Fred Gaines

Fred Gaines is the Founding and Managing Partner of Gaines & Stacey LLP, a San Fernando Valley based law firm which specializes in land use, zoning, environmental law, related litigation and political advocacy. The firm, which has offices in Woodland Hills and Costa Mesa, California, provides counsel and services to property owners, real estate developers, governmental agencies, community groups and individuals related to real estate and land use issues.

Mr. Gaines concentrates his practice in a variety of areas, including administrative approvals, environmental (CEQA/NEPA) review of development projects, and litigation involving development projects, property transactions, boundary disputes, and other real estate related matters. Mr. Gaines has handled numerous matters before the California Coastal Commission and has acted as lead counsel for plaintiffs in the landmark cases Landgate v. California Coastal Commission and Lechuza Villas West v. State of California. 

Mr. Gaines is a Past President of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association and a Past Trustee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.  He is a Member of the California Building Industry Association Select Committee on Industry Litigation, Chair of the Valley Economic Alliance, Past President of the Executives of the Los Angeles Jewish Home and the Past Chair of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (“VICA”).

Mr. Gaines was elected twice to the Calabasas City Council, serving from 2011-2020.  He served as Mayor in 2013-2014 and 2017-2018.

Mr. Gaines was born in Los Angeles, California. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from University of California, Los Angeles. He received a Masters in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

Mr. Gaines has received numerous professional and community awards including being named one of the “Top 25 Lawyers of the San Fernando Valley” (2002), “Best Community Executive Leader” (2004), “Valley’s Most Trusted Advisors” (2011 and 2015), and to “The 200″ (2016-2021) by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal. He is also a recipient of The Calabasas Mayor’s Award (2002), VICA’s Harmon Ballin Community Service Award (2005), the Los Angeles Jewish Home’s Tom Bane Humanitarian Award (2009), the Chabad of Calabasas Public Service Award (2013), the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce “Spirit of Calabasas” Award (2017), and the Encino Chamber of Commerce Armand Arabian Leaders in Public Service Award (2019).

Mr. Gaines resides in Calabasas, California with his wife Jill.  Jill is a past two term elected Board Member and President of the Las Virgenes Unified School District.  They have three adult daughters, Danielle (Jeremy) Pearlman, Stephanie (Alexander) Chapin, Allison, and one grandchild.