John M. Bowman
Partner
Practices
Bar Admissions
State Bar of California
U.S. Court of Appeals for California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
Education
J.D., Southwestern University School of Law; Paul W. Wildman Scholarship recipient
B.S., Iowa State University; Community and Regional Planning, with distinction
John Bowman is a trusted voice across California for his expertise in all aspects of land use and environmental law and real estate development. Over the course of his career, John has developed a particular skill in matters involving compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and is regarded as one of the state’s foremost experts in CEQA litigation.
John has assisted clients in obtaining entitlements for commercial, industrial, residential, institutional and mixed-use projects throughout Los Angeles and California. His clients include property owners, developers, and community groups who must go before planning commissions, city councils, and other state and local public agencies in respect to the use and development of land. He often testifies as an expert witness on zoning matters, represents clients in litigation involving challenges to agency land use decisions, and has obtained favorable results in both the trial courts and the California Court of Appeals.
Career Highlights
Oversaw preparation and processing of a joint Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for a major expansion of a wallboard manufacturing plant in Imperial County; represented the plant owner in connection with a legal challenge to the County’s approvals brought by a well-known environmental organization.
Obtained entitlements for a high-profile real estate development project in Hollywood, and then successfully defended the developer in a legal challenge to the project’s signage program.
Negotiated favorable settlements in numerous CEQA lawsuits challenging approvals for various development projects, including a medical mixed-use campus.
Successfully defended an EIR for the demolition of apartment buildings and construction of a new residential condominium project on property located within an historic district in Beverly Hills.
Argued before the California Supreme Court in Neighbors for Smart Rail v. Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority (2013) 57 Cal.4th 439.
Community
Pro bono land use work for Public Counsel
Speaking
Los Angeles County Bar Association
Association of Environmental Professionals
California League of Cities
CLE International