Lauren K. Chang
Partner
Lauren Chang, based in Los Angeles, is a member of the Real Estate, Energy, Land Use, and Environmental practice group at Sheppard Mullin. She advises and counsels property owners, private and public developers, and non-profit organizations regarding land use issues, subdivisions, entitlements, and environmental compliance. Ms. Chang negotiates and obtains land use approvals for projects of all sizes, from streamlined affordable housing developments to complex multi-year development projects requiring legislative approvals and compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act. She advises clients from initial due diligence to final project approval and through the building permit stage. Ms. Chang has special expertise in projects that use housing streamlining tools at the state and local level, including SB 35, AB 2011, State Density Bonus Law, and others. Ms. Chang received her BA, with honors, from the University of California, Davis, and her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law.
Steven Braccini
Partner
Steve Braccini practices in the area of Fiduciary Litigation, also known as Trust and Estate Litigation. He is one of the few Fellows in the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Braccini frequently takes on some of the most difficult and challenging matters wending their way through the probate courts.
Anna S. McLean
Partner
Anna McLean drives class action defense strategy for companies facing legal threats in a variety of industries, including financial services, insurance, food, construction, and technology in both state and federal courts. She guides strategy to head off class actions by drafting effective product labels and consumer contract language. When a demand letter arrives, Ms. McLean’s guidance has helped many clients resolve matters with minimal costs. If litigation nevertheless ensues, her team guides clients through their strategic defense options with experience and efficiency towards a successful resolution. Ms. McLean graduated from UC Berkeley in 1984 and the UCLA School of Law in 1989. She has been a partner at two major San Francisco law firms in her 34-year career. Ms. McLean is a co-leader of Sheppard Mullin's Class Action team and regularly publishes insights on the firm's Class Action Blog and elsewhere. She is member of Law360's Consumer Protection Advisory Board. Ms. McLean is also a Board member of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Northern California.
Peter M. Menard
Of Counsel
Peter Menard is Of Counsel at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter and Hampton LLP. His practice includes corporate governance, securities law compliance, and corporate transactions. Mr. Menard’s securities practice includes complex disclosure issues; Board and committee representation; internal investigations; periodic SEC filings; exchange listing rules; public offerings; venture capital financings; shareholder proposals; proxy contests; tender offers; rights offerings; going private transactions; and SEC and exchange enforcement actions. His corporate practice includes acquisitions; leveraged buyouts; and technology development, research, license, and materials transfer agreements. Mr. Menard earned his MS and J.D. from the University of Michigan and his BA from Santa Clara University. He is admitted to practice in California, U.S. District Court of the Central District of California, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Justin J. Mahramas
Senior Associate
Justin Mahramas’ practice focuses on land use and real estate matters, specifically obtaining project approvals for private developers and property owners in California. He advises clients at all stages of the entitlement process, from performing initial due diligence, to ensuring compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), through receiving project approvals. Mr. Mahramas has worked on a variety of projects, including mixed-use, commercial, multi-family residential, and institutional. Mr. Mahramas received his J.D. from the College of William & Mary (2013). He received his BA from Bucknell University (2010). Mr. Mahramas spent a year during undergrad studying at Oxford University (Hertford College). Mr. Mahramas currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Mar Vista Family Center's Board of Directors.
