Lara R. Leitner

Lara R. Leitner is an accomplished attorney with extensive experience in CEQA, NEPA, RLUIPA, environmental law, and litigation. Based in Huntington Beach, California, she effectively handles complex legal matters in these areas.

Before joining JMBM, Lara worked as an associate at a municipal law firm. There, she represented various cities and special districts, dealing with intricate litigation cases, including real estate, eminent domain, breach of contract, environmental, water, and employment disputes in both state and federal courts.

Lara earned her J.D. from the UCLA School of Law, where she was the Comments Editor for the UCLA Journal of Environmental Law & Policy. Her legal education was enriched by her role as a legal research assistant at the UCLA Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. She also gained practical experience as a law clerk in the Environment Section of the California Office of the Attorney General in Los Angeles.

Additionally, Lara broadened her expertise by studying abroad at the University of Melbourne Law School in Australia. She further developed her environmental law skills during an internship at the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society, where she advised on compliance with Hong Kong's environmental impact reporting requirements.