
Land Use, Real Property and Environmental Law
California Land Lawyers
About Matteoni
Our People and Our Focus
Matteoni, O’Laughlin & Hechtman is widely respected as one of the leading eminent domain (condemnation), land use, real property and environmental law firms in California. Our specialized knowledge and extensive experience in these complex areas of law have allowed us to consistently provide favorable results for our clients.
Founded in 1979 by Norman Matteoni — author of “Condemnation Practice in California”
Matteoni, O’Laughlin & Hechtman represents property owners, businesses and public agencies throughout California.
Named the top small (2-10 attorneys) real estate law firm in California by Super Lawyers 2013-2015.
We are also honored to receive recognition from the 2010-2016 U.S. News & World Report as:
“Best Law Firms – Metropolitan First Tier Litigation Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law”
AND/OR
“Best Law Firms – Metropolitan First Tier Land Use and Zoning Law”
Our office is in a historic 1881 building located in central San Jose.
Property law is complex
LET OUR EXPERTS HELP
Eminent Domain
We primarily represent the property and business owners, the client mix is diverse including publicly held corporations such as Hertz and IBM, smal businesses, farm/ranch owners, residential, commercial and industrial real estate owners and developers. We have handled several challenges to the government’s right to take private property. But the the usual case addresses compensation for taking of real property and damages to land that remains, as well as loss of goodwill to businesses taken. We do select work for public agencies as well.
Land Use
We advise and process applications for clients on general plan amendments, rezonings, site approval permits, Williamson Act contracts and subdivisions, appearing before local governments throughout the Bay Area for various land use approvals, including residential, corporate campus, Quarry, landfills and recycling, golf courses, shopping centers to cellular towers. We also provide litigation services to defend or challenge the government action.
Environmental Law
We provide advice, advocacy and litigation services to developers, landowners and users on compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
Real Estate
Our practice includes the negotiation, review and drafting of commercial leases, purchase and sale transaction documents, and easement agreements, as well as litigation services for a variety of real property matters.
Meet The Team

Specialties
Where We Focus
Appellate decisions


848 The Alameda | San Jose, CA 95126 | 408-293-4300
California Supreme Court
LA County Metropolitan Transportation v. Alameda Produce Market,LLC (2011) 52 Cal.4th 1100:
Government’s consent to withdrawal of deposit of probable compensation does not preclude the owner from making objection to the right to take.
Metropolitan Water Dist. of Southern California v. Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc. (2007) 41 Cal.4th 954:
The probability of rezoning and existence of severance damages are questions for the jury, not the court.
California Appellate Courts
City and County of San Francisco v. PCF Acuisitionco, LLC (2015) 237 Cal.App. 4th:
A public entity’s settlement offer that was contingent on obtaining approvals from other government entities was unreasonable because it provided no assurance that owner’s acceptance would result in settlement of the action. The owner was entitled to seek litigation expenses including attorney fees based on the unreasonableness of the conditional offer.
California Department of Water Resources v. PRI, Inc. et al (2014) __ Cal.App.4th __:
The right of entry statute cannot constitutionally be applied to permit extensive soil testing and borings and environmental surveys on private property; the appropriate process is a condemnation action for such tests and borings. [This decision has been petitioned to the California Supreme Court]
City of Stockton v. Marina Towers LLC (2009) 171 Cal.App.4th 93: