Ralph Hicks

Partner

Ralph Hicks brings over 25 years of large scale project and regulatory experience to his practice. His law practice is focused on land use, environmental and construction law. He has both private and public sector experience and specialized expertise in securing regulatory approvals for large scale development projects. In the public sector he founded the Land Use and Environmental Departments for the Port of San Diego. He led the award-winning master planning and entitlement programs for the redevelopment of San Diego Bay. He led the North and South Embarcadero master planning efforts and the Chula Vista Bayfront redevelopment programs. At the Port he entitled several convention center style hotels, the second phase of the San Diego Convention Center, cruise ship terminals, airport redevelopment, and a number of industrial projects. During his career he has entitled over $4.5B in projects.

Ralph received his undergraduate degree from UC Santa Barbara and his Jurist Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law. He has taught environmental law for the UCSD extension programs.

Ralph also served as the Economic Director for the Port of LA and the Group Manager for the Real Estate Division of the LA Metropolitan Water District. He has served in the role of General Counsel and local counsel and Contracts Manager for the Turner Construction Company.

His strongest area of expertise includes navigating complex regulatory environments and securing land use permits for both private and public entity clients.

Areas of Practice
  • Land Use
  • Real Estate
  • Construction
  • Environmental
Education
  • USF School of Law, J.D., 1989
  • UC Santa Barbara, Law and Society, 1981
Bar Admissions
  • California
  • Federal Court, Southern District of California
Honors/Affiliations
  • Member, State Bar of California
  • Member, Urban Land Institute
  • Member, Lambda Alpha International
  • Instructor, UCSD Extension Studies, Environmental Law

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