Jonathan H. Riker

Jonathan Riker is a seasoned attorney with over 20 years of experience. Mr. Riker’s practice focuses on land use, planning, and zoning regulations; government administrative law; local housing laws; building code enforcement; and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance. Mr. Riker guides clients through the land-use entitlement process, including developers of multifamily housing, mixed-use, hospitality, and cannabis projects. He conducts land-use and environmental due diligence for real estate sellers and purchasers and assists owners in removing code violations imposed by local agencies. Mr. Riker also has experience with implementing the Ellis Act and housing-related issues, including Density Bonus Law and local affordable housing incentive programs.

Mr. Riker is an authority on local CEQA compliance and was one of the first attorneys in Los Angeles to become an Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP). Prior to practicing law, Mr. Riker coordinated environmental reviews for large-scale development projects as a planner with the Los Angeles City Planning Department, including several high-profile mixed-use and multifamily housing projects in Hollywood, downtown Los Angeles, and Century City. He gained considerable knowledge of the city’s environmental and land-use approval processes and uses this experience to assist real estate developers and property owners in obtaining zoning approvals, conditional use permits, and other land-use entitlements from the City of Los Angeles and other local jurisdictions. Mr. Riker also served as an expert consultant for a global environmental consulting firm, where he advised government agencies on compliance with CEQA and other environmental laws.

Honors & Recognitions

• Tulane University Law School
  • Public Interest Law Foundation, Grant Recipient

Practice Areas

Community & Professional

• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), Volunteer Attorney
• Public Counsel Law Center Los Angeles, Land Use Committee, Member, 2013 – 2015