Service Station and Convenience Store Acquisition

Represented the purchaser in the $800 million acquisition of 150 service station and convenience store properties in California from a major oil company. Prepared all related leases, subleases, purchase and sale agreements, guarantees and fuel supply agreements, and advised on issues relating to the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (PMPA) and California franchise law compliance.

Burger Restaurant Chain

Represented a Southern California-based quick-serve hamburger restaurant company, with over 300 restaurants, in connection with real property and transactional matters, including the acquisition and development of approximately 50 drive-thru restaurants in California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. Assisted in the negotiation and prepared ground leases, purchase and sale agreements, development and disposition agreements, Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions, sign and easements agreements.

Private-Gated Beachfront Community

Represented a closely held real estate company that is the owner and ground lessor of a private-gated beachfront community appraised at more than $800 million dollars in South Orange County, California. Drafted all transactional documents involving the modification of an Option Agreement pertaining to the sale of lots. Implemented the sale of over $80 million of lots and the acquisition of replacement properties in connection with a tax-deferred exchange.

Ground Lease Dispute

Acted as transactional counsel and supervised trial counsel in connection with multi-year litigation involving the breach of a ground lease of a property valued at several hundred million dollars. Represented the appellant in connection with a California Court of Appeal Judicial Settlement Program mediation that resulted in the settlement of all trial court and Court of Appeal actions involving the complex dispute.

Charitable Foundation

Represented a charitable foundation and ground lessor on transactional matters involving a $50 million partially-completed retail mixed-use project in Orange County, California. Supervised the client’s litigation counsel in connection with the complex litigation involving the project. Interacted with the developer, lender, contractors and mechanic’s lien claimants on issues relating to the distressed project.

Bank and Trust Companies

Represented a California bank and trust company in the settlement of a dispute relating to the breach of a ground lease and boundary line and development right claims involving a hospital property in Newport Beach, California. Represented a national federal savings bank and trust company on the drafting of its Land Trust Agreement and related forms that are used nationwide. Represented trust companies in connection with Section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges involving properties held in trusts.

Casual Dining Mexican Restaurant

Represented the largest full-service, casual dining Mexican restaurant company in the United States, with over 200 locations, on transactional matters involving new restaurant development.

Business Owners

Acted as lead transactional and environmental counsel to numerous developers, property owners, service station operators and car dealers in connection with the investigation and remediation of releases from petroleum underground storage tanks and subsequent disposition or redevelopment of the properties.