John Kevlin

Partner

PUBLICATIONS

LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Mr. Kevlin’s work is primarily focused on entitlement and permitting of development projects in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and the greater Bay Area.  He has represented a number of property owners, businesses, developers and non-profits at the Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors, Historic Preservation Commission and Board of Appeals in San Francisco.  Mr. Kevlin has processed environmental review and entitlements for major residential and commercial developments in downtown and in plan areas such as Eastern Neighborhoods and Market & Octavia. He has also successfully defended a number of projects that have been subject to discretionary review, building permit appeals, and the city enforcement process.

EDUCATION

  • B.S., 2002 Ithaca College (computer science; cum laude)
  • J.D., 2008 George Washington University (cum laude; Thurgood Marshall Scholar; student director of the Small Business Clinic)
  • Extern, Honorable Judge James S. Starzynski, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Mexico

EXPERIENCE/ NOTABLE PROJECTS

Mr. Kevlin has significant experience working with planning and economic development officials in Oakland and Berkeley.  His experience in Oakland includes projects in Uptown (including the Sears building), Old Oakland, West Oakland and in the outer neighborhoods.

Mr. Kevlin has spent considerable time in tracking, reporting on, and influencing recent major rezones of the Eastern Neighborhoods and West SoMa areas of the city. He is currently active in the Central SoMa Plan process.

OTHER EXPERIENCE

During law school, John was active in the ABA’s Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law, organizing panel discussions at law schools throughout the country. He also wrote for the school’s newspaper, Nota Bene. Prior to entering law school, Mr. Kevlin worked in Maine on political campaigns and at the State Legislature.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Member, State Bar of California
  • Member, San Francisco Planning and Urban Research