Best Lawyers in California, United States for Real Estate Law
Practice Area Overview
Understanding Real Estate Law in California
Real estate law refers to the body of laws that govern the buying, selling and leasing of property. However, as all real estate lawyers in California know, these regulations can cover a wide range of legal issues related to property transactions, including financing, environmental law and title searches. Whether you're purchasing a home in Los Angeles, leasing commercial property in San Francisco, or dealing with disputes in Sacramento, an experienced California real estate attorney is critical to ensuring seamless and efficient transactions.
Why Hire Real Estate Lawyers in California?
If you're thinking, "I need a real estate attorney," it’s likely because you're involved in a transaction or dispute where legal expertise is crucial. From resolving title discrepancies to managing lease agreements, California real estate attorneys play a critical role in safeguarding your interests. Law firms specializing in real estate law can assist with legal issues related to real estate transactions, such as reviewing contracts and conducting title searches. The real estate lawyers Californians trust are also typically involved in representing clients before the real estate commission or title company. Law school courses often cover real estate law, as it is an essential aspect of many legal practices.
How a California Real Estate Lawyer Can Assist
A full-service real estate law firm should have expertise in the following areas:
Sales and Acquisitions
Both buyers and sellers hire California real estate attorneys to represent them in the acquisition and disposition of various properties, including office buildings, retail centers, hotels, industrial properties, residential properties and manufactured housing communities. These legal professionals are equally essential whether the transaction involves residential or commercial property.
Title Issues
Ensuring clear property titles is critical in any transaction. A seasoned California real estate lawyer will examine title records, resolve title exceptions and finalize title insurance policies to protect your investment.
Land Use and Environmental
Real estate lAttention to Detail awyers in California can help ensure compliance with the state’s complex web of environmental laws, as well as the federal and state Endangered Species Acts, which can potentially impact property development. They can also assist with entitlements, due diligence investigations and Brownfield developments.
California real estate attorneys also negotiate and prepare development and construction agreements, as well as any other documents required to develop and construct office buildings, shopping centers, mixed-use projects, free-standing units and industrial sites.
Leasing
A California real estate lawyer can also work with landlords and tenants to negotiate and prepare office, retail and industrial leases and long-term ground leases, including:
- Drafting and reviewing lease agreements.
- Negotiating lease terms.
- Ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.
- Dispute resolution.
- Lease modifications and renewals.
- Handling lease terminations and evictions.
- Advising on subleasing and assignment.
Finance
Lenders and borrowers typically engage real estate lawyers in California to handle real estate-secured loan originations, loan sales and purchases and other debt arrangements, including:
- Permanent financings.
- Construction loans.
- Bridge loans.
- Conduit loans.
- Mezzanine loans.
- Shared appreciation loans.
- Portfolios of non-performing loans.
Joint Ventures
A significant proportion of real estate transactions involve joint ventures between capital sources and developers. Real estate lawyers in California can structure and negotiate partnership agreements, limited liability company operating agreements, shareholder agreements and other forms of joint venture arrangements and they can also advise on the tax aspects of these transactions.
Restructuring and Workouts
Not all real estate transactions are successful. The real estate lawyers California residents rely on should be able to advise lenders, borrowers, partners, landlords, tenants and developers when a transaction goes bad.
This type of real estate law may involve transactional, bankruptcy, tax and litigation work. Restructuring and workouts often include:
- Loan modifications
- Foreclosures
- Deeds in lieu of foreclosure
- Discounted loan payoffs
- Loan forbearances
- REO sales
- Joint venture modifications
- Buy/sells
- Forced sales
- Lease and development modifications
- Bankruptcies
- Receivership actions
- Guarantee actions
Litigation
Many California real estate lawyers represent property owners, buyers, sellers, lessors, brokers, lenders and developers in, among other things:
- Contract disputes
- Mechanics lien and construction disputes
- Eminent domain proceedings
- Title disputes
- Loan service disputes
- Foreclosure issues
- Bankruptcy
Top Qualities to Look for in a California Real Estate Attorney
What exactly should you look for when hiring a real estate attorney? Here are some qualities shared by the real estate lawyers California residents have come to trust:
Specialized Expertise in Real Estate Law
A California real estate attorney should have in-depth knowledge of the state’s unique real estate laws. From zoning regulations to environmental compliance, look for someone who specializes in the nuances of the local market.
Strong Negotiation Skills
Real estate transactions often involve high-stakes negotiations. Whether you’re drafting a contract or resolving a dispute, you’ll need a California real estate lawyer with excellent negotiation skills to secure favorable outcomes while protecting your interests.
Attention to Detail
Real estate matters involve a myriad of intricate details, from property titles to contract clauses. The best California real estate attorneys meticulously review every document to spot potential risks or inconsistencies that could impact your transaction.
Clear Communication
Real estate law can be overwhelming, especially for those unfamiliar with legal terminology. Great California real estate attorneys make the process approachable by explaining complex matters in plain language. They also keep you updated every step of the way.
Problem-Solving Ability
Real estate transactions and disputes rarely go exactly as planned. A reliable California real estate attorney will have the critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills needed to address unexpected challenges.
Proven Track Record
Research an attorney’s past experiences and outcomes. A legal professional with a history of successful cases, particularly those similar to yours, is a strong indicator of their capability. The internet is a great place to begin your research. Start with the query “I need a real estate attorney in California“ for online reviews, legal rankings and more.
Find a Real Estate Attorney in California Today
California real estate lawyers play a key role in safeguarding your property investments. Whether you're dealing with title issues, lease negotiations, financing agreements, or disputes, their expertise ensures smooth and legally sound processes. Take the time to research and connect with the best professionals in your area. By doing so, you’ll have the peace of mind that your real estate matters are in skilled hands.
Select a city from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
Cities
Keith Allen-Niesen is a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office and co-chair of the infrastructure practice. He has a broad range of transactional experience and oversees major business litigation, business transactions, land use and development matters. Keith has extensive experience in the acquisition, development and sale of hotels, resorts, golf courses, restaurants, office buildings, residential subdivisions, shopping centers and industrial sites, including transactions involving ...
Russell Austin has extensive experience in real estate and business law. He has planned, negotiated, and documented a complete array of real property transactions and supporting documentation, including purchase and sale transactions, exchanges, syndications, partnership and LLC formations, and a wide variety of financing transactions for owners/developers, institutional and private lenders, conservation organizations and other non-profit organizations, and public agencies, including conserva...
Cecily Barclay focuses her practice on land use and entitlements, real estate acquisition and development and local government law. She regularly assists landowners, developers and public agencies throughout Northern California in all aspects of acquisition, entitlement and development of land, including land use application processing, drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, negotiating and securing the approval of development agreements, general plan amendments, specific plan...
Steve Berkman is a partner in the Real Estate practice of the Paul Hastings San Francisco office. His practice primarily consists of representing institutional owners and corporate users of various types of real estate assets, both nationally and internationally. Mr. Berkman has extensive experience representing major corporate users of real estate, advising on headquarters and other facilities acquisitions and leasing (including some of the largest headquarters transactions in the Bay Area),...
Maggie Bertisch is a transactional attorney at Kennerly Lamishaw & Rossi LLP. Ms. Bertisch’s practice focuses on secured real estate finance and transactional real estate. She has extensive experience in the representation of clients in all areas of real estate debt, equity and hybrid financing transactions, including bridge, construction, permanent, senior, subordinated, mortgage, mezzanine, preferred equity, joint venture, secondary market transactions (including securitizations a...
Mark Birnbaum, a partner, focuses his practice on real estate and real estate finance. He works with numerous lenders and Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) servicers on a national basis with respect to real property secured loan workouts and Real Estate Owned (REO) dispositions, including loan restructures, modifications, assumptions, forbearances, discounted payoffs, judicial and non-judicial foreclosures, bankruptcies, guarantor actions and receivership appointments. He also work...
Susan J. Booth is the head of the West Coast Real Estate Group of Holland & Knight and served on the firm's Directors Committee. Ms. Booth counsels domestic and international commercial banks, pension funds, private equity funds, REITs and developers on a variety of real estate matters including portfolio loans and CMBs, secured lending transactions (acquisition, development, construction, revolving, permanent, mezzanine and Shari'ah compliant), co-lending and participation arrangements, ...
Kevin Brogan specializes in the trial of real estate and business cases, with a particular emphasis on eminent domain and inverse condemnation matters. He has substantial experience in the trial of jury and nonjury matters in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative tribunals and other forums. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Chair of its Foundation Board.
Colby A Campbell is a shareholder with the law firm of Trainor Fairbrook. Her practice emphasizes real estate, taxation, business planning and estate planning. Ms. Campbell has particular experience in structuring new joint ventures and restructuring existing joint ventures to accommodate concerns relevant in the current economic environment, including those involving (i) personal liability and asset protection, (ii) additional funding through the infusion of new capital and the corresponding...
Stevens A. Carey is a real estate attorney in Holland & Knight's Century City office. Mr. Carey focuses his practice on a broad range of transactional real estate matters, with an emphasis on joint ventures, workouts, financings, acquisitions and dispositions. Mr. Carey is a contributing editor for The Real Estate Finance Journal , a member of the editorial board of The Practical Real Estate Lawyer , a past member of the editorial board of Bloomberg BNA Real Estate Law and Industry Report...
Steve Edwards is a partner in Manatt's Orange County office. Steve has a broad background in real estate and real estate law, including in-house experience in the real estate industry, and serving as co-chair of the real estate practice for an international law firm. He has been active in virtually all aspects of the acquisition, sale, exchange, financing, ground leasing, leasing, and development of improved and unimproved real estate for both individual and institutional clients. His practic...
Kevin M. Ehrhart is a Real Estate partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Kevin represents real estate investors, capital providers, owners, developers and others in all aspects of real estate related transactions. He focuses on capital investment directed to real estate and real estate operating companies, financings within all segments of the capital stack, joint ventures, property and operating company acquisitions. His practice has an emphasis on the acquisition and disposition of commercial...
Tom Fileti is the co-chair of the firm's U.S. Real Estate Group. He represents a broad spectrum of clients in connection with investments in, and the financing, development, operation, and disposition of, real estate assets in California and throughout the U.S. Mr. Fileti’s practice emphasizes real estate finance transactions and credit facilities of all types; transactions involving REITs; acquisition and disposition of real estate assets, loans, and portfolios; matters involving the f...
Brian Fish focuses his practice on land use, public/private partnerships, public contracting, environmental and real estate matters. Mr. Fish assists public and private clients with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance, coastal permitting, planning and zoning issues, Subdivision Map Act processing, Williamson Act issues, condominium conversions and prevailing wage analysis. He also negotiates and drafts all other manner of documentation required to acquire, develop, finance,...
Manuel Fishman is a Shareholder in Buchalter Nemer's Real Estate Practice Group in San Francisco. Mr. Fishman focuses his practice on representing real estate developers, owners and secured lenders in the acquisition, sale and financing of commercial properties. In addition, he has an active leasing practice representing owners of several major office buildings in San Francisco, including the Transamerica Pyramid, as well as tenants in lease and sublease transactions. His expertise includes l...
Clients closing real estate finance deals rely on Christine Fitzgerald to not only identify risk and potential issues in a transaction but, more importantly, to offer solutions tailored to the business needs of her clients and to create a viable path forward for the deal despite any challenges. Christy is chair of the firm's West Coast Real Estate practice, recognized as a top practice by U.S. News – Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms," which reports that clients note Katten is a "firm of cho...
Clay Gantz addresses client real estate concerns, including development and investment; debt and equity financing; land use and entitlements; public-private partnerships; acquisitions, sales and exchanges; and leasing and ground leasing. Leveraging decades of experience as counsel to public agencies to advise private developers in public-private partnerships, Clay advised the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency on the Moscone Center/Yerba Buena Gardens project. He also advised the city of Tust...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.