Christopher Cheleden

Christopher Cheleden is a highly experienced legal professional specializing in land use and environmental law. Currently serving as Principal Counsel at the University of California since October 2022, Christopher represents the university in land-use and California Environmental Quality Act matters. Additionally, Christopher has been a Lecturer in the San Jose State Department of Urban and Regional Planning since September 2018, teaching Land Use Law to graduate and undergraduate students. Previous roles include Lead Deputy County Counsel for the County of Santa Clara, where Christopher managed a multi-attorney team overseeing complex CEQA and entitlement projects, and Assistant County Counsel for the County of Santa Cruz, focusing on real estate, public construction, and land-use entitlement matters. Christopher's earlier career included positions as a Senior Associate at Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, and as an Associate Attorney at Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP. Christopher holds a JD from the University of California, Davis, a Master of Arts from UCLA, and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, graduating cum laude.