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
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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
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