News & Events

Los Angeles Litigation Partner Mike Kibler’s December appearance before the Phoenix City Council in connection with a land-use dispute involving a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building in Phoenix was reported on by KJZZ, an NPR affiliate. The dispute involves competing applications to grant historic preservation status over a residential structure designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1953 for his son, David, and daughter-in-law, Gladys. Simpson Thacher’s client is the current owner of the David Wright House, who seeks approval of a historic preservation plan that would allow the David and Gladys Wright Foundation to partner with a national philanthropic organization to create a cultural center dedicated to the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright in the Southwestern United States. At the December hearing, the City Council considered a competing city-sponsored plan that was blocking development of the cultural center. At the conclusion of the hearing, City Council voted 8-1 to withdraw the competing plan, allowing the Foundation to move forward with plans for the cultural center.

The Simpson Thacher team included Los Angeles Litigation Associate Josh Neiman.

To read the full article and listen to the NPR report, please click here.