Lauren Langer Recognized as Top L.A. Attorney

Best Best & Krieger Partner Lauren Langer was named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2022 Top 100 Lawyers list. Honorees were formally recognized at an awards ceremony on May 12 and profiled in the publication’s May 16 issue.

“Considering the fact that the Los Angeles region has long been known for its status as a hub for legal thought leaders and record-setting attorneys, being a standout in that field is particularly impressive,” said Los Angeles Business Journal Publisher and CEO Josh Schimmels. “The 100 lawyers listed have demonstrated exceptional legal skill and achievements across the full spectrum of responsibility, exemplary leadership and contributions to the Los Angeles community at large.”

Langer manages the legal matters for numerous prominent California entities, including serving as city attorney for the City of West Hollywood, interim city attorney for the City of Downey, and land use counsel for the cities of Lomita and Hermosa Beach. She also serves as legal counsel for the Westside Cities Council of Governments, which includes the Westside cities of West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City and portions of the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles. In these roles, she advises her clients on land use, zoning, development projects, environmental and housing laws. Langer also drafts legislation and contracts and advises on all other legal issues associated with municipal law practice, such as the Brown Act and California Public Records Act.

Langer is actively involved in creating and implementing cannabis ordinances for her city clients in response to Proposition 64, including West Hollywood’s cannabis business license ordinance and license selection program. Additionally, Langer served as chair of the League of California Cities’ City Attorneys’ Cannabis Regulation Committee and worked to publish the first edition of Seed to Sale: A Guide to Regulating Cannabis in California Cities. The guide is a starting point for approaching cannabis regulation questions, and serves as a tool for learning about the historical development of cannabis law, understanding its current status, and considering practical approaches for handling regulation issues.

Langer developed an interest in property use and land use law while attending Southwestern University School of Law, and this helped direct her career toward municipal law. “These municipal decisions affect everyone,” she said. “We try to maintain a balance for the greater good.”