Experience

Scott has been representing individuals and businesses in real estate and business matters for over thirty years. In both litigation and transactions, Scott works to complete transactions and to resolve disputes in an economical manner while protecting his clients’ interests.

Education

UCLA School of Law, J.D., 1982
UCLA, B.A., 1979
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Associations, Honors & Service

AV rated (preeminent standing) by Martindale-Hubbell
Top Attorney in Real Estate Law, Pasadena Magazine
Member, Los Angeles County and Pasadena Bar Associations
Trustee, Board of Trustees, Los Angeles County Bar Association, 2002-2004
President, Pasadena Bar Association, 2000-2001

Contact

Office: 626-796-6161

Email: [email protected]

Experience

Richard specializes in land-use, zoning, real estate, commercial, environmental, and appellate law, including complex business litigation and class actions. He represents property owners, developers, neighborhood associations, midsize and large U.S. companies throughout Southern California on numerous hotel, medical office, and multi-family residential projects. He serves as lead trial and appellate counsel in traditional/administrative writ of mandamus proceedings, arbitrations, and private attorney general actions. As part of his land use practice, Richard manages all of the CEQA, planning, zoning, and other entitlements required by state, county, and city governments. In Pasadena, Richard’s projects include the restoration of the Constance Hotel and the YWCA Julia Morgan Building, the Colorado at Hill Hotel, the Marriott Residence Inn, the Paseo Colorado, the Crown City Medical Building, and the former Pasadena Athletic Club site.

As an experienced trial attorney, Richard successfully prosecuted a CEQA and land use trial against the City of Brea in Orange County, and successfully defended through trial a $45 million class action lawsuit in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. He previously was successful in defending a $75 million licensing arbitration, a $30 million unfair competition class action, a $40 million securities fraud and RICO class action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, and a $20 million insurance coverage action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, as well as numerous contract, real estate, and limited partnership actions. Richard has a number of appellate decisions in California to his credit, including Harper v. 24 Hour Fitness, 167 Cal. App. 4th 966 (2008), Mount Olympus Property Owners Association v. Shpirt, 59 Cal. App. 4th 885 (1997), Re-Open Rambla, Inc. v. County of Los Angeles, 39 Cal. App. 4th 1499 (1995), and Cole v. Sea Ray Boats, Inc., 32 Cal. Rptr. 2d 431 (1994) (de-published).

Education

Richard is a 1986 graduate of Loyola Law School, where he externed for Justice Otto Kaus of the California Supreme Court, and was a member of the St. Thomas More Law Honor Society, Scott Moot Court Honors Board, and the 1985 Best Oralist in Moot Court Competition.

Richard also has a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, where he was admitted to Pi Alpha Alpha, National Honorary Society for Public Affairs & Administration, received the SCAPA Praetor Scholarship Award, and worked for the Congressional Budget Office in Washington, D.C.

Richard earned his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1979, and studied at Worcester College, Oxford University, England.

Honors and Awards

Pasadena Weekly Reader Recommended

Best of Pasadena 2016 - Best Attorney/Law Firm

Specializing in land use, zoning, real estate, environmental, complex business litigation, and class actions.

Professional Associations

Pasadena Bar Association – Real Estate and Litigation Sections.
Los Angeles County Bar Association -- Real Estate, Environmental, Litigation Sections
Los Angeles County Municipal Court Judge Pro Tem Program (1996-2000)
Los Angeles County Superior Court Arbitration Program (1994-2001)
L.A.S.C. Court North Central Crash Settlement Program Referee (1994-1995)
Co-Chairman, American Bar Association Litigation Section's Subcommittee on Recent Court Decisions and Procedural Developments (1994-1995)
Los Angeles County Bar Association Litigation Section's Legislative Review Committee (1987-88)

Professional & Community Service

Board of Trustees, Pasadena Museum of History (February 2017 - Present)

Board of Directors, South Lake Business District Association (February 2017 - Present)

Executive Advisor & Advisory Board Member, InvestLA Regional Center & EB-5 Immigration Visa Program

Board of Directors, Pasadena Center Operating Company (July 2013 – October 2017)

• Chairman (2017)
• Vice-Chairman (2016 – 2017)
• Executive Committee (2014 – 2017)
• Secretary (2014 -2015)
• Chair, Governance Committee (2014 – 2017)

Vice Chairman, City of Pasadena Redistricting Task Force (2011-2012)

Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Affairs Committee (2010 - Present)

Board of Directors, South Lake Avenue Business District Association (2009 – 2014)

• Treasurer (2013- 2014)

City of Pasadena Planning Commission

• Chairman (2009-2010)
• Vice Chairman (2008-2009)
• Chairman, Board of Zoning Appeals (2008-2009)
• Vice Chairman, Board of Zoning Appeals (2007-2008)

City of Pasadena Transportation Advisory Commission (2000-2002)

City of Pasadena Redistricting Task Force (2001-02)

Board of Directors, West Pasadena’s Residents’ Association (1992 – 2003; 2010 – 2013)

• Vice President, West Pasadena Residents Association (1999-2000)
• Treasurer, West Pasadena Residents Association (1998-1999)
• Membership Director, West Pasadena Residents Association (1997-1999)

Board of Directors, Pasadena First (2005 – 2006)

Flintridge Foundation Planning Committee, Pasadena Neighborhood Leadership Program (2000)

Board of Directors, Jeffrey Foundation (1999-2000)

• Vice Chairman (1999-2000)
• Legal Committee (1999-2000)

Annandale Golf Club (2010 – Present)

Pasadena Twilight Club (2012 – Present)

Program Leader, St. Andrews Catholic Church Children's Liturgy Program (1996-98)

Publications and Speaking Engagements

2014     Guest Lecturer, University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy, “Entitlement Process II – Local Government Structure, Approval Process, and Legal Framework.”

2009     Speaker, Pasadena Bar Association Real Estate Section MCLE Program; “Get The Update on the Update: Pasadena’s General Plan Update.”

2006     Speaker, West Pasadena Residents Association Annual Meeting – “Gridlock and Growing Pains”

2004     Speaker, Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro LLP Litigation Department Continuing Education Program – “Recent Developments Under BP 17200”

2004     Speaker, West Pasadena Residents Association Annual Meeting – “Congestion Indigestion”

2001     Panel Speaker, Pasadena Neighborhood Leadership Institute -- "Civic Participation/Affecting Public Policy"

2001     Panel Member, Pasadena Leadership Program -- "Quality of Life in Our City"

2000     Panel Speaker, Pasadena Neighborhood Leadership Institute-- "The Role of Neighborhood Associations"

Contact

Direct: 626-356-4801
Email: [email protected]