Overview

Will Sterling is a litigation attorney in the West Coast Land Use and Environment Group in Holland & Knight's San Francisco office. Mr. Sterling's practice focuses on the enforcement of California's recently strengthened housing laws, including the Housing Accountability Act (HAA), Builder's Remedy (Assembly Bill 1893), Housing Crisis Act of 2019 (Senate Bill 330), Permit Streamlining Act, Housing Element Law and California State Density Bonus Law. He has extensive experience litigating cases in state and federal court on behalf of housing developers, industry groups, nonprofit organizations and public agencies. He also handles litigation that applies California housing law to protect and defend housing projects, including those targeted by lawsuits brought under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Prior to joining the West Coast Land Use and Environment Group, Mr. Sterling worked with Holland & Knight's Intellectual Property Litigation Group, focusing on patent and copyright litigation.

Representative Experience

Credentials

Education
  • Boston University School of Law, J.D.
  • University of Tennessee, B.A., cum laude
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • California
  • Massachusetts
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Honors & Awards
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, San Francisco Land Use and Zoning Law Ones to Watch, 2026
  • Rising Star, Northern California Super Lawyers magazine, 2025
  • Holland & Knight Pro Bono All-Star, 2020, 2021

Publications

Speaking Engagements

News