Todd Leishman helps public agencies and private developers create
successful projects by applying his experience in environmental law and real
estate, as well as creative approaches to negotiation. With a background in
public policy and local government law, Todd is also a sought-after adviser
on issues surrounding short-term rentals, sober-living facilities and other
housing matters.
Todd, a partner in Best Best & Krieger LLP’s Ontario and Irvine offices,
handles complex real estate and regulatory matters for both private and
public clients across the West Coast and Southwest. With an understanding of
both private and municipal perspectives, Todd has the distinct ability to find
common ground and hidden value, which helps him bring projects to fruition
and deescalate contention — but he also knows when and how to take a hard
line to defend client’s rights. Working collaboratively and constructively, Todd
coordinates BBK service teams to acquire and develop real estate, review
environmental impacts, obtain state and federal permits and licenses, assure
water availability, and meet affordable housing goals.
Todd helps negotiate and implement development agreements, other
entitlements and related improvement and funding agreements. He ensures
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the California
Environmental Quality Act, the Planning and Zoning Law, the Subdivision
Map Act, the Mitigation Fee Act and other laws and regulations affecting
development and municipalities. In every arena, he brings a litigator’s
experience to transactions to help minimize disputes and achieve successful
outcomes for his clients.
Todd serves as city attorney for the City of Indian Wells and as assistant
general counsel to the Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District and Santa
Margarita Water District. In those roles, he advises on the Brown Act,
Political Reform Act, Public Records Act, public contracting, elections and
regulation of speech.
He has served as special counsel to dozens of cities and other public agencies
in California on housing and development issues. He has served as editor of
several chapters of the League of California Cities’ “Municipal Law Handbook.”
As special counsel to public agencies, Todd advises on strategies for
regulating short-term rentals and other transitory lodgings, with an
emphasis on how regulations may be applied to sober-living homes and
other types of group homes. He also focuses on affordable housing issues,
Todd R. Leishman
bbklaw.com 2
 Ontario, CA  (949) 263-6576  todd.leishman@bbklaw.com
including inclusionary housing, density bonuses and accessory dwelling units. He
ensures compliance under the federal Fair Housing Act Amendments, Americans
with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act and similar California laws. He has
testified before Congress on sober-living home issues, spoken on short-term
rentals and other transitory-lodging uses at the International Municipal Lawyers
Association’s and League of California Cities’ conferences and was invited to publish
an article on the issues in the California Bar Association’s Real Estate Section’s Real
Property Journal.
In 2016, he received an Amicus Service Award from IMLA for his amicus brief to
the California Appellate Court in Lamar Central Outdoor v. City of Los Angeles. On
behalf of IMLA and the American Planning Association, Leishman’s brief supported
the City’s position that its ban on offsite billboards, including alterations of existing
signs or any with digital displays, was lawful. The Second District Court of Appeal
reversed a lower court ruling and sided with the City.
Todd volunteers his time to help victims of violent crime secure U Visas and as a
leader with the Boy Scouts of America.
He lives in Claremont with his wife and three children where they enjoy hiking as a
family. He also enjoys literature, architecture and trail running.