William M. Fleishhacker

William M. Fleishhacker has practiced land use, real estate and environmental law for more than 20 years, in both the public and private sectors.  Mr. Fleishhacker’ s practice focuses on representing public and private entity clients on all aspects of the land use approval and environmental review process.  His experience includes local zoning regulations, the California Environmental Quality Act, the National Environmental Plcy Act, the Subdivision Map Act, the Clean Water Act, and other federal, state and local laws affecting the development of real property. Mr. Fleishhacker has defended clients in litigation challenging the adequacy of land use approvals, and has also advised clients in litigation and compliance under California’s Proposition 65 and other federal and state environmental laws.

Mr. Fleishhacker began his legal career with the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office, where we worked as part of the office’s land use team, and worked on significant real estate development projects such as Mission Bay and PacBell Park (now known as AT&T Park).  His other public sector experience includes five years with the Office of the Alameda County Counsel. There, he advised the County on land use and general municipal law issues, and regularly counseled County Boards and Commissions during public meetings. Mr. Fleishhacker also served as the lead attorney advising the County on land use and environmental permitting issues related to the Altamont Pass wind farms.

While in the private sector, Mr. Fleishhacker has represented a major national retailer in connection with opening new stores throughout Northern California, assisted developers with obtaining entitlements for residential developments in San Francisco, Oakland and other Bay Area cities, and worked with Lucasfilm Ltd on its successful bid and negotiations with the Presidio Trust to develop the Letterman Digital Arts Center, a unique 800,000 square foot corporate campus located in the Presidio National Park. 

Mr. Fleishhacker is a 1995 magna cum laude graduate of the University of San Francisco School of Law, where he was comments editor of the University of San Francisco Law Review, and a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.

Mr. Fleishhacker is a native San Franciscan, and serves on the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Conservation Corps, a local youth service and educational non-profit.  William has also been active with The Guardsmen, a charitable organization benefiting Northern California youth, and served as Counsel to the Guardsmen Board of Directors.