Los Angeles, CA. Nixon Peabody LLP represented the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC), which oversees the La Brea Tar Pits, on a transformative gift from the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation.
Open to the public since 1977, the La Brea Tar Pits is the only active paleontological research site located in a major urban area. The foundation’s landmark gift—the largest in the museum’s history—will reimagine the 13-acre campus, advance Ice Age fossil research, and enhance the park, collections facilities, and research.
At the heart of the plan is the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research, envisioned as the site’s “intellectual backbone.” The center will expand NHMLAC’s international research partnerships and education programs that explore how ancient ecosystems responded to climate change and mass extinction, and how those insights inform the present.
“We are honored to support the Natural History Museums of LA County on this milestone philanthropic commitment that will enhance public engagement, education, and scientific discovery,” said Nixon Peabody partner Thaddeus Stauber, leader of the firm’s Art and Cultural Property group, who led the firm’s deal team. “The La Brea Tar Pits is one of Los Angeles’s most beloved destinations. We look forward to seeing the Oschin Center’s impact on the cultural fabric of our city and as a global research hub for generations to come.”
In addition to Stauber, the Nixon Peabody team included Project Finance & Public Finance partner Rudy Salo.
To learn more, read the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County’s announcement.
