SUPPLEMENT TO THE LOS ANGELES AND SAN FRANCISCO
JUNE 18, 2025
TOP REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT LAWYERS 2025
PROFILES
ANALYSIS
DAVID ALVARADO....................................6 HARVEST LLP SHERI L. BONSTELLE................................6 JEFFER MANGELS BUTLER & MITCHELL ANTHONY R. BURNEY..............................6 ALLEN MATKINS LECK GAMBLE MALLORY & NATSIS BRANDON J. DAVIS..................................7 NOSSAMAN DIANE C. DE FELICE.................................7 BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK CHRISTIAN D. DUBOIS.............................9 COX, CASTLE NICHOLSON THOMAS FILETI........................................9 MORRISON FOERSTER BRUCE FISCHER......................................10 GREENBERG TRAURIG ROBERT P. FRIEDMAN............................10 CARLTON FIELDS DANIEL J. HAGEDORN...........................10 REED SMITH ELIZABETH W. HULL...............................11 BEST BEST & KRIEGER EDGAR KHALATIAN...............................12 MAYER BROWN ANDREW T. KIRSH..................................12 SKLAR KIRSH BRAD B. KUHN.......................................12 NOSSAMAN MICHAEL R. LEAKE.................................13 SHEPPARD MULLIN STEVEN J. LURIE.....................................13 GREENBERG GLUSKER
DAN S. MILLER........................................16 MILLER BARONDESS RUSSELL E. MORSE.................................16 MEYERS NAVE ANNE E. MUDGE....................................16 COX, CASTLE NICHOLSON TONY N. NATSIS.....................................17 ALLEN MATKINS LECK GAMBLE MALLORY & NATSIS JEROLD NEUMAN..................................17 DLA PIPER BRIAN O’NEILL.......................................17 PATTERSON & O’NEILL NANCY A. PARK.....................................20 BEST BEST & KRIEGER RYAN J. PATTERSON..............................20 PATTERSON & O’NEILL KATHERINE PHILIPPAKIS........................20 FARELLA BRAUN + MARTEL ALAIN M. R’BIBO....................................21 ALLEN MATKINS LECK GAMBLE MALLORY & NATSIS ARIEL B. ROBINSON...............................24 HOLLAND & KNIGHT MISTY M. SANFORD...............................24 WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER SIGRID R. WAGGENER............................24 MANATT, PHELPS & PHILLIPS
EYEING FEDERAL LAND USE FOR NEW HOUSING AND ITS HURDLES. .................................... 4 JOHN ROEMER A TALE OF TWO POLICIES: CALIFORNIA’S EXPANDING REGULATORY REACH AND THE SELECTIVE DEREGULATION OF INFILL HOUSING..........................8 BENJAMIN SALTSMAN THE ‘ABUNDANCE AGENDA’ AND ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.............................. 14 GIDEON KRACOV AND DARRELL STEINBERG BUYER-BROKER RELATIONSHIP OVERHAULED: KEY CHANGES UNDER AB 2992.........................18 BRYAN MASHIAN ARE CONDOS A SOLUTION TO UNDERPERFORMING COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES?......22 SHANNON MANDICH AND BROOKE MILLER REPLACING HOMES, REPLACING INTENT: LA’S HOUSING LAW DILEMMA.................................... 26 SHERI L. BONSTELLE
STEVEN MYHILL-JONES CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD / CEO CHARLES T. MUNGER BOARD MEMBER / CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD (1977-2022)
DAVID HOUSTON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ARIN MIKAILIAN SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR ELIZABETH WALLACE DESIGNER
The Daily Journal is a member of the Newspaper Association of America, California Newspaper Publishers Association, and National Newspaper Association.
PAUL INGEGNERI GENERAL MANAGER
DAILY JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT | JUNE 18, 2025 | PAGE 3
TOP REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT LAWYERS 2025
Eyeing federal land use for new housing and its hurdles By John Roemer
A lunchtime brainstorming and a professor of land use law at Pepperdine University sparked an outside-the-tract idea after President Donald Trump’s announcement in March of a task force to develop affordable housing on unused federal land: Why not repurpose as apartments the historic 17-floor Spring Street Courthouse, which the federal government owns and has announced it will sell? “I wish we had answers for all the housing problems in Southern session by a real estate partner at a Los Angeles law firm California,” said the professor, Shelley Ross Saxer, a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. She stressed that the barriers to large-scale developments are formidable. “You have to get past zoning controls and NIMBYism,” she said of siting new housing in cities. “But developments built in the middle of nowhere create sprawl.” The notion of making dwelling spaces out of courtrooms and judges’ chambers may sound far-fetched and wacky. Or maybe it’s inspired and visionary. Conflicting views flowed from boosters and foes as they pondered Trump’s initiative. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, a co-leader of Trump’s task force, called for “bold, creative thinking” at a rollout of the plan in Nevada in mid-May.
Meanwhile, land conservationists at the Center for American Progress published a lengthy critique whose headline asked, “Will the U.S. Housing Crisis Be Exploited for a Massive Public Lands Sell-Off?” After the January wildfires destroyed 11,500 homes, Los Angeles’ already hyper-stressed housing market spiraled further into scarcity. Statewide, the lack of affordable dwellings and shortfalls in new construction remained at red-alert levels. So, developing federal land for affordable housing “could be a fantastic idea,” said Ellen Kaufman Wolf, the founder of the real estate and business boutique Wolf Wallenstein, PC. But she foresees challenges. “Where are the federal land parcels suitable for building affordable housing nearby to areas where low-to-middle income jobs are available?” There’s an answer to that. California has more than 500 acres of potential buildable federally owned public land in transit-accessible urban areas. More than half, 280 acres, is in Los Angeles County, according to a mapping project by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit. That’s a fraction of the vast expanses of public land across California. But much of it is state-owned or federal property unsuitable for housing. “Simply selling off remote U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land
Management lands misses the core objective,” said Mike Kingsella, the CEO of Up for Growth, a national housing supply research group. “Our focus must be on unlocking lands that are most shovel-ready, connected to existing infrastructure, and are where housing demand is today.” So far, the Trump task force’s announced plan to identify federal land suitable for affordable housing has been short on specifics. By the end of May, members of the task force had not been named, though its leaders, Turner and U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, got as far west as Southern Nevada in late May to meet with officials of the Nevada Rural Housing Authority, a state agency, to discuss options. Turner and Burgum didn’t get to California, leaving local lawyers, realtors and developers to speculate. Requests for comment went unanswered by HUD, the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management. Builders were intrigued by Trump’s plan. In published reports, the CEO of the California Building Industry Association, Dan Dunmoyer, said, “If there’s land that’s adjacent to urban cores that’s available, that would be of interest to us.” The CEO of the National Association of Home Builders, Jim Tobin, told the New York Times, “Any land that we can make available would help in [the fastest growing] markets in particular, and
then you have the ability to continue to push the suburbs out.” The prospect of developmental sprawl alarmed environmentalists. Linda Castro, an attorney who studies policy for CalWild, a Berkeley-based nonprofit focused on protecting the state’s natural landscapes, spotlighted those fears. “While there is no doubt that California has an affordable housing crisis, we don’t believe that large-scale public lands selloffs are the answer,” she and a colleague wrote in a Capitol Weekly op-ed. In an interview, Castro expressed skepticism that the Trump plan will result in affordable housing because the economics of building road and utility infrastructure to support the development of vacant public lands means that only expensive homes can justify the costs. “We’re worried about a land grab disguised as a public benefit,” Castro said. She listed as potential at-risk locales the Sacramento River Bend Area near Redding, the Merced National Wildlife Refuge, Cow Mountain near Ukiah, the El Paso Mountains near Ridgecrest, Sawtooth Campground near Lucerne Valley and the Joshua Tree National Park “saddle” area near Twentynine Palms. “A developer is going to look and see multimillion-dollar mansions, and think cha-ching,” Castro said.
PAGE 4 | DAILY JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT | JUNE 18, 2025
Real Solutions. Real Property. Real Results. Congratulations to the Daily Journal’s Top Real Estate and Development Lawyers Real Solutions. Real Pro Trusted Neutrals f Real Estate & Develo Trusted Neutrals for California’s Real Estate & Development Disputes California’s real estate market presents high-stakes challenges that demand deep legal expertise and practical judgment. ADR Services, Inc. offers a panel of highly respected former judges and leading real estate practitioners with decades of experience resolving complex real estate and development disputes. California’s real estate market presents high-s legal expertise and practical judgment. ADR S respected former judges and leading real esta experience resolving complex real estate and Our neutrals understand the legal, financial, and regulatory complexities that define real estate litigation — and deliver efficient, tailored resolutions that protect client interests and move transactions forward. Representative Matters Commercial Real Estate Transactions & Development Easement & Boundary Disputes Eminent Domain & Inverse Condemnation Lease Disputes & Landlord-Tenant Mobile Home & Manufactured Housing Issues Neighbor Disputes & Nuisance Claims Property Damage & Division Quiet Title & Trespassing Tree Law & Natural Resource Conflicts Broker / Agent Liability & Disclosure Disputes Violations of Escrow Instructions Tenancy-In-Common & Co-Ownership Disputes Gas Station & Environmental Property Matters tative Matters ment Congratulations to the Daily Journal’s Top Re
www.adrservices.com | (310) 201-0010 | inquiry@adrservices.com ) 201-0010 | inquiry@adrservices.com
TOP REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT LAWYERS 2025
DAVID ALVARADO HARVEST LLP LOS ANGELES D avid Alvarado has built his career around one principle: helping clients capitalize on opportunities and solve challenging problems. The commercial real estate transactional attorney has facilitated more than $1 billion in development projects and more than $5 billion in real property purchase and sale transactions throughout his practice. Alvarado’s path to law began with different ambitions. He initially wanted to become a real estate developer and pursued a finance degree from Cal Poly, graduating summa cum laude. However, he shifted course after recognizing the value of legal expertise. “I shifted my attention to gaining a deeper knowledge of contracts and other skills offered by the legal field and found that was a better fit,” Alvarado said. He earned his JD from UCLA School of Law and launched his career as a commercial real estate transactional attorney. “My practice spans all asset classes and property types, but my main focus is on development and purchase and sale deals and related work,” Alvarado said. His recent transactions demonstrate the complexity of modern real estate deals, including a coastal mixed-use redevelopment project involving a 50-acre site in Southern California and an option and development agreement worth over $360 million for approximately 400 residential units. The coastal redevelopment presented particular challenges. Alvarado represented a developer negotiating a joint venture with a landowner and utility company to re-entitle the property for mixed- use purposes. The landowner’s awareness of the property’s value created obstacles. “One of the most significant challenges was that the landowner held a highly desirable piece of real estate and was well aware of its value,” Alvarado said. “As a result, they were particularly rigid and resistant to making concessions.” Success required extensive stakeholder education and strategic planning. The team structured multiple exit points, including options to exit upon securing entitlements, completing land development, or proceeding with vertical development. This flexibility proved essential for balancing competing priorities of control, value creation and adaptability. Alvarado’s approach centers on understanding
ANTHONY R. BURNEY ALLEN MATKINS LECK GAMBLE MALLORY & NATSIS LLP SAN FRANCISCO A nthony Burney has built his career on a real estate world. As partner and chair of Allen Matkins’ San Francisco real estate practice, Burney represents institutional owners, investment managers, developers and commercial tenants across the United States. His practice spans four core areas: acquisition and disposition work, leasing transactions, finance deals and development projects. Burney handles everything from single-asset deals to portfolio acquisitions, joint venture formations and distressed loan scenarios. He also counsels developers on construction-related legal issues including CC&Rs and easement agreements. foundation of respect and professionalism that has served him well in the transactional Recent transactions demonstrate the scale of Burney’s practice. He represented multifamily clients in acquiring 15 properties across the United States with total transaction volume reaching $1.2 billion. Other notable deals include representing a life insurance company in selling two Arizona office properties for approximately $110 million and handling a beverage company’s asset and real estate transaction across multiple West Coast properties valued at $175 million. One particularly complex matter involved representing an institutional landlord in leasing a 1.025 million square-foot industrial building in Riverside County to a major logistics provider. “Many of the transactions mentioned above were on an accelerated timing,” Burney said. “We have also been fortunate to have recently handled a few REIT acquisitions for our clients, which adds another level of diligence and complexity to the transaction.” Burney credits his mentors with shaping his approach to practice. “The most important lesson I learned from my mentors was to treat everyone in a transaction with respect, regardless of their level of seniority,” he said. The transactional real estate legal community remains small, with attorneys frequently encountering the same opposing counsel across different deals. “It is important to advocate strongly for your client to achieve the desired business and legal result, but it is also important to do so in a way that is professional and courteous to those with whom you are working with on the transaction,” Burney said.
SHERI L. BONSTELLE JEFFER MANGELS BUTLER & MITCHELL LLP LOS ANGELES S heri Bonstelle brings an uncommon background to California development law. Before entering the legal profession, she worked as a licensed architect in New York on projects including the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, the Union Square subway station and Queensborough Community College. “I was drawn to the practice of law because it allowed me to influence policy, change laws, and impact the type and scale of development,” Bonstelle said. Now specializing in land use, entitlement and development law, she focuses on obtaining approvals under the California Environmental Quality Act, Housing Accountability Act, Coastal Act and municipal codes. Her dual expertise in architecture and law positions her to handle complex development projects that often face fierce community opposition. Recent cases demonstrate the challenges developers face in California’s housing crisis. In January, Bonstelle secured a court victory in one of the few cases where a court found a city acted in bad faith under the Housing Accountability Act. The case involved a 50-unit mixed-use project in Boyle Heights, a historically Chicano/Mexican American community experiencing gentrification pressures. Cesar Chavez 888, LLC v. City of Los Angeles , 24STCP01880 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed June 10, 2024). The developer sought to construct a six-story building with five units affordable to extremely low- income households and ground-level commercial space. Despite meeting all objective zoning standards and receiving initial city approval, the East Los Angeles Area Planning Commission denied the project after four hearings over five months. Judge Curtis A. Kin ruled the city violated the Housing Accountability Act and directed Los Angeles to approve the project. The court also awarded attorney fees. By May 2025, as ordered by the court, the commission approved the project. “In Cesar Chavez, the main obstacle was the strong and coordinated opposition to the project by the community, including the councilmember, who was running for reelection,” Bonstelle said. “We overcame the opposition by staying level-headed under direct assault, treating all participants with respect, and providing substantial evidence and
SEE PAGE 23
SEE PAGE 23
SEE PAGE 11
PAGE 6 | DAILY JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT | JUNE 18, 2025
TOP REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT LAWYERS 2025
facility, plus three airport stations. Officials estimate the completed system will eliminate 117,000 vehicle miles of travel daily. Davis represented the airport from the early procurement stages through design and construction phases. He helped develop procurement documents, negotiate terms with developer teams and navigate complex agreement structures. The procurement process presented unique challenges, with developer teams submitting thousands of questions covering financing, aesthetics, agency interfaces and operations concerns. “Complex infrastructure projects always encounter obstacles. The projects at LAX are no different,” Davis said The city assembled teams with appropriate expertise to address each question, cycling through multiple document drafts to resolve issues properly. While this extended the procurement timeline, it enhanced competition and value for the city. Under the availability payment structure, developers maintain responsibility for operating and maintaining both facilities for more than 20 years. Their compensation depends on facility performance, creating incentives for quality construction and long-term functionality. Davis observes shifts in public works contracting approaches, noting that progressive delivery methods have slowed while some owners favor construction manager-at-risk contracting or return to fixed-price delivery methods. His career demonstrates how legal expertise shapes infrastructure development, working behind the scenes on projects that reshape urban transportation networks and improve daily life for millions of users.
complex environmental issues entwined with land use and planning matters so that my clients’ projects
get built,” De Felice said. Her client roster includes
DignityMoves, a homeless housing developer that emerged after the 2020 pandemic. The partnership has produced multiple projects across California addressing homelessness, with several receiving recognition including the State American Planning Association Award of Excellence in 2024. “We are proud that several projects have received awards, including the State American Planning Association Award of Excellence in 2024,” De Felice said. “It is very rewarding to assist them in helping address the issues throughout the state.” De Felice observes that developers face persistent obstacles in the approval process, even for housing projects designed to address community needs. Opposition from residents, commonly referred to as NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) sentiment, creates delays that require strategic navigation.
BRANDON J. DAVIS NOSSAMAN LLP LOS ANGELES B randon Davis has spent more than 20 years representing public agencies on critical transportation infrastructure projects throughout California and the U.S. He focuses on cutting-edge delivery methods that transform how communities access and navigate their cities. Davis represents public owners on projects involving airports, trains and highways, specializing in alternative delivery methods including progressive design-build, design-build, construction manager- at-risk and various public-private partnerships. His work centers on projects that use innovative contracting approaches to deliver complex infrastructure. “I was drawn to the practice because these projects can materially improve how people interface with the cities and regions they live in,” Davis said. “In addition, I love being able to show my children the tangible results of my work.” His recent work includes representing Los Angeles World Airports on two transformational projects at LAX: the Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility and the Automated People Mover system. Both projects represent the city of Los Angeles’ first ventures into availability payment Design-Build-Finance- Operate-Maintain public-private partnerships. The ConRAC project consolidates rental car agencies into a single 6.3-million-square-foot facility near the I-405 freeway. At $2 billion, the project stands as the largest rental car facility globally and the second-largest concrete building in the United States, trailing only the Pentagon. The facility connects to LAX through a 2.25-mile automated train system costing $4.9 billion. The train system includes stations linking to LA Metro’s light rail service and an intermodal transportation
DIANE C. DE FELICE BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK, LLP LOS ANGELES D iane De Felice specializes in land use and environmental law, representing developers, investors, public agencies and private sector clients navigating California’s regulatory environment. Her practice focuses on the California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Subdivision Map Act. “I have a deep understanding of public agency administrative processes that allow me to streamline
SEE PAGE 28
DAILY JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT | JUNE 18, 2025 | PAGE 7
TOP REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT LAWYERS 2025
A tale of two policies: California’s expanding regulatory reach and the selective deregulation of infill housing By Benjamin Saltsman
C alifornia’s approach to land use and environmental policy is quickly evolving, not through a single bill that imposes sweeping reform but through a pattern of steadily expanding state intervention in this historically local arena. The recently concluded and current legislative sessions exemplify this trend. The legislature is imposing new regulations on certain industries, while simultaneously lowering barriers to favored uses, especially infill housing. The policy shift is unmistakable: Sacramento is redrawing the rules of development with a firmer hand, favoring projects that align with its climate, equity, and housing agendas, while tightening the reins on others. Nowhere is this clearer than in two recent bills: AB 98, signed by the governor in September of 2024 which regulates warehouse development, and AB 609, which just passed the State Assembly and now will be heard by the Senate and would exempt many infill housing projects from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). AB 98 marks a substantial shift in the regulatory framework for logistics facilities. Prompted in large part by controversy over certain projects in the Inland Empire, AB 98 creates detailed design, operational, and siting requirements for new and expanded warehouses and other logistics uses, with stricter mandates for facilities that are larger than 250,000 square feet, are near sensitive receptors like homes or schools, require certain rezoning actions, or are within designated “warehouse concentration regions.” These requirements include minimum setbacks, mandatory use of electric vehicles and zero-emission equipment, microgrid readiness, and extensive buffering and landscaping
protocols. The bill also codifies several practices previously advocated by the Attorney General’s office and environmental organizations, including truck routing plans and anti-idling signage, and introduces new provisions such as affordable housing replacement mandates. These are no longer mere recommendations, rather they’re now enforceable minimums. AB 98 also mandates that cities update their general plan circulation elements to address policy issues associated with logistics uses, with fines against local jurisdictions who fail to satisfy this mandate that are enforceable by the Attorney General. Even with pending clean-up legislation (SB 415/AB 735) seeking to clarify ambiguities around definitions and feasibility thresholds, the overarching signal remains: The state is imposing industry-specific requirements on one of the state’s most important sectors, creating a baseline level of regulation that could affect how projects negotiate through the entitlement process with local government officials, environmental organizations, and other community stakeholders. In contrast, AB 609, recently passed in the Assembly 67-0, reflects a deregulatory impulse, at least for projects that advance the state’s pro-housing goals. The bill provides a broad CEQA exemption for infill housing developments up to 20 acres in size, located within or adjacent to existing urban uses. The exemption would apply to single-family or multifamily projects, whether market-rate or affordable, provided they meet minimum density requirements and avoid certain environmental, public safety, and historic resource exclusions. Unlike
previous CEQA reform bills like AB 2011 and SB 6, AB 609 as currently drafted contains far fewer labor, affordability, and location-specific conditions. AB 609 thus presents a notable expansion of the existing Class 32 Infill CEQA Categorical Exemption. This existing exemption is limited to development sites of no greater than five acres within city limits and requires technical analysis to confirm that there will be no significant effects to traffic, noise, air quality, water quality, or public services. Moreover, because AB 609 would create a new statutorily codified exemption, projects using AB 609 would not be subject to the uncertainty and risk of legal challenges that flow from the often litigated exceptions to CEQA’s existing categorical exemptions (these prevent the use of categorical exemptions where there is a risk that a project could have a significant impact due to unusual circumstances, cumulative effects, or other factors). At the same time, in contrast to some high-profile pro-housing legislation in prior legislative sessions, AB 609 requires a proposed project to be consistent with either the applicable general plan or zoning designation, as well as any applicable local coastal program. This preserves a degree of local control over land use policy while eliminating CEQA review as an impediment to housing development for qualifying projects. The juxtaposition of AB 98 and AB 609 are two sides of the state legislature’s increasing willingness to address what Sacramento perceives as policy gaps in the historically local purview of land use decision making. Together, they reflect a deeper realignment of the state’s
land use priorities, executed not through sweeping omnibus bills or comprehensive CEQA overhaul, but through surgical legislative intervention. Rather than attempt the politically infeasible, California is choosing to create more nuanced, incremental shifts in the legal landscape governing development projects. One path, streamlined and favored, is paved for housing. The other, increasingly narrow and scrutinized, is reserved for many other sectors even when they serve vital roles in the state’s economy, supply chains and employment landscape. This model represents an increasingly centralized form of land use planning, using state law to determine which uses are favored and where, and replacing the ground-up decision- making that has historically defined land use practice. For practitioners, the state’s increased role in land use planning demands a dual focus on not only the local land use rules that have historically governed entitlement decisions, but also on the complex and ever-evolving interplay between state law and local control.
Benjamin Saltsman is a partner at Gibson Dunn.
PAGE 8 | DAILY JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT | JUNE 18, 2025
TOP REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT LAWYERS 2025
helping generate critically needed affordable housing throughout the U.S., particularly in California and Hawaii,” Dubois said. His recent work demonstrates the complexity of modern affordable housing development. The Liloa Hale Senior project in Kihei, Maui involved coordinating federal and state low- income housing tax credit equity from RBC, Bank of Hawaii tax-exempt bond construction-to-permanent financing, a Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation loan, and Maui County funding. The 117- unit development required managing multiple funding sources with overlapping requirements. Similarly, the Kings Crossing Village project in Aurora, Colorado showcased the multi-layered nature of affordable housing finance. The 179-unit development involved Enterprise Community equity for federal and state tax credits, energy efficient home tax credits, clean electricity tax credits, construction financing from Citibank, a capital magnet fund loan, and various state and federal grants.
day, while other sectors (e.g., data centers, industrial) are thriving and attracting capital and financing,” Fileti said. He has built a practice spanning the full spectrum of real estate transactions across California and the U.S. His work encompasses everything from REIT investments and portfolio acquisitions to joint ventures and distressed asset workouts, covering property types from office buildings to casinos to data centers. The breadth of his work spans multiple property types and transaction structures. “I have a diverse practice that emphasizes transactions involving REITs; acquisition and disposition of real estate assets, loans and portfolios; real estate finance transactions and credit facilities of all types; real estate joint ventures; credit lease and master lease transactions involving corporate real estate assets,” he said.
CHRISTIAN D. DUBOIS COX, CASTLE & NICHOLSON LLP SAN FRANCISCO C hristian Dubois has spent his career navigating the intricate world of affordable housing law, representing developers through every stage of complex residential real estate projects. As a transactional attorney at Cox Castle & Nicholson LLP, he has played a role in the financing, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and disposition of tens of thousands of housing units across the country. “I am happy to play a small role in
THOMAS R. FILETI MORRISON FOERSTER LOS ANGELES T homas Fileti has spent four decades watching real estate markets rise and fall, but the co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s U.S. real estate group says the current environment presents unique challenges and opportunities that test the full range of his skills. “We’re at a somewhat unique moment in real estate markets where some sectors (such as office) are heavily distressed and having trouble attracting capital, with workouts and remedies being the order of the
Recent years have demanded particular expertise in troubled assets. Fileti has been handling distressed office properties
SEE PAGE 25
SEE PAGE 25
DAILY JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT | JUNE 18, 2025 | PAGE 9
TOP REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT LAWYERS 2025
BRUCE FISCHER GREENEBRG TRAURIG, LLP IRVINE B ruce Fischer didn’t choose real estate law — it chose him. As chair of Greenberg Traurig LLP’s West Coast real estate practice and co- managing shareholder of the firm’s Orange County office, he has orchestrated some of the most complex development deals on the West Coast, with project values exceeding $5 billion combined. “I wasn’t really drawn to this area. Rather, I was pulled into it like a magnet pulls and attracts metal objects — where I have been the metal object and the magnets has been my clients,” Fischer said of his path into real estate development law. Fischer’s practice centers on what he calls “acting as the quarterback (including running with the ball) for the development of mixed use projects that are developed with a combination of private and public funds.” This approach has positioned him at the center of transformative urban development projects that reshape entire communities. Two projects exemplify Fischer’s work on transactions that require both legal precision and strategic vision. He represents Related California in their acquisition of a 41-acre Orange County development site through a master ground lease. The project calls for 3,750 apartments, 170 senior housing units, a 200-room hotel and 350,000 square feet of retail space, with an estimated construction cost exceeding $3 billion. The complexity of that deal required Fischer to navigate relationships with multiple property- owning families, each with different perspectives on the site’s development potential. The negotiations spanned nearly three years before culminating in a 99-year master ground lease. The challenge was compounded by existing retail tenants occupying structures on the property. Fischer also represents Sterling Bay on a 400-acre Louisville, Colorado development projected to cost more than $2 billion. The project will include 2.4 million square feet of life science, research and development and industrial space. The scale necessitated extensive infrastructure work, much of it funded through bonds issued by a Metro District. Both projects required Fischer to overcome significant obstacles related to land use approvals and financing structures. “The key in meeting all these challenges and getting past all these obstacles was focusing on each of them, one at a time, and finding solutions that resulted in a win-win
ROBERT P. FRIEDMAN CARLTON FIELDS, LLP LOS ANGELES R obert Friedman has built his career around the tangible nature of real estate, specializing in commercial development, property transactions, acquisitions, leasing, financing, public-private partnerships and joint ventures. His practice spans all types of real estate, though he maintains a focus on retail shopping centers. “Shopping centers require a nuanced approach — balancing tenant mix, operational continuity and the developer’s goal of creating an environment that benefits both individual tenants and the project as a whole,” Friedman said. The complexity of these projects demands both foresight from developers and ongoing legal guidance to ensure long-term success, he added. Friedman describes himself as a “soup to nuts” real estate lawyer, providing continuity from acquisition through long-term ownership or disposition by sale. He finds satisfaction in seeing projects develop from initial concept through completion and beyond. “Clients appreciate that real property is tangible and enduring, and I find it deeply satisfying to see a project built from the ground up and remain involved in its evolution over time,” Friedman said. His approach to legal practice was shaped by lessons learned early in his career. While working at a boutique real estate firm, a senior partner demonstrated the importance of client service by dictating brief summaries after completing deals and announcing fees. “His point was simple but powerful: law is a service business, and it’s our job to accommodate the client, not the other way around,” Friedman said. Experience taught him that each transaction presents unique challenges. “No two legal matters are ever truly the same, even if they appear similar on the surface,” he said. Each deal is influenced by client personality and goals, economic conditions, deal structure and property-specific details, Friedman added. In 2024, he successfully closed acquisitions on three California retail shopping centers for repurposing and redevelopment. The first transaction involved a newly closed investment fund requiring work with securities counsel to secure lender approvals. Part of the equity came from two co-owners completing 1031 exchanges, necessitating a tenants-in-common agreement and lender approval.
DANIEL G. HAGEDORN REED SMITH LLP COSTA MESA D aniel Hagedorn has built his career at the intersection of commercial real estate and social impact, handling transactions worth hundreds of millions while dedicating significant time to addressing homelessness in Orange County. As a partner in Reed Smith LLP’s global real estate group, Hagedorn represents institutional and non- institutional investors, funds, owners, developers and operators across the commercial real estate spectrum. His practice centers on structuring joint ventures and private equity deals, with recent transactions including multiple eight and nine-figure investments. Hagedorn recently led Reed Smith’s work with Nuveen Real Estate platform funds to invest more than $250 million in MyPlace, a self-storage platform. The partnership aims to grow Nuveen Real Estate’s assets under management to approximately $1 billion over the next few years through strategic acquisitions, financings and joint ventures. Hagedorn also guided GFH Partners’ seventh US Industrial and Logistics Fund, valued at more than $200 million, including debt. The Shari’a-compliant fund spans eight states with a portfolio of 21 income-yielding properties focused on industrial and transportation logistics sectors. “I was drawn to real estate and development because it offers a unique combination of tangible outcomes, complex problem-solving and long- term impact,” Hagedorn said. “Unlike many areas of law, real estate allows you to see the direct results of your work — whether it’s a new building, a revitalized neighborhood, or a successful investment.” Beyond commercial transactions, Hagedorn has invested considerable pro bono time in housing policy. He led the creation and launch of United Way of Orange County’s WelcomeHomeOC program, which provides rental assistance vouchers and landlord incentives to help homeless individuals secure private market housing. The program, which the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has called exemplary, has housed more than 1,100 people experiencing homelessness since its 2019 inception. Hagedorn helped establish the legal framework from scratch and later negotiated contracts with Orange County and several cities for UWOC to process more than $75 million in federal emergency rental assistance during the pandemic. SEE PAGE 25
SEE PAGE 28
SEE PAGE 28
PAGE 10 | DAILY JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT | JUNE 18, 2025
TOP REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT LAWYERS 2025
structuring and stakeholder collaboration across diverse projects. The attorney finds motivation in the tangible results of her work. “Seeing these projects built and knowing that my contributions help public agencies create jobs, stimulate local economies, and provide safe, clean, and affordable housing to community members gives a profound sense of purpose to my work,” Hull said. Her approach has been shaped by mentors who taught her to balance technical legal skills with broader strategic thinking. One mentor emphasized understanding stakeholder dynamics in public projects, which involve elected officials, staff, community members, regulatory agencies and developers. Another reinforced the importance of maintaining professionalism during high-pressure public meetings. “The common thread through the lessons I have learned from my mentors is that building trust through consistent, thoughtful and respectful interactions is key to long term success as a development attorney,” Hull said. Recent projects demonstrate the complexity of Hull’s work. One involved disposing of public property to create a 50-unit affordable housing complex with wraparound services for individuals with substance use disorders SEE PAGE 23
Burney
This philosophy has proven beneficial for client retention and business development. Burney emphasized that maintaining professionalism helps establish recognition as both a strong advocate and effective dealmaker. Success in handling complex transactions stems from strong team coordination. “I have been fortunate to lead and be a part of strong client teams consisting of fellow partners, associates, paralegals and support staff, each of whom are closely attuned to our client’s preferences,” Burney said. Market conditions continue evolving. “We are seeing an uptick in the volume and pace of office leasing transactions, including in markets that have had a longer recovery from the pandemic-related impacts to businesses,” Burney observed. However, uncertainty persists. “There remains uncertainty regarding interest rate volatility, so it is not uncommon for some of our clients to focus on rate lock considerations earlier in the transaction than in prior years,” Burney said.
ELIZABETH W. HULL BEST BEST & KRIEGER LLP IRVINE E lizabeth Hull has built her career around transactions that reshape neighborhoods. As an attorney specializing in economic development and affordable housing, she represents public agencies in complex real estate deals that combine financial intricacy with community impact. Hull entered this field because it offered both intellectual challenge and purpose. “Each project brings its own set of challenges and opportunities, requiring creative problem-solving and the opportunity for continuous learning,” she said. The work spans regulatory navigation, deal
Congratulations to Partners Annie Mudge and Christian Dubois for being recognized as Top Lawyers in Real Estate and Development.
Annie Mudge
This distinction acknowledges their exceptional expertise, unwavering dedication, and significant contributions to the industry.
Christian Dubois
visit www.coxcastle.com
DAILY JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT | JUNE 18, 2025 | PAGE 11
TOP REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT LAWYERS 2025
EDGAR KHALATIAN MAYER BROWN LOS ANGELES E dgar Khalatian leads Mayer Brown’s land use practice group, where he guides investors and developers through the complex maze of real estate entitlement and development processes. His work focuses on securing land use approvals for projects that reshape Los Angeles’ urban fabric. Khalatian’s practice encompasses the full spectrum of real estate entitlement work, with particular focus on California Environmental Quality Act compliance. His clients include institutional investors and developers working on projects that require navigation through multiple layers of municipal, county and state approval processes. Khalatian’s career has been defined by his involvement in transformative development projects across the city. He currently represents the owner of the largest urban oil field in the United States, working to shut down oil operations and redevelop the property with housing and job-producing uses. The project represents a significant shift from industrial to residential use in an urban core. Another major project under his guidance involves the LA Cold Storage building near Downtown Los Angeles. The proposed development spans 2 million square feet with a $2 billion price tag, including more than 1,000 housing units, office space and commercial uses. Gov. Gavin Newsom has certified the project as an Environmental Leadership Development Project (ELDP), recognizing its environmental standards. “I was drawn to this niche area because I enjoy helping my clients build buildings and change the city’s skyline -- I love the tangible end result,” Khalatian said. His expertise extends beyond private practice into public service. The director of the Los Angeles Department of City Planning appointed him to serve as co-chair of the Los Angeles Zoning Advisory Committee. In this role, he helped complete a comprehensive revision of the city of Los Angeles’ Zoning Code, one of the city’s largest planning initiatives to date. The revision process required navigating competing interests from various stakeholders while modernizing regulations that had become outdated for contemporary development needs. Khalatian’s approach involves systematic problem-solving when facing regulatory hurdles. “Every land use entitlement matter has significant
ANDREW T. KIRSH SKLAR KIRSH LLP LOS ANGELES A ndrew Kirsh has built his practice around some of the most complex real estate transactions in major metropolitan markets. He recently closed on two significant acquisitions that highlight the intricate nature of modern commercial real estate deals. The first transaction involved a $309 million mixed- use apartment and retail complex across from Petco Park in San Diego, home of the Padres. Kirsh handled the purchase agreement negotiations, extensive due diligence involving multiple retail leases, and equity structuring for the high-profile property. His second major deal centered on the Aon Center office building in downtown Los Angeles. This transaction required structuring as a loan acquisition with a concurrent deed in lieu, as the previous owner was in default. Kirsh negotiated the loan sale agreement, arranged new financing with an existing mezzanine lender and assembled syndication documents. “This transaction was significant for the revitalization of Downtown Los Angeles,” Kirsh said of the Aon Center deal. The attorney’s approach to complex transactions stems from lessons learned early in his career. His mentor, former Goodwin Procter partner Lew Feldman, shaped his understanding of legal practice as business development. “Lew taught me how the law is a business and in order to succeed in business you have to be able to effectively market yourself,” Kirsh said. “Lew showed me the most valuable currency we have as lawyers is our network and being able to tap into that network to help our clients is significant value add.” Kirsh’s practice focuses heavily on connecting capital providers with real estate purchasers. “Capital is the life blood of the real estate business so being able to introduce to my clients who provide capital to those who use capital to purchase real estate gives me tremendous satisfaction,” he said. Managing multiple parties presents ongoing challenges in large transactions. “The biggest obstacle on all my deals is coordinating among so many parties and counsel,” Kirsh noted. “On any typical deal, you have a seller, buyer, equity, senior lender, mezz Lender, tenants, among other parties and each has counsel.”
BRAD B. KUHN NOSSAMAN LLP IRVINE B rad Kuhn has built his legal career around the intersection of property rights and public infrastructure. “I primarily specialize in eminent domain, inverse condemnation and land use associated with large infrastructure projects,” he said. His work spans from billion-dollar transit systems to complex water rights negotiations, positioning him at the center of disputes that determine how communities grow and adapt. “I enjoy being part of a team delivering important infrastructure projects that improve the communities in which we live and impact quality of life,” Kuhn said, emphasizing the broader public purpose behind complex property negotiations. Kuhn’s recent portfolio demonstrates the scope of California’s infrastructure challenges. He led the legal team for San Diego Association of Governments’ Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project, a more than $2 billion passenger rail initiative that has transformed regional transportation. The project now serves students and medical facilities with high ridership numbers, validating the complex legal groundwork Kuhn helped establish. In Oakland, Kuhn advises the city on the disposition of the 110-plus acre Coliseum Complex, the former home of three major sports franchises. The transaction involves intricate property valuations and development planning that will reshape the city’s future economic landscape. Water rights represent another critical area of Kuhn’s practice. He guides the Sites Project Authority on real estate issues for the Sites Reservoir Project, designed to capture storm water for use during drought periods. His work on water acquisition cases includes representing Crystal Geyser in a water rights condemnation case that drew national attention. Kuhn’s expertise extends to commercial property disputes. His representation of 24 Hour Fitness in an eminent domain case resulted in a $23 million settlement when a gym was taken for school construction. The complex negotiation included business goodwill, equipment values, and relocation costs while allowing the business to operate during transition. “Each matter faces its own obstacles and complexities. I enjoy providing strategic advice to clients and being a trusted advisor on how to
SEE PAGE 27
SEE PAGE 13
SEE PAGE 21
PAGE 12 | DAILY JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT | JUNE 18, 2025
TOP REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT LAWYERS 2025 courses spanning 31 states. His client roster includes American Golf, NGP
handles. A public company sought representation for a California-based joint venture partner acquiring a West Coast portfolio of fuel stations, convenience stores, car washes and related distribution businesses. The deal required navigating transaction documents, credit facility arrangements and antitrust issues. “This was an incredibly challenging transaction that pulled in many different legal skills sets to address the many challenges that arose throughout the transaction,” Leake said. The transaction held particular significance for the joint venture partner’s principal and family. After decades of business development, the acquisition allowed the partner to expand its brand and footprint throughout the West Coast and Pacific Northwest, elevating an already successful platform. Current market conditions present both challenges and opportunities for Leake’s clients. Economic uncertainty has influenced deal- making approaches, though activity continues. “Despite economic uncertainty on a number of fronts, clients remain cautiously optimistic and are making deals and undertaking projects albeit in a measured and careful manner,” Leake observed. Technology is also reshaping legal service delivery. Leake’s practice has incorporated various technological tools to enhance efficiency and client experience. “We’re also seeing increasing interest and implementation of various AI and software tools that enable us to deliver legal services more efficiently while improving the overall client experience,” he said.
Realty, Sequoia/Canongate Golf, Kemper Golf and Sculptor Capital Management, covering everything from sales and purchases to leases, financing transactions and management agreements. “My specialty is representing developers of industrial, multi-family, retail, self-storage and golf course projects,” Lurie said. “I love helping clients make their visions come to reality from inception to stabilization and beyond.” Lurie’s approach to deal-making was shaped early in his career by Steve Claman, one of Greenberg Glusker’s founding members. The mentorship proved formative, teaching Lurie to cut through complexity to focus on what matters most. That philosophy was put to the test during a joint venture negotiation with Charlie Munger, the late Berkshire Hathaway vice chairman. Lurie had prepared a standard 25-page agreement, but Munger rejected it outright, insisting on a document no longer than three pages.
MICHAEL R. LEAKE SHEPPARD MULLIN SAN DIEGO M ichael Leake serves as co- lead of Sheppard Mullin’s 130-attorney real estate, energy, land use and environmental practice group, handling commercial real estate transactions across the country. His practice spans industrial, office, multi-family, retail and hospitality sectors. “I was drawn to real estate because I like that the work leads to tangible, real-world results and requires a great degree of collaboration and collective problem solving in order to achieve the best outcomes,” Leake said. His approach to client service stems from mentorship he received early in his career. Several attorneys shaped his professional development, teaching him principles that continue to guide his practice today. “They taught me to focus on delivering great client service and value, while offering creative solutions to pressing and complex problems,” Leake said. “They also demonstrated throughout their long careers that the work is more fulfilling when you develop strong, long-term and collaborative bonds with your clients and colleagues.” One recent transaction exemplifies the complexity of deals Leake
STEVEN J. LURIE GREENBERG GLUSKER LLP LOS ANGELES S teven Lurie has built his reputation at Greenberg Glusker LLP by closing deals that others might find daunting. As a partner at the firm, he has emerged as a dominant force in real estate law, serving as lead attorney on transactions exceeding $5.5 billion across 18 states and the District of Columbia over the past two years. His track record is particularly impressive in the golf course sector, where he has handled transactional and advisory matters for 269 golf
SEE PAGE 21
Kirsh
“Since the start of 2025, lenders are becoming more aggressive in pursuing remedies,” Kirsh said, noting that lenders now attempt to assert recourse liability on traditionally non-recourse loans. This market dynamic requires careful attention to loan documentation to protect borrower clients from expanded liability exposure, he added.
Kirsh’s strategy involves maintaining organization while avoiding unnecessary complications. “Too many lawyers get in the way and try to be deal killers and not deal makers,” he said. The lending environment has shifted since early 2025, with increased enforcement activity affecting transaction structures.
DAILY JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT | JUNE 18, 2025 | PAGE 13
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator