Diane Hvolka Receives Outstanding Young Lawyer Award
Peter Swain Named on Real Estate Southern California 2008 "40 Under 40" List
Gilchrist & Rutter congratulates Peter Swain for his inclusion in Real Estate Southern California magazine's 2008 "40 Under 40" list. The list is comprised of some of the most entrepreneurial, civic-minded and eco-conscious young men and women in real estate. Mr. Swain was chosen based on his expertise in an up-and-coming niche market - aviation as it relates to real estate. His clients include some of the top names in Southern California real estate.
Gilchrist & Rutter partner Richard Close successfully represented Ojai Oaks Village mobile home park owner, Theodore Wynne, in his application for subdivision. In February the Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the park's conversion from a rental park to a resident-owned park. This was the first approved mobile home "condominium conversion" in Ventura County's unincorporated area, and the first under the Board of Supervisor's jurisdiction.
"Local approval of this project was a critical step in achieving the client's goal of realizing the land value in his property while at the same time creating affordable purchase housing for residents," said Mr. Close. " It is a win/win outcome," said Susy Forbath, the Gilchrist & Rutter paralegal who leads the lobbying efforts and educational component of the coversion/subdivision process.
Before residents can begin buying the land under their mobile homes, the California Department of Real Estate needs to give final approval. Ojai Oaks Village plans to offer each of the 125 spaces in the park for sale to the current renters, allowing them opportunity to either buy the land beneath their mobile home or continue renting it.
Ojai Oaks Village follows the recent subdivision approval of Caravilla Mobile Home Park in Santa Clarita. Mr. Close represented Caravilla park owner Newport Pacific Caravilla Limited, which has plans to convert to a total of 84 residential condominium spaces.
New Associate Joins Gilchrist & Rutter
Gilchrist & Rutter welcomes new associate, Scott R. Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds’ practice includes all aspects of real estate and corporate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, development, first mortgage and mezzanine financing, joint ventures, tax-deferred exchanges and leasing.
Prior to joining Gilchrist & Rutter, Mr. Reynolds served as sole in-house counsel for a diversified real estate investment company, having previously served as an associate for a major international law firm. He received his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a member of the Columbia Journal of European Law.
Four Gilchrist & Rutter Partners Again Ranked as Super Lawyers
For the third year in a row, the following four Gilchrist & Rutter partners have been included on the listing of Super Lawyers. (Clockwise from the Top Left) Donald C. Nanney, Susan Fowler McNally, Jonathan S. Gross, and James R. Andrews
Super Lawyers is an annual ranking of outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have achieved a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Our attorneys have expertise in Business, Real Estate and Environmental law.
James R. Andrews specializes in general business transactions for public and private business entities and individuals, including business formation, § 1031 exchanges and ongoing operational issues and disputes.
Jonathan S. Gross, Managing Partner, concentrates his practice on commercial real estate, including major office and retail leasing, development, construction, design, engineering and management agreements, and real estate secured lending.
Susan Fowler McNally’s commercial real estate and business transactions practice focuses on acquisitions and dispositions, development, construction, leasing, insurance, financing, asset management and TV and movie access licenses.
Donald C. Nanney’s expertise lies in environmental law and real estate, including site assessment, remediation, contractual allocation of environmental risk, regulatory compliance, liability, claims, penalties and insurance.
Susan Fowler McNally Quoted in Top Real Estate Magazine
California Executive quoted Susan Fowler McNally in an October 26, 2007 article, "Businesses Mainly in Good Shape, but Smoke Has Yet to Clear." Ms. McNally discussed the benefits of flexible communication technology during the October wildfires in Southern California.
Ms. McNally was also quoted in the August 30th article "Put Together a Comprehensive Disaster Response Plan Now" published by California Executive. She discussed the drawbacks to storing back-up disks in the office and the steps firms can take to prepare for a disaster such as an earthquake.
The publication turned to Ms. McNally for its August 23rd article, "Ignoring Disaster Preparedness Akin to Gambling." where she discussed how a disaster could indirectly impact businesses, and the importance of business owners fully understanding their insurance policies.
Susan Fowler McNally Named a Woman of Influence Sixth Year in a Row
Gilchrist & Rutter congratulates Susan Fowler McNally on her sixth year of being included on the list of "Women of Influence" published by Real Estate Southern California magazine. The list is comprised of women who demonstrate consistent leadership in commercial real estate and continued dedication to the advancement of women in the field. Ms. McNally was instrumental in establishing the Commercial Real Estate Women - Los Angeles (CREW-LA) /UCLA Ziman Center Fellowship Endowment Fund, which will award fellowships to UCLA graduate students interested in pursuing careers in commercial real estate. Ms. McNally also provides career advice and guidance to female colleagues, prospective firm associates and students at UCLA.
Susan McNally
New Partner Joins Gilchrist & Rutter
Gilchrist & Rutter would like to welcome back Steven Heller as a partner with the firm. He was previously an associate attorney with Gilchrist & Rutter from 1997 to 2003. Most recently, Mr. Heller served as Associate General Counsel and Director of Leasing for BH Properties, a Los Angeles based "value added" real estate investment company.
Mr. Heller's practice focuses on commercial leasing, development and sales/acquisitions, with particular emphasis on leasing retail, office and industrial properties. His clients have included Maguire Properties, Walton Street Capital, the Archon Group, L.P., Thomas Properties, AIG Global Real Estate, B.H. Properties and several regional and local developers and businesses. His articles have appeared in real estate and business publications.
Steven Heller
New Associate Joins Gilchrist & Rutter
Gilchrist & Rutter is pleased to announce the addition of litigation associate Gregory B. Mouroux. Mr. Mouroux specializes in business, real estate, and trademark/copyright litigation.
Prior to joining Gilchrist & Rutter Mr. Mouroux worked for a litigation boutique law firm in San Francisco. He received his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where he was a finalist in the Pepperdine Law School Entertainment Law Moot Court Competition and a member of the University of California Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal (COMM/ENT). During law school, Mr. Mouroux externed for the Honorable Yakov Ostrovsky at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania.
Gregory B. Mouroux
Diane Hvolka elected to top post in CREW-LA
Commercial Real Estate Women, Los Angeles (CREW-LA) has elected Gilchrist & Rutter associate Diane Hvolka as co-Vice President of Membership for 2008. In this role, Ms. Hvolka will be responsible for the recruitment of new members to CREW-LA, as well as the retention of existing members.
This year Ms. Hvolka, whose practice focuses on commercial real estate and business transactions, earned a spot on Real Estate Southern California magazine's premier "Top 30 under 30" list. She has experience working on noteworthy real estate transactions, including the Grand Avenue project and the sale of the Hotel del Coronado.
CREW-LA is a local chapter of the nationally recognized professional forum for enhancing business development, industry expertise, networking opportunities and personal growth.
Diane Hvolka
LACBA / First Vice Chair Installation -- 2007
Gilchrist & Rutter congratulates Donald C. Nanney on his installation June 19, 2007, as First Vice Chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Real Property Section.
Mr. Nanney, a Partner in the Firm, was recently honored as one of "Southern California Super Lawyers® 2007" by Law & Politics magazine for professional achievement and recognition by his peers. Mr. Nanney focuses his practice on environmental law and real estate, including environmental aspects of business and real estate transactions, regulatory compliance counseling, environmental assessments/auditing, contractual allocation of environmental risks, environmental insurance, environmental claims and penalties, and hazardous materials emergencies.
Donald C. Nanney
Diane Hvolka is Honored as 'Top 30 Under 30' in Commercial Real Estate
Real Estate Southern California magazine has named Gilchrist & Rutter associate Diane Hvolka as one of the top thirty commercial real estate stars under the age of thirty. Diane was chosen among a competitive pool of lawyers, developers, investment associates and brokers in the publication's first-ever "30 Under 30" annual list, available in the March 2007 issue.
Ms. Hvolka was selected for her outstanding work on various notable real estate transactions, such as the Grand Avenue project in downtown Los Angeles, the pre-leasing of over 300,000 square feet in a new high rise in Irvine, and the sale of the Hotel del Coronado.
Diane Hvolka
Four Gilchrist & Rutter Lawyers Named to Super Lawyers® - 2007 List
Gilchrist & Rutter congratulates its partners named to the “2007 Super Lawyers® List”- among the top 5% of attorneys in Southern California. James R. Andrews, Jonathan S. Gross, Susan Fowler McNally, and Donald C. Nanney were recognized in this year’s February issue of Los Angeles Magazine and in a special publication, Southern California Super Lawyers.
The annual naming to the Super Lawyers® List is a result of an extensive nine-month selection process, which includes a confidential ballot of active attorneys, a blue-ribbon panel review, interviews, independent research by Law & Politics Magazine , and data verification to confirm merit. All four attorneys were named to the Super Lawyers® List in 2006.
Pictured left to right: Jonathan S. Gross; Donald C. Nanney; Susan Fowler McNally; and James R. Andrews
James R. Andrews specializes in general business transactions for public and private business entities and individuals, including business formation, § 1031 exchanges, and ongoing operational issues and disputes.
Jonathan S. Gross concentrates his practice on commercial real estate, including major office & retail leasing, development, construction, design, engineering and management agreements, and real estate-secured lending.
Susan Fowler McNally’s commercial real estate and business transactions practice focuses on acquisitions & dispositions, development, construction, leasing, insurance, financing, asset management, and TV and movie access licenses.
Donald C. Nanney’s expertise lies in environmental law and real estate, including site assessment, remediation, contractual allocation of environmental risk, regulatory compliance, liability, claims, penalties, and insurance.
