Profile
David C. Levy represents clients in zoning, land use, energy, municipal law and general real estate matters. He represents developers of wind, solar and energy storage projects in Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas on over 1,350 megawatts of operating projects, and approximately 3,500 megawatts in development. He also represents developers of large, complex real estate and municipal projects, often including tax-increment financing, tax credits and other unique financing mechanisms and structures. David advises cities, counties and other governmental entities on a wide range of municipal law matters, and serves as City Attorney for multiple municipalities.
David is a registered lobbyist in the State of Nebraska. In early 2010, he successfully represented wind development interests in the drafting and negotiation of LB 1048, Nebraska’s “omnibus” wind export bill, which the Nebraska Legislature unanimously passed. In 2014, David led a group that successfully passed a 20 percent state tax credit for rehabilitation of historic buildings in Nebraska. In 2016, he played a central role in the development and passage of LB 824, which removes regulatory barriers to significant renewable energy development for export outside of Nebraska. In 2018, he helped lead a group that overhauled the state’s tax-increment financing statutes.
David has served as an Adjunct Professor in Land Use Law at the University of San Francisco School of Law, and has taught legal writing at Creighton University School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in California, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, and has earned the American Institute of Certified Planners designation, the City Planning profession’s highest level of certification. Since 2012, David has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in the field of Land Use & Zoning Law, and was selected as “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers® for Omaha Land Use and Zoning Law in 2013, 2016, 2023, and 2025. He has also been recognized by Great Plains Super Lawyers in the practice area of Real Estate. In 2015, the American College of Real Estate Lawyers elected him as Fellow.
Prior to joining the firm, David practiced land use and environmental law with firms in San Francisco. Before beginning his legal career, he worked for seven years as a City Planner for the City and County of San Francisco. David is a native of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Areas of Practice
Education
- University of California, Hastings College of Law, J.D., 1999
- University of California, Berkeley, M.S. in City and Regional Planning, 1996
- University of California, Berkeley, B.S. in Urban Studies, 1991
Bar & Court Admissions
- California, 1999
- Nebraska, 2006
- Iowa, 2009
- Kansas, 2021
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1999
- United States District Court for the Northern District of California, 1999
- United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, 2014
- United States District Court for the Central District of California, 2015
Professional & Civic Affiliations
- Omaha Housing Authority, Commissioner (NAHRO Commissioner Certification) (2015 – Present); Vice-Chairman (2017 – 2018); Chairman (2018 – Present)
- Douglas County Planning Commission (2016 – Present); Vice-Chairman (2017 – 2021); Chairman (2021 – Present)
- Omaha by Design, Board of Directors (2013 – Present); President (2020 – Present)
- Nebraska Association of Commercial Property Owners, Board of Directors (2013 – Present)
- City of Omaha Administrative Board of Appeals (2007 – Present); Vice-Chairman (2009 – 2016); Chairman (2016 – Present)
- History Nebraska, Trustee (2019 – Present); President (2022)
- The Nature Conservancy, Nebraska Chapter, Trustee (2019 – Present)
- Susan LaFlesche Picotte Center Board of Directors, Member (2021 – Present)
- State Law Resources, Inc., Board of Directors (2013 – 2020); President (2018 – 2019)
Recent Speaking Engagements
- “Measuring the Benefits if Renewable Energy Development,” Wind and Solar Conference, Lincoln, NE, October 2023
- “A Discussion on Renewable Energy in Nebraska,” Pints and Politics, The Dan Parsons Podcast, July 2023
