Zack works with private businesses and public agencies to negotiate and draft complex real estate and financial structures. Working frequently with state and local regulatory and permitting agencies, he represents clients before a variety of administrative bodies to enable clients to complete some of the region’s most intriguing projects, including: development of a mixed-use project in San Francisco’s Fillmore District featuring Yoshi’s Jazz Club and Restaurant and 80 condominiums; entitling a 14-story, 220-unit residential building in Jack London Square; and the creative vertical subdivision of the Oakland YWCA, rescuing the Y from bankruptcy and saving a Julia Morgan building. He is currently representing the Oakland A’s in negotiations with the City of Oakland and County of Alameda acquisition of the Coliseum for a large mixed use development.
Zack has served as lead general counsel for the Alameda County Transportation Commission and its predecessors for over 30 years, assisting it with a wide variety of matters including funding, legislation, compliance with public laws, environmental and personnel issues, and reauthorizaation.
In 2012, Zack was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown as Chair of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC). As General Counsel to the East Bay Economic Development Alliance, Zack played an integral role negotiating with BCDC on the Bay Plan Amendment to address rising sea levels. In addition, Zack serves as a member of the Bay Area Regional Collaborative, which coordinates regional policies of MTC, ABAG, BAAQMD and BCDC.
He serves as the current Chair of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. For many years he has served as general counsel to the Chamber, as well as to the East Bay Economic Development Alliance and to several non-profit corporations and foundations engaged in technology transfer and scientific development.
An active member of the East Bay community, Zack has donated hundreds of hours of his time to committees and programs designed to enhance the economic development of Oakland and surrounding communities.
