

Saved $100 thousand in remediation costs by representing conservation land trust from adverse impacts of wind power development on existing wetlands within a conservation easement.

Prevented loss of businesses and saved six-figures in litigation and penalty costs by successfully defending a rock/concrete recycling facility, a commercial storage facility, industrial sites, and other businesses accused of zoning, environmental and permitting violations.

Vindicated an elected official wrongfully accused of misuse of office through transaction analysis, letter briefs, and interaction with District Attorney and local media, resulting in no charges filed and re-election assured.

Obtained final approval for land improvements worth tens of millions of dollars by processing controversial application to add an anchor tenant of a shopping center, persuading mayor, city attorney and city council and fighting off legal challenges.

Successfully negotiated a $1.9 million settlement of eminent domain case.

Defended a property owner and developer sued by an abutter, achieving a “win-win” settlement that saved tens of thousands of dollars in litigation fees and costs, in exchange for concessions that added value to the development.

Securing entitlements on a six-unit subdivision of luxury lots valued at approximately $800 thousand each previously rejected in concept by city officials.

Saved tens of millions by advocating for large power company to lift a stop-work order on power plant construction, overcoming county’s hazardous materials ordinance and attaining necessary planning and health department approvals.

Aggressively represented developers over city’s wrongful imposition of development fees, reaching favorable settlements.

Lysons, Martin 925-***-****

Successfully represented a commercial tenant who was wrongfully and constructively evicted from premises, negotiating landlord’s forfeiture of demanded back-rent and saving client tens of thousands in potential litigation costs.

Successfully negotiated with telecommunication companies to achieve better terms and higher rent payments for several property owners with existing cell towers.

Represented terminated public management employee in severance negotiations, achieving five-figure severance package and favorable reference for employee.

Assisted in construction defect defense litigation, taking and defending depositions and breaking down technical information for a lay audience.

Participated in boundary dispute litigation, taking and defending depositions, successfully defending against a Motion for Summary Judgment, and ultimately reaching settlement before trial.

Contra Costa County Department of Public Works, Martinez, CA 1987-2000

CIVIL ENGINEER

Represented the Department at public hearings regarding land development projects. Represented County in inter-agency negotiations regarding regional development and traffic fees. Managed traffic fee program to fund large traffic improvement projects. Coordinated development of public capital improvement projects.

Represented the County in negotiations with adjacent cities and Alameda County to execute Joint Exercise of Powers Agreements for the collection and inter-agency sharing of traffic fees.

Reviewed development proposals within the County to develop CEQA mitigation measures and conditions of approval to mitigate the impact of the developments on the public infrastructure.

Represented the Public Works Department at Planning Commission and Board of Supervisor hearings to advocate for CEQA mitigation measures and conditions of approval, protecting the County and its residents from impacts of development.

Managed the Area of Benefit program for Contra Costa County, including meeting with area committees, setting fee amounts for various areas, and approving individual fee calculations for specific developments.

Developed the County’s Capital Road Improvement Program (“CRIP”), meeting with community-based committees to develop and prioritize lists of desired projects, assessing project costs, projecting traffic fee revenues, and, based on these data, developing a timeline for the delivery of these projects and publishing annually the CRIP.

Developed plans and specifications for several capital improvement projects.

Created several “public information” publications for the County regarding various aspects of the development process.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

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John F. Kennedy School of Law, Walnut Creek, CA

Adjunct Professor, Spring/Summer 2003, Legal Writing & Research

EDUCATION & TRAINING

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University of San Francisco Law School, San Francisco, CA,

Juris Doctor degree

California State University, Sacramento, CA

Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering

LICENSES & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

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Admitted to practice of law before all courts in the State of California; Member, Contra Costa County Bar Association (Real Property Section); Member, American Bar Association (Real Property and Environmental Law Sections); Licensed Civil Engineer; Member, American Society of Civil Engineers; Licensed Real Estate Broker; Member, Contra Costa Council; Member, Leadership Contra Costa;

Member, Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley.



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