Harkness, Jon M.

Christopher M. Harding practices in the areas of real estate, land use and civil litigation. Harding's primary expertise is in land use law and the development of commercial, residential, institutional and industrial properties. He has extensive experience in land use and related litigation, including appellate and California Supreme Court cases.

Harding earned his bachelor of arts degree in political science from Loyola Marymount University in 1974, where he graduated magna cum laude, and earned his juris doctor degree from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1977. While in law school, he worked as a research fellow to Professor Donald Hagman in the field of land use and urban planning.

Harding's community participation includes substantial involvement in the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, serving as president of the Chamber in 1990-91. Harding currently serves as co-chair of the Chamber's Land Use Committee and as counsel to its Automobile Dealers Committee.

Harding has been a member of the Board of Directors of First Federal Bank of California since 1984. He is the Chair of First Federal's Compensation Committee and a member of its Wealth Management and Trust Committee.

In 1991, Harding was appointed by the Santa Monica City Council to serve on the City's Charter Review Commission that was formed to recommend revisions to the Santa Monica City Charter. Harding previously served on the City of Santa Monica's Residential Task Force.

Harding has also been extensively involved in efforts to improve public education. He is currently a member of the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District's Financial Oversight Committee and its Facilities Committee, and a member of the Steering Committee of the Committee for Excellent Public Schools.

Harding has been extensively involved in local nonprofit and charitable activities. He is a past president of the Santa Monica Youth Athletic Foundation and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Santa Monica Boys and Girls Club. He is the founder and President of the Santa Monica Basketball Club and has lived in Santa Monica for more than 30 years.