James Vaughn
Partner
Services & Specializations
Admissions
California;
USDC, Central District of California;
USDC, Eastern District of California;
USDC, Northern District of California;
USDC, Southern District of California
Address
200 Spectrum Center Drive, Suite 1650, Irvine, CA 92618
Office Tel.
949.247.7312
Overview
Jim focuses on real estate, land use and litigation. He represents large companies and high net worth individuals with complex real estate development projects, including due diligence investigations, land acquisitions and dispositions, entitlements, annexations, development agreements, and other public agency infrastructure/service agreements, as well as agreements with Native American Indian tribes. Jim also has extensive experience in all facets of real estate litigation, including CEQA lawsuits, land use and zoning litigation, quiet title actions, contract disputes, easement litigation, nuisance actions, and landlord-tenant disputes. He has successfully litigated, arbitrated and mediated all types of business controversies, including corporation and partnership management disputes and dissolution actions, as well as unfair competition, trade secret, fraud, defamation, breach of contract and declaratory relief claims. He leads Procopio’s Land Use practice group.
- Led the entitlement and CEQA compliance efforts for the Cotino™, a master-planned community currently being developed in the City of Rancho Mirage, which included a Specific Plan, Development Agreement, Sewer and Water Agreement and Environmental Impact Report.
- Secured the entitlements for the new Del Webb Desert Retreat active adult community in the City of Indio currently being developed by the Pulte Group.
- Served as land use and CEQA counsel for the Harvest at Limoneira master-planned community in the City of Santa Paula, including a recent Specific Plan Amendment increasing the number of approved homes in the community to 2,050.
- Represented the master developer of the South Chandler and Olsen Ranch properties in obtaining approval of the 1,300 home Vinedo Specific Plan project in the City of Paso Robles, including negotiating a Development Agreement to fully vest the developer’s rights and address numerous infrastructure cost-sharing, fee credit and financing issues.
- Led the successful entitlement efforts to convert a private 230-acre estate into the world-class Sensei Porcupine Creek wellness retreat in the City of Rancho Mirage.
- Represented Pulte Group in acquiring and entitling the 1,200-home Del Webb at Rancho Mirage Project, including obtaining approvals from and negotiating agreements with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the City of Ranch Mirage to acquire and annex the previously allotted Tribal land into the City of Ranch Mirage.
- Secured the entitlements for the new Club at Coral Mountain Project in the City of La Quinta, including a Specific Plan Amendment, Development Agreement, and Environmental Impact Report.
- JD, University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, 1993
- BS (Business Administration), Georgetown University, 1990
- Moderator, “Builder Risks and Rewards in 2025,” BIASC, Coachella Valley Chapter, La Quinta, California, January 23, 2025.
- Moderator, “Housing, Infrastructure, and CEQA Panel,” Building Industry Legal Defense Foundation, Coachella Valley, California, April 23, 2024.
- Building Industry Association, Coachella Valley Chapter, Board Vice President, 2024-2025
- Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise, Past President
- Saunders, Douglas.” Procopio Increases Orange County Land Use Practice with James Vaughn,” LA Daily Journal, January 9, 2025.
- Cueto, Emma. “Procopio Adds Land Use Leader From Shuttered Boutique,” Law360, January 6, 2025.
