Nossaman Expands Eminent Domain & Inverse Condemnation Group, Orange County Office, with Addition of Former San Bernardino Deputy County Counsel, Mitchell Norton

Orange County, CA — We are pleased to announce Mitch Norton has joined our Eminent Domain & Inverse Condemnation Group as Counsel in the Orange County office.

Prior to joining Nossaman, Mitch served for more than 20 years as a Deputy County Counsel for San Bernardino County, where he was the “go-to” litigation attorney for eminent domain, inverse condemnation, premises liability and tax litigation matters. While responsible for complex eminent domain and land use litigation and negotiations for San Bernardino County, Mitch regularly handled multiple matters on behalf of the County Real Estate Services Department, Land Use Services Department and the Department of Public Works to acquire necessary rights of way for important public infrastructure projects. In addition, Mitch also served for five years on the Corona Planning Commission and has presented at numerous eminent domain conferences throughout Southern California. Prior to his time with the County, Mitch spent three years as a commercial litigator at the Los Angeles office of the BigLaw firm, then known as Fulbright & Jaworski.

“I am excited to welcome Mitch to the Firm. His extensive background in the eminent domain and inverse condemnation practice and government experience makes him a valuable asset for our clients,” said Brad Kuhn, chair of Nossaman’s Eminent Domain & Inverse Condemnation Group. “His addition further strengthens our presence in California, and I look forward to working with him.”

Nossaman’s Eminent Domain & Inverse Condemnation Group is the largest practice of its kind in the United States. The Group’s eminent domain attorneys practice across the country and have offices in California, Arizona, Texas and Washington. In March 2025, the Group added Kevin Day to our Orange County office and in February of 2025, the Group added Matt Hansen and Tara O’Hanlon to our Seattle office – expanding operations in the Pacific Northwest. The Group's lawyers have handled some of the largest eminent domain and inverse condemnation cases in the nation and led numerous high profile public works projects that have shaped infrastructure across the United States. We have decades of expertise handling condemnation cases and valuation issues involving all property types including vacant land, agricultural, residential, industrial and commercial. The Group has been recognized perennially for its accomplishments by Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 and Best Lawyers.

Discussing joining Nossaman, Mitch said, “I am thrilled by this move and look forward to working alongside an extraordinarily talented group of attorneys—both in the Eminent Domain & Inverse Condemnation Group and across the Firm.”

Mitch holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles. He volunteers as a judge for the American Mock Trial Association in tournaments throughout Southern California.