Mr. Papay is uniquely qualified in the area of Land Use & Environmental Law. Knowledge of the languages of land use disciplines, a complete perspective during analysis and negotiations, and a singular legal focus together form the foundation of this practice.

Land Use Languages •

City & County Planners, City & County Planning Commissioners, County Boards of Supervisors, City Councils, Design Review Boards, Real Estate Developers, Environmental Advocates, Architects, Engineers, Landscape Architects, Landowners, Environmental Consultants, Building Contractors, Attorneys, the Courts . . . each have a distinct language, each have distinct priorities.

A pitfall at the door of a single one of these disciplines could derail one’s hopes of achieving the highest and best use of their real property, or preventing the improper use of real property by another. A successful Land Use & Environmental attorney cannot be limited to the single language of the law, if such pitfalls are to be avoided. Without direct nuts & bolts experience with other Land Use & Environmental professions; an Attorney is limited to mere abstract legal knowledge.

Mark Papay is an attorney with a 30-year background as an award winning Landscape Architect, Land Use Planner and Environmental Consultant. Through his education & many years of hands-on experience while interfacing with other land use disciplines through the design, review and construction process, Mr. Papay has become familiar with all of these languages, sensitized to the priorities of each discipline, and capable of seeing potential pitfalls.

Complete Perspective •

An attorney’s ability to simultaneously peer through the eyes of a City Planner, an Architect, an Environmental Advocate and a Building Contractor when examining an issue will result in a synthesis of wisdom, the sum of which is greater than the parts. Negotiating on behalf of a client, while having a substantial grasp of the person’s mind on the other side of the table, produces an enormous advantage.

The ability, as a product of experience, to concurrently see the perspectives of all land use role players as each affects the other, is the keystone of this legal practice.

Focus •

“A jack of all trades is the master of none”. Law offices commonly include Land Use & Environmental law among a list of other legal practices, without any true focus on this highly complex and specialized area of law. Absent a continuing focus in this area of law, mastery cannot be achieved as the body of law is constantly changing.

Mr. Papay has dedicated his office to the exclusive practice of Land Use & Environmental Law.

Mark Alan Papay, Juris Doctor
Admitted to the California State Bar
Admitted to the Bar of the United States District Court, California Central District
Admitted to the Bar of the United States Court of Appeal, ninth circuit
Member: Ventura County Bar Association
State of California: Registered Landscape Architect 2064
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