Real Estate
 
 
Our real estate services include:
 
  • Purchase-sale transactions and disputes

  • Commercial leasing transactions, workouts, litigation, and collections

  • Commercial mortgage transactions and workouts

  • Title disputes

  • Escrow litigation

  • Nondisclosure litigation

  • Easement disputes

  • Boundary disputes

  • HOA disputes

  • Bankruptcy litigation

  • Probate and trust litigation

 

Our achievements in this practice area include:

 

  • REO title litigation (Cal. Superior Court, 2014): Promptly negotiated and settled five-party litigation arising from the sale of a bank-owned property, for an estimated seven percent of the client's potential liability, avoiding the need for any defense in court.

 

  • Escrow litigation from real estate investment scheme (Cal. Superior Court, Santa Clara County, 2014): Defended two cases against escrow agent accused of being complicit in alleged fraudulent real estate investment scheme, negotiating early, low-cost settlements and avoiding the expense of extended discovery, depositions, and trial.

 

  • Trust litigation over multi-unit property (Cal. Superior Court, 2012): Defended lender in trust litigation over a multi-unit residential property, negotiating settlement that ensured the client either market value, or free and clear title with possession.

 

  • Land sale/real estate commission litigation (Superior Court of California, San Mateo County, 2008): Won summary judgment for a real estate brokerage sued for a six-figure commission from the sale of a land tract.

 

  • Fraudulent real estate document cases (Cal. Superior Court, Marin County, El Dorado County, 2014): Successfully cleared title to properties against false documents recorded in an effort to strip our client of its interest in the real estate. Returned the properties to saleable/insurable position.

 

Our speaking and publications in this practice area:

 

  • Co-presenter, "The Intersection Between Deeds of Trust and Articles 3 and 9 of the Commercial Code," Contra Costa County Bar Association Real Estate Section, Walnut Creek, California, 2013.

 

  • Co-presenter, In-Depth Title Insurance Principles, National Business Institute, San Francisco, 2012