Dealing with a solo practitioner may offer many advantages over dealing with large or medium-sized law firms. You know you will be dealing with just one attorney and not be shuffled off to many different attorneys in a firm. You will not have multiple attorneys attending every meeting and working on every matter. You will not be paying high hourly rates for young attorneys just out of law school when you might just be paying for their education. The challenge is finding a solo practitioner who has the expertise, experience, competence and personality to handle both large and small matters. Please click on the “RESUME” section above for my personal details.
I have practiced real estate, tax and transactional law in Beverly Hills for over 45 years. I have been a partner in a medium-sized tax, business and real estate law firm; have been a name partner in my own law firm for over 45 years, and am currently a solo practitioner. I have been lead counsel in transactions totaling many billions of dollars in the aggregate (Please click on the “EXPERIENCE” section above for details. I have authored numerous articles in national publications (including the Journal of Taxation and the Southern California Law Review) and lectured to numerous groups [including the California Continuing Education of the Bar (on negotiating purchase and sale agreements and commercial leases) and classes at USC and UCLA]. I have for over 45 years held the coveted "AV" highest rating from Martindale-Hubbell for professional competence and ethics. I have been named a Southern California real estate Super Lawyer@ since its inception in California, and for the last three editions in which the National Business Edition chose best in State, I was named as the #1 real estate solo practitioner in the entire state of California.
My practice has encompassed virtually every aspect of real estate and business law including:
handling purchases, sales, exchanges, options, ground leases, leasing (representing both landlords and tenants) and development of raw land, industrial buildings, office buildings, shopping centers, apartments, condominiums, houses, hotels, car washes and sports facilities;
handling financing (representing both lenders and borrowers) and equity raising matters including construction and permanent financing, bridge, mezzanine and conduit loans, swap loans, loan workouts, loan purchases and sales, defeasances and private placements;
handling business mergers, acquisitions, sales and reorganizations;
structuring of entities such as corporations, general and limited partnerships, limited liability companies, joint ventures, trusts and tenancies in common; and
preparing and reviewing all types of contracts for various businesses.
As detailed in the Experience section above, I have handled many major matters over the years on behalf of some very wealthy and sophisticated clients. However, I have also handled many, many small matters as well. I take great joy in being able to handle smaller matters on a cost effective basis for people who deserve experienced, competent counsel in matters that may be critical to their lives.
Although I am a solo practitioner, I have developed friendships with and have worked closely with (and have represented) some of the finest attorneys in their fields. I know my limitations. If I believe that I don’t have sufficient expertise in a matter, I will consult with or refer it to these attorneys. Often, my clients will get the benefit of these attorneys’ expertise at no additional cost as I also share information with these attorneys at no cost to them or their clients.
Because I do no litigation, my goal is always to get the deal done and keep my clients out of trouble. I have been VERY effective in doing that over the years. Because I have extensive personal experience as a buyer, seller, landlord and tenant of real estate and have extensive personal experience as a borrower, lender and investor, I understand what is most important to my clients, namely what can actually cost them money or cause them to incur significant financial liability. I focus on those issues, and unless there is a significant likelihood of harm, I try not to run up fees negotiating the “legalese” that most attorneys fight about and which rarely come into play.
I look forward to talking with you or meeting with you to see if our working together would be a good fit. Please note that I work on an hourly basis as will be detailed in a written fee agreement. I do not take matters on a flat fee or contingency basis.