Donna Jones Brings Land Use Expertise to Sheppard Mullin in San Diego.

SAN DIEGO -- Donna Jones has joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as special counsel in its Real Estate/Land Use & Natural Resources/Environmental practice group in San Diego. Jones, most recently with Latham & Watkins in San Diego, has extensive experience in all aspects of land use and entitlements, including environmental law, municipal law and project development.

Jones provides a comprehensive approach to large scale development projects, representing developers of master plan communities in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) issues, local permitting issues, habitat and wetlands issues, municipal law and governmental finance issues associated with new project development or redevelopment. Her work includes counseling, advice, lobbying and presentations during staff and administrative proceedings leading to governmental agency compliance with CEQA, National Environmental Policy Act, wetlands, endangered species and local rules and policies, and litigation to defend or challenge such actions.

Significant projects Jones has represented include Black Mountain Ranch, Santaluz, Sycamore Landfill, Sempra Energy, the La Jolla YMCA, Fanita Ranch, Otay Landfill, Rancho Guejito, The San Diego Padres' Ballpark and Ancillary Development, The Headlands Reserve, San Elijo Ranch, Cal Peak, and Handlery Hotels, Inc. Additionally, she was appointed by the San Diego City Council to be the Land Use Expert on the City of San Diego's Wetland Advisory Board.

Robert Sbardellati, managing partner of the San Diego office, said, "Donna is a talented attorney with a great deal of experience in land use and environmental law and we are excited to have her join us. She brings added expertise to an office and practice area that continues to grow."

Commented Jones, "Sheppard Mullin has an excellent reputation throughout the legal and business communities. I was particularly attracted to the depth of the local as well as the state-wide real estate and land use practice, and believe it is an excellent fit for my San Diego land use clients."

Jones received her law degree from University of Texas in 1990 with High Honors. She was named Grand Chancellor, the highest academic honor given at the law school, and was a member of the Order of the Coif. She served for several years as co-chair of the Environmental Law/Land Use Law Section Committee of the San Diego County Bar Association, and she continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the San Diego Downtown Partnership. In addition, Jones serves as Vice-Chair of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Legal Committee.

About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Sheppard Mullin is a national law firm with more than 400 attorneys and eight offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Century City, Del Mar Heights, and Washington, D.C. The full-service firm provides legal expertise and counsel for U.S. and international clients in a wide range of practice areas, including Corporate; Entertainment and Media; Finance; Government Contracts; Intellectual Property; Labor and Employment; Litigation; Real Estate/Land Use; and Tax, Trusts and Estate Planning. The firm was founded in 1927. For more information, please visit www.sheppardmullin.com.