Land use, zoning and regulatory counsel

Shahiedah Shabazz has a broad background that includes representing property owners, developers, institutions and investors on local land use, zoning and regulatory matters. In addition, she advises businesses in the Illinois and California cannabis industries on compliance with state and local laws and regulations. Her experience encompasses:

• Preparing entitlement applications, developing entitlement strategy and representing clients at public hearings.
• Negotiating and drafting real estate transaction deal documents, including purchase and sale agreements, loan documents and other corporate and transaction documents.
• Defending entitlement approvals in litigation.
• Conducting land use and zoning feasibility studies and due diligence, including title and survey review.
• Representing cannabis clients on mergers, acquisitions and license transfers.
• Commercial and residential real estate closings.

Shahiedah takes a holistic approach to problem solving, leveraging her experience in the public, private and nonprofit sectors throughout California and the Chicagoland area to gain a deep understanding of client goals and develop a strategy to best achieve them. Her prior experience as a local government land use and cannabis attorney provides unparalleled insight when advising clients on entitlements and licensing matters.

Bar Admissions

• California
• Illinois

Education

• Florida A&M University (B.S., 2005)

• Harvard Law School (J.D., 2008)

• Woodbury University (M.B.A., 2013)