Derek Galey is an associate in the Environment, Land & Resources Department of the Los Angeles office of Latham & Watkins.
Mr. Galey focuses his practice on land use, environmental, and real estate development matters, specifically on obtaining and defending land use entitlements and environmental compliance. His non-profit and public-sector experience provides valuable insight into zoning disputes and the regulatory landscape.
He joined the firm in 2017, after pursuing a fellowship at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and serving as Land Use Deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. While enrolled at Harvard Law School, Mr. Galey received a master’s degree in urban planning, awarded with distinction, from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. He won the 2014 Edward J. Soja Prize for his article in the UCLA Critical Planning Journal. Prior to law school, Mr. Galey was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study sustainable development in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Mr. Galey's experience includes advising:
- A major hospital renovation with overlapping state and local jurisdiction
- A downtown skyscraper over transit station right-of-way
- A residential development under Coastal Commission jurisdiction
- A mixed use project in West Hollywood