George J. Mihlsten

Of Counsel

Los Angeles
george.mihlsten@lw.com
+1.213.891.8196

PRACTICES

  • Environment, Land & Resources
  • Real Estate

INDUSTRIES

  • Energy & Infrastructure
  • Entertainment, Sports & Media

BAR QUALIFICATIONS

  • California

EDUCATION

  • JD, University of Southern California Gould School of Law, 1980
  • MBA, University of Southern California, 1980
  • BS, University of Southern California, 1977

PROFILE

George Mihlsten retired from the partnership in September 2023 and is currently Of Counsel. He has substantial experience in real estate, regulatory and legislative issues at the local, state and federal level. His work often includes real estate projects and transactions including securing regulatory approvals for large scale development projects. In addition, George has broad experience in complex regulatory and legislative issues.

George’s work includes securing approvals for complex development projects, navigating environmental clearances pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act and coordinating policy issues and legislative changes addressing issues affecting development and industry. George has extensive experience in coordinating large teams in connection with these projects including architects, engineers, environmental scientists, community relations and communications specialists, and media relations experts. George also works with many community and business leaders, representatives of organized labor, and elected officials in connection with many of these projects and issues.

Projects on which he has advised include studios, resorts, office complexes, mixed use projects, hospitals, high-rise condominium projects, shopping centers, oil fields, refineries, residential projects, port facilities, and sports facilities. George has served on a number of task forces dealing with issues such as housing policies, transportation policies, permit streamlining and environmental review processes.

EXPERIENCE

Specific projects for which George has had primary responsibility, including coordination of legal, political and communications issues for each project, include the following:

  • Approvals for a residential, hotel and mixed use project adjacent to the Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
  • Approvals for the FivePoint/Newhall Ranch project involving approximately 23,000 residential units, 13 million square feet of commercial development
  • Port automation and modernization issues for the Pacific Maritime Association involving the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach
  • Port terminal issues related to the APM Terminal facilities at Pier 400, Port of Los Angeles
  • Approvals for a 40 story office tower in Century City on behalf of JMB Realty
  • Approvals for the 18,000 seat Staples Center arena, home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings
  • Approvals for Master Plan for Universal City on behalf of NBC Universal, including expansion of studio, offices, theme park, CityWalk, and Universal Studios tram tour
  • Approvals for The Beverly Hilton Master Plan including a Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
  • Approvals for the 40 story Sun America tower in Century City on behalf of JMB Realty
  • Simon Properties Group in connection with various mall development issues in California
  • Master Plan and long-term approvals for Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills
  • Approvals for a 800,000 square foot office building at 2000 Avenue of the Stars in Century City
  • Master Plan and long-term approvals for Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California
  • Complex regulatory approvals and Master Plan for Playa Vista, project one of the largest infill urban projects in Los Angeles, near Marina del Rey
  • Sale of a portion of the Playa Vista property to the State of California for US$139 million
  • Represented The Tornante Company in connection with certain long-term real estate investments
  • The Los Angeles Chargers NFL Team in connection with various matters involving stadium issues
  • Madison Square Garden in connection with issues involving the Forum (arena) and the Los Angeles Clippers sports arena
  • The Disney Resort Specific Plan on behalf of The Walt Disney Company, a Master Plan for a Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim, California
  • The Oakland A’s MLB team in connection with real estate issues involving a development project in Oakland, California
  • Development of multiple senior living facilities for South Bay Partners in the Los Angeles region
  • Master Plan for Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California
  • Master Plan for Fox Studios in Los Angeles, California
  • Approvals for various refinery projects located in southern California for World Oil Company
  • Approvals for a large carbon sequestration facility involving multiple refineries
  • Master Plan and long-term approvals for Loyola Marymount University
  • Long-term lease and financing agreements for new Martin Luther King Hospital in Los Angeles County
  • Sale of the Ahmanson Ranch property to the State of California on behalf of Washington Mutual
  • Approvals for a 2 million square foot retail, office and residential project in Bakersfield, California
  • Sale of property for the development of a new regional hospital in California
  • Approvals for a 4 million square foot mixed-use industrial and office project in City of Industry California
  • Approvals for the preservation, rehabilitation and additions to Lincoln Place residential project in Venice area of Los Angeles