Todd A. Williams - Oakland, CA

Premier Land Use and Real Estate Counsel in Oakland, California

Securing project approvals in Northern California requires sophisticated legal counsel with deep regulatory mastery. Based at 1111 Broadway in downtown Oakland, attorney Todd A. Williams serves as a Director at Fennemore, an established firm tracing its roots to 1885. Following the combination of Wendel Rosen LLP with Fennemore, Williams continues to lead land use and real estate initiatives across the San Francisco Bay Area. A graduate of UC Law San Francisco in 1998 and licensed by the State Bar of California since 1998, he brings more than twenty-five years of experience guiding complex development projects through entitlement. Selected to Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America, he advises developers, corporate owners, and public entities. Partnering with skilled business and real estate lawyers ensures regulatory compliance and project success.

Environmental Review and Rigorous CEQA Compliance

The California Environmental Quality Act represents a major hurdle for capital development. Todd Williams guides project sponsors through environmental reviews, preparing Environmental Impact Reports, Mitigated Negative Declarations, and statutory exemptions. As a frequent speaker on administrative standards, he creates defensible records that withstand public scrutiny and litigation, ensuring projects maintain legal compliance under state environmental mandates.

Commercial Real Estate Development and Entitlements

From transit-oriented developments to corporate campuses, commercial projects require intricate legal architecture. Serving as trusted commercial real estate lawyers, Todd Williams and his team manage zoning approvals, general plan amendments, variances, and development agreements. Williams negotiates infrastructure cost-sharing agreements, easements, and public-private partnerships, providing clients a distinct advantage during public hearings before planning commissions and city councils.

Housing Legislation and Streamlined Residential Approvals

California state laws offer powerful mechanisms to remove local barriers to housing production. Todd Williams assists developers with Senate Bill 35, the Housing Crisis Act, the Surplus Land Act, and Builder's Remedy provisions. As experienced residential real estate lawyers, the team helps homebuilders secure density bonuses and ministerial approvals that bypass discretionary zoning hurdles, ensuring state housing production guidelines are fully enforced.

Land Use Litigation and Contract Enforcement

When administrative procedures fail or approvals face legal opposition, decisive litigation capability becomes essential. Todd Williams represents clients in administrative mandamus actions under Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.5 and Section 1085, defending entitlements against third-party challenges. Working alongside business litigation lawyers and contract lawyers, he also resolves disputes involving development contracts, commercial leases, and title matters.

Why Developers Rely on Todd A. Williams

• Proven track record: Over twenty-five years of success guiding prominent development projects across Oakland and the Bay Area.
• Elite recognition: Consistently honored in Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America for land use, zoning, and real estate law.
• Statutory mastery: In-depth command of evolving California housing laws and CEQA streamlining mechanisms.
• Regional reach: Backed by the multi-disciplinary resources of Fennemore, one of the American West's premier law firms.

If you are planning a development, negotiating entitlements, or seeking to hire a real estate attorney for a complex land use matter, contact Fennemore in Oakland today to schedule a consultation with Todd A. Williams.