Editorial: Real Estate in California
Fifty-five leading real estate attorneys were chosen for this chapter. They have a wide range of specialisms from real estate funding to land use and sales. Although in the past year there has been a reported fall in the price of housing and commercial property markets in California, the talent of these lawyers has enabled them to maintain strong real estate practices.
DLA Piper leads the field with seven "excellent partners" in this chapter. Pamela Westhoff specialises in acquisitions, dispositions, commercial leasing and technology issues affecting real property. She was recommended for her "fantastic work". Caryl Welborn practises transactional real estate and entity structuring and was praised for her "comprehensive knowledge". She has represented developers, institutional lenders and investors, banks, insurance companies, funds, and other entities in projects across the country. Michael Meyer is the managing partner of the Los Angeles area offices and was recommended for his "specialist knowledge" in leasing. He has represented a number of financial institutions in leasing transactions including Bank of America, City National Bank, The Capital Group and TCW. Richard Mendelson works across all aspects of commercial and residential property. His clients have included domestic and international banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies, pension funds and major developers. Stephen Cowan specialises in the corporate aspects of the creation of real estate funds through private placements. He worked on the $1.7 billion multi-property acquisition for Irvine Diversified and the sale of a $500 million office complex in Century City. Alan Wayte is an "expert" in California and works in real estate finance, purchases and workouts. His clients have included insurance companies, banks and pension funds. John Whitaker advises domestic and international clients in the areas of sale, acquisition and development of real property. His work includes the transfer of excess density rights and negotiation of agreements with redevelopment agencies. He also advises clients on eminent domain issues affecting their property. He is known, among other things, for his work in downtown Los Angeles and has assisted clients in the acquisition of office buildings, shopping centres, hotels and residential properties in the area.
William Murray is the chair of the global real estate group at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and is based in San Francisco. He has worked on the securitisation of real estate assets and pension fund investment in real estate. His clients have included pension funds, individual developers, domestic institutions and foreign investors and he was described as a "great lawyer". The "inspirational" Noel Nellis is also based in the San Francisco office and is responsible for the global real estate group. He has worked on large-scale land development projects including office buildings resort properties and industrial buildings. He has also worked with real estate trusts throughout California. Michael McAndrews represents real estate investment funds, banks, developers and corporate clients in investment, financing, acquisition and disposition and corporate real estate activities. He acted on behalf of a major real estate investment fund in the $140 million sale of a hotel in Hawaii and has also represented similar funds in subscription facility financings of $275 million, $425 million and $250 million. Michael Liever was named as "one of the best in Los Angeles" and has represented a wide range of national and international clients in acquisition, disposition and development of office buildings, industrial parks and apartments. His clients have included Cabot Industrial Trust, New York Life Insurance and Alecta Investments Management.
Anton Natsis is the chairman of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP's real estate practice and a "first-choice selection". He has assisted many national landowners such as JP Morgan Asset Management, Blackstone Real Estate and Brookfield Properties. His governmental entities have included LAUSD, the state of California and the city of Anaheim. Richard Mallory is co-managing partner of the San Francisco office and specialises in commercial and industrial leasing. He has worked both on the side of this landlord and on the side of the tenant in leasing issues, including renewals and telecommunications transactions. Michael Matkins specialises in real estate development and was described as "simply fantastic". He has advised institutional investors, lenders, property owners and developers in all aspects of purchase, sale, financing, leasing and construction of properties ranging from office and retail to recreational and mixed-use projects. He has worked on multimillion-dollar portfolio acquisitions and has negotiated hotel management contracts for a number of large companies. Bruce Hyman is of counsel in the firm's San Francisco office and was noted for his "wide reaching experience" in all areas of real estate law. He was also mentioned for his public speaking at the Practising Law Institute, National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts and Continuing Education for the Bar of the California State Bar.
Jesse Sharf, co-chair of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP's real estate department is a "pleasure to work with". He has been active in representing real estate funds in their formation, investment and financing activities, and lenders in a wide range of real estate issues. Dennis Arnold has worked on all aspects of commercial and residential real estate and one source described him as being "enormously smart". He is also an experienced speaker and has given lectures at the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, the American Bar Association and the Practising Law Institute. Amy Forbes specialises in land use planning. Forbes is currently acting as counsel to Stockbridge Land in connection with the development of Bay Meadows Racetrack, as well as the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Michael Sfregola focuses on the acquisition and financing of hotel, resort, commercial, industrial and residential properties. He has worked on major portfolio acquisitions from both private and public sellers in the United States and Asia.
Ira Waldman of Cox Castle & Nicholson LLP represents lenders and developers in all areas of real estate including secured lender remedies, property disposition, leasing activities and workouts. He was described as a "top-tier practitioner". Phillip Nicholson is held in "very high regard" by one source, who recommended him for his experience and "commitment to teamwork". Mathew Wyman has represented developers, pension funds, foreign and domestic investors on a wide range of real estate issues. "Fantastic" Ron Silverman is a former chair of the Real Property Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He specialises in the land use and entitlement transactions.
Three "smart lawyers" were recommended at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP. Robert Williams was described as a "guiding light in affordable housing", having worked with non-profit developers. Joan Story specialises in real estate investment, financing and leasing transactions and has represented DHL Express. Robert Thompson has acted as counsel to clients including The Sea Ranch in Sonoma County, San Francisco Centre and the Fillmore Centre, as well as a number of San Francisco office projects.
Three of the founding members of Pircher Nichols & Meeks were chosen for our listings: Phillip Nichols, Stevens Carey and Leo Pircher. All three work in the firm's real estate department and are "well respected and professional lawyers". The firm has represented real estate clients throughout the US including Playa Vista, Blackstone Realty Advisors and the Wells Fargo Centre in California.
O'Malley Miller of Munger Tolles & Olson LLP was described as "highly professional" and specialises in real property finance and development issues. His colleague Richard Volpert is an "excellent practitioner" who focuses on the planning and development of large-scale real estate projects including major office buildings, shopping centres and planned communities.
Don Berger from Latham & Watkins LLP specialises in the financing of real estate projects and has represents investment banks, real estate funds and other institutional clients. George Mihlsten was recommended for his transactional work, which has included projects for the Staples Centre arena and The Walt Disney Company.
At Ellman Burke Hoffman & Johnson, the "outstanding" Howard Ellman was chosen for his vast and diverse experience, while James Stillman was described as "one of the smartest real estate bankruptcy lawyers in the business".
Philip Feder and Charles Thornton were selected from Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker LLP. Chairman of the firm's global real estate practice, Feder specialises in representing US-based investors around the world and works from London and Los Angeles. Thornton is in charge of the firm's San Francisco office and was nominated for his "impressive financing deals".
The "very bright" Luis Eatman from Proskauer Rose LLP gained a top ranking and was described as a "trusted contact". He has experience of working with banks, life insurance companies, pension funds and their advisers, private equity funds, REITs, portfolio asset managers, commercial landlords and tenants, and other institutional mortgage lenders and investors.
Pamela Duffy of Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP was named as a "top choice for land use". She has acted in a number of major development projects and real estate transactions, including the two largest development projects in San Francisco. Her clients have included Prologis, Forest City Enterprises, Cadence Designs Systems and ebay.
Judith Miles recently became of counsel in Goodwin Procter LLP. Prior to joining the firm, Miles was co-chair of Heller Ehrman LLP's real estate practice until the firm's dissolution in 2008. She was nominated for her "very good work" encompassing a broad range of commercial real estate matters including hotel transactions, joint ventures, sales and acquisitions. Dean Pappas, also at Goodwin Procter, is especially recommended for his real estate finance work, which includes forming joint ventures and real estate capital markets.
Independent practitioner, Susan Reid of The Law Offices of Susan M Reid was named as a "highly professional and intelligent" practitioner. She is a member of the American College of Real Estate lawyers.
Michael Dean has been a partner in Wendel Rosen Black & Dean LLP since 1967 and was described as "one of the
best in Oakland". He focuses on commercial development, leasing and financing matters.
Lance Bocarsly is a founding partner in boutique law firm Bocarsly Emden Cowan Esmail Parker & Arndt LLP. He is "highly recommended" and was recognised for his work in affordable housing. He also specialises in community and economic development transactions.
David Van Atta also joins the list from a specialist law firm, Hanna & Van Atta. He was named for his writings on real estate development and was described as a "true expert" in the area. He is especially well known for his work on mixed-use developments.
Roy Geiger was recognised for his "excellent" real estate financial advice in Irell & Manella LLP's Newport Beach office. He has represented clients in major financings and workouts, representing both borrowers and lenders.
Sheldon Rubin is a founding member of Rubin & Eagan APC and is based in Los Angeles. He was recommended for his "fantastic" work in title insurance. He is the chair of the ACREL international title assurance subcommittee.
Charles Trainor of Trainor Fairbrook was highly rated in our survey and praised for his "superb" work in real estate transactions. He also counsels lenders on mortgage origination and workout matters, and advises tenants and landlords in office and retail leases.
Steven Dyer of Horan Lloyd Karachale Dyer Schwartz Law & Cook Incorporated practises in real estate transactions, finance, land use and water law, and business transactions. One source described him as "the top guy in Monterey".
Robert Caplan is the managing member of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek and is based in San Diego. He specialises in retail, office, industrial, residential and mixed-use projects and was a popular choice.
Stephen Cassidy founded Cassidy Shimko Dawson & Kawakami in 1990 and has specialised in land use and real estate law since 1975. His clients have included Cornell University, Elliot Homes and Pixar Animation Studios.
Robert Herr of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP specialises in development, acquisition, operation and loan transactions. He acted as lead attorney in the acquisition of the San Francisco Giants by the current ownership group of the Major League Baseball franchise, including the team's $350 million ballpark.
The "excellent" Carl Seneker of Morrison & Foerster LLP was recommended for his commercial transactions knowledge. He has represented national and international clients including Divco West Properties in closing an acquisition agreement and ground lease for the Clift Hotel in San Francisco and for the later sale of the lease.