Leila Batties
Partner – Holland & Knight LLP

Description of field of expertise

Clients rely on Ms. Batties in all aspects of the District of Columbia’s real estate development approval process, including zoning, permitting, subdivisions and public space approvals. She handles proceedings before the Zoning Commission, Board of Zoning Adjustment and City Council, and regularly works with district government agencies, including the Office of Planning, the District Department of Transportation and the Department of Buildings. She also works with Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) and other community stakeholders in connection with the development approval process. Ms. Batties conducts zoning research and due diligence, negotiates and drafts agreements, easements and covenants. She has extensive experience securing approvals for rezonings, planned unit developments, further processing of campus plans and design review.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

As a land use and zoning attorney you regularly work with a number of different stakeholders. In addition to the development team and industry professionals, you work with staff and elected officials of the local jurisdiction, residents and civic associations, and special interest groups. You must be open to listening to various perspectives and appreciate that different stakeholders have different roles in the development approval process. You also have to learn to effectively communicate to different audiences. Separate from understanding the regulations, you create value when you are knowledgeable about the issues and policies that are specific to the local jurisdiction.  This takes time and is best accomplished by being actively engaged in the community.

Any additional information that the attorney would like to share 

One of the most useful lessons I learned as a young lawyer is to never walk into a meeting without an agenda.  If you are not leading the meeting, draft the agenda for the senior attorney who is. It’s a great way to prepare and demonstrate your understanding of the material to be discussed.