Diane C. De Felice

Skillfully navigates complex and controversial development and infrastructure projects. More than 25 years of experience helping clients accomplish their land use, environmental law and litigation goals. Significant experience in CEQA matters. Diane offers her clients—developers, investors, cities and other private sector clients—land use and environmental law counsel, as well as proven litigation skills. With a deep understanding of public agency administrative processes, she streamlines complex environmental issues entwined with land use and planning matters so clients’ projects are able to break ground. Diane possesses industry-leading experience with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Subdivision Map Act as well as the Coastal Act. Large, complex and fast-moving matters with tight timelines are her passion. Clients seek out Diane for her strategic approach that balances development economics and legal issues to expedite projects and quell opposition. Whether consulting with public entities to help get a project built or defending one when challenged in court, she gets results. Her ongoing role as lead counsel for Cadiz Valley Conservation, Recovery and Storage Project, where she was responsible for obtaining and successfully defending six lawsuit challenges to the project’s entitlements, is a testament to her ability to deliver successful outcomes in long-ranging high profile infrastructure development work. Diane’s commitment to excellence extends into the community. She provides pro bono land use counsel to Wolf Connection and also acts as a pro bono liaison for the firm’s California offices.