The Wendel Rosen real estate practice covers real estate matters from every angle, for corporate, public entity, business and individual clients. Our comprehensive view of the industry provides unique insight for landlords and tenants, retailers, developers and lenders, contractors and architects, brokers and owners.
Connected Experience
We have significant experience in all aspects of real estate transactions and litigation, and frequently speak, write and teach on the latest developments. Our cross-disciplinary practice provides a wealth of legal acumen for a broad range of property types and issues. Wendel clients benefit from our network of contacts throughout the industry.
Custom Solutions
With Wendel Rosen, you get a custom-fit combination of attorneys, experience and resources to meet your needs. Working with our other practices, such as business, land use, construction, bankruptcy, trusts and estates and environmental groups, we design tailored responses to the most complex real estate matters.
Representative Services
- Leasing (commercial, office, industrial and retail)
- Ground leases
- Acquisitions and sales
- Financing and deal structuring
- Security instruments
- Escrow & title matters
- Boundary and easement matters
- Brokerage agreements
- Land use, permitting & entitlements
- Rezoning & reuse
- Litigation & disputes
- Subdivisions
- Covenants, conditions & restrictions (CC&Rs)
- Homeowners association matters
- Disabled Access Counseling
- Eminent domain
- Insurance coverage
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Assist retailers in acquisitions of stores and chains from other retailers.
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Developed and directed implementation of systems for efficiently handling a large portfolio of lease transactions for fast-growth retailers
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Negotiate leases for high-end U.S. retail mail and street front locations for a large London, England-based apparel retailer.
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Handle complex real estate acquisitions and lease transactions for regional industrial/office developer.
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Represent regional banks in loan enforcement, foreclosures, workouts and disposition of REO
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Engaged as an expert consultant and witness in a case involving a multi-million dollar transaction challenged by the IRS as a “bogus optional basis tax shelter in which the partnership had allegedly used an Internal Revenue Code Section 754 election to inappropriately increase the basis of its property”. The case was resolved in the client’s favor.
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Represented developer in negotiating complex construction, loan, intercreditor and lease agreements for acquisition, financing, construction and leasing of the $72 million mixed-use center, which included a jazz museum, condominiums, restaurants and parking.
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Negotiated acquisition of adjacent surplus land from neighboring public entity to allow clients to maintain and expand their yard and create buffer from incompatible uses.
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For national home improvement chain, represented client on leases for new locations and assisted the company in renegotiating leases during bankruptcy proceedings.
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Represented national food manufacturing company in office and industrial lease transactions across the country, as well as in the sale of industrial, warehouse and manufacturing facilities. Some purchasers continue to use facilities for existing uses while others redeveloped the properties for residential, commercial/retail and industrial projects.
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Represented a wide spectrum of retailers in leasing transactions in shopping centers, power centers, strip malls and stand-alone locations in California.
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Represented world’s largest privately owned health and fitness center chain in lease transactions throughout California.
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Represented regional hardware and garden company in leases for new locations and assisted the company in renegotiating leases during bankruptcy proceedings.
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Represented national pet food and food manufacturing company in office and industrial lease transactions across the country. Also represented company in the sale of industrial, warehouse and manufacturing facilities – some purchasers continued to use facilities for existing uses while others redeveloped the properties for residential, commercial/retail and industrial projects.
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Represented regional water company in evaluation, entitlement/disposition strategy and negotiation for sale of surplus properties throughout the Bay Area, including the sale of surplus properties in Pleasanton for over $100 million and surplus properties in South San Francisco for over $21 million.
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Represented developer in negotiating complex construction, loan, intercreditor and lease agreements for acquisition, financing, construction and leasing of the $72 million mixed-use Fillmore Heritage Center (Center included jazz museum, condominiums, restaurants and parking).
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Represented a Northern California county in numerous transactions disposing of surplus properties, including the sale of a 30-acre parcel to private developers for an auto mall, which included access easements and other documentation related to the sale.
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Represented a California city in the subdivision of a city-owned garage and retail development in downtown. Following the subdivision, the city sold the retail portion of the development to a private party, while retaining the parking garage. Representation included advising the city of the subdivision process, overseeing the subdivision of the property and preparing covenants, conditions and restrictions for the property.
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Represented craft brewer in negotiating lease for 90,000 square foot building containing a brewery, restaurant and offices.
Publications

Webinar: How the “Housing Crisis Act” (SB 330) Can Ease Approvals for Housing Development Projects
10/29/2020 | Wendel Rosen LLP
Todd Williams and Patrick Tuck – experienced attorneys at Wendel Rosen in land use and real estate matters – shared their knowledge on how to use SB 330 to get…
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COVID-19: How Wendel Rosen’s Real Estate Litigation Group Can Assist
04/01/2020 | Wendel Rosen LLP
Wendel Rosen’s Real Estate Litigation Group knows real estate. Led by Chuck Hansen, who has for decades been recognized as one of California’s foremost real property experts, our team has…
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What Are Landlords Thinking?
07/18/2019 | National Retail Tenants Association
[This article was originally published in the National Retail Tenants Association publication “Tenants In-Common” in July 2019.] Ever wonder just what landlords are thinking? I know I have. Probably most…
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Sale Remedies
12/11/2019 | Continuing Education of the Bar
Join attorney Steve Morger who will present “Sales Remedies,” on December 11, 2019 at the Oakland Library. For more information or to register, please contact: raheel.hayat@ceb.ucla.edu
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Recovering Possession of Abandoned Leased Premises
12/09/2019 | Oakland / Berkeley Association of Realtors
Join attorney Mark Epstein who will present, “Recovering Possession of Abandoned Leased Premises,” on December 9, 2019 at 9:00 AM. Topics Include: Terminating a tenant’s right of possession of the…
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Oakland Structures
12/05/2019 | San Francisco Business Times
Wendel Rosen is pleased to sponsor Oakland Structures on Thursday, December 5, 2019 from 7:30 AM – 10:00 AM. Join SFBT for a conversation with a panel of developers, policy…
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Wendel Rosen Scores Six “Tier 1” Rankings on Best Law Firms List
11/05/2020 | Wendel Rosen LLP
Wendel Rosen LLP, one of the largest and most widely-recognized law firms in the East Bay, has been named to the 2021 Best Law Firms list published by U.S. News & World…
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Seasoned Trial Attorney Richard Sipos Joins Wendel Rosen LLP
10/01/2020 | Wendel Rosen LLP
Today, Richard Sipos, Esq. joins Wendel Rosen LLP as a partner, serving in the Litigation Practice Group. Sipos brings 34 years of experience in complex litigation and transactional real estate…
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Wendel Rosen Attorneys Selected to 2020 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List
07/13/2020 | Wendel Rosen LLP
Wendel Rosen LLP, the largest law firm in the East Bay representing businesses throughout the county, announced that 19 attorneys have been named to the 2020 edition of the Northern…
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