Gilchrist & Rutter Ranked Among
Top Real Estate Law Firms by Chambers USA
Chambers and Partners USA (Chambers), widely recognized as one of the primary arbitrators of achievement in the legal profession, has ranked Gilchrist & Rutter among the top California real estate law firms. Recognized for handling all aspects of real estate with a particular strength in leasing, Gilchrist & Rutter was credited with having a focus on Southern California, but "also assist(ing) clients with projects across the country." In addition to recognizing the firm's achievements, Chambers lauded managing partner Jonathan Gross. According to interviewees, Mr. Gross "is an effective negotiator who really understands the business process and pushes through transactions with ease; he's unflappable."
Chambers USA lists are compiled through intensive research and interviews with both law firms and their clients, and are broken down into all major practice areas nationally as well as key practice areas within each state. The qualities on which rankings are assessed include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, commitment, and other qualities most valued by the client.
Two Gilchrist & Rutter Attorneys Included in Rising Stars® 2009
Diana Hvolka and Scott Reynolds have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2009 edition of Rising Stars®. Published by Law and Politics Media, Inc., Rising Stars is an annual publication compiled through attorney-led research, which selects the top 2.5 percent of lawyers in Southern California who are 40 and under, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less.
Diane Hvolka specializes in commercial real estate and business transactions, including office, industrial & retail leasing; financing; purchase and sale of commercial and industrial properties; and sale-leaseback transactions.
Scott Reynolds is a member of the firm's Real Estate and Sustainability Groups. He represents and advises clients in all aspects of real estate law, including secured/mezzanine financing transactions; asset and equity purchases/sales; leasing; general corporate matters; and sustainability issues.
Gilchrist & Rutter Listed as Major Real Estate Law Firm by California Real Estate Journal
Gilchrist & Rutter was ranked on the list of California's 2009 Major Real Estate Law Firms by California Real Estate Journal. Recent successes include representing owner in construction/lease for Lantana Project as well as plaintiff in a breach of contract case involving two leases against state. The firm was also recognized for its work on the Eastman Kodak sale/leaseback and for winning a settlement of $937, 500 in the El Dorado Palm Springs, Ltd. v. City of Palm Springs case. Notable clients include Maguire Properties LP, Thomas Properties Group, Eastman Kodak Co., Universal City Studios, Bentley Forbes, and 24 out of the 30 mobile home park owners who seek conversion in California. The list was ranked by the number of California real estate attorneys, then by partners as of January 1, 2009.
Susan Fowler McNally Honored as "Women at the Top"
by Commercial Real Estate Women - Los Angeles (CREW-LA)
Susan Fowler McNally is recognized as one of the 2009 "Women at the Top" by Commercial Real Estate Women - Los Angeles (CREW-LA). The June 11, 2009 event acknowledges Ms. McNally's more than 25 years of commitment to the commercial real estate industry. Ms. McNally was included based on her work on transactions such as the 1.47 million sq. ft. mixed use development above the Universal Metro Red Line, as well as her leadership in the commercial real estate community as demonstrated by her mentorship of colleagues, prospective firm associates and students at UCLA, and active participation in numerous commercial real estate organizations including CREW-LA and the Real Property, Trust and Estate Planning Section of the American Bar Association.
Henry A. Herrman Receives Outstanding Young Lawyer Award
Henry A. Herrman will be recognized as an Outstanding Young Lawyer (OYL) by the Real Property Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. The OYL award is being given by the Real Property Section to recognize Mr. Herrman's outstanding legal work on real property related matters covering such areas as leasing, development, financing, land use and litigation, and his contributions to Real Property Section programming and publications. Mr. Herrman will receive this award at the Section's Eleventh Annual Installation and Awards Dinner, on June 10, 2009, at the Riviera Country Club.
Susan Fowler McNally Quoted in Commercial Lease Law Insider
Susan Fowler McNally discussed the tenant improvement allowance (TIA) as it relates to rent abatement, in the February 2009 issue of Commercial Lease Law Insider. In the article entitled "Don't Let Tenant's Rent Abatement Apply to Additional TIA," Ms. McNally provides advice for ensuring that rent abatement does not apply to the tenant's obligation to repay the additional TIA which has been amortized into the tenant's rent. Her two-step strategy includes limiting the applicability of the rent abatement language to that portion of the rent in excess of the rent allocated to repaying the additional TIA, and adding a provision requiring the tenant to immediately repay the additional TIA that tenant has not already paid through its rent, in the event the lease is terminated prior to the date the additional TIA has been fully amortized and repaid. A regular contributor to the publication, Ms. McNally has discussed a range of leasing matters, such as renting to Limited Liability Entities, Federal Agencies, and Non-Profits.
Gilchrist & Rutter Launches Sustainability Practice Group
Gilchrist & Rutter has launched a new Sustainability Practice Group to help clients navigate local, state and federal laws dealing with a project's environmental impact. The group's attorneys clarify what is required to comply with applicable laws, and how to maximize investments in "green" technology, such as making building improvements to attract tenants willing to pay a premium for environmentally friendly/healthy locations.
Read more about the statutes most pertinent to owners of commercial real estate concerned with sustainability issues here.
Six Gilchrist & Rutter Partners Included in
2009 Super Lawyers®
Six Gilchrist & Rutter attorneys have been ranked on the 2009 list of Super Lawyers by Law and Politics magazine: (clockwise from top left) Duane M. Montgomery, Susan Fowler McNally, Donald C. Nanney, Frank Gooch III and Jonathan S. Gross. (Not pictured: James R. Andrews).
Mr. Andrews, Mr. Gross, Mr. Nanney and Ms. McNally have been recognized for the fourth year in a row. Mr. Gooch and Mr. Montgomery are first time recipients.
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.
Frank Gooch III is a litigator whose practice is 100% devoted to civil, commercial, business, intellectual property, insurance (including anti-trust issues), First Amendment and real estate litigation.
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. In addition, she is part of the firm's sustainability practice.
Duane M. Montgomery's practice encompasses real estate and business transactions including real estate secured financings, acquisitions and dispositions, foreclosures, loan workouts, and counseling clients on lender licensing, mobile home park conversion and entity formation matters.
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. He is also a part of the firm's sustainability practice.
McNally & Heller Represent Eastman Kodak in Sale-Leaseback
Susan Fowler McNally and Steven Heller represented Eastman Kodak in its sale-leaseback of the 102,800-sq.-ft. Kodak Hollywood Campus to Thompson National Properties of Irvine, CA. Situated on 2.97 acres in the heart of Hollywood, California, the Class A property consists of a two-story office building and a building containing screening rooms, editing bays, and recording and production facilities. The property is headquarters for the Entertainment Imaging division of Eastman Kodak.
Gilchrist & Rutter Partner Included in The Best Lawyers in America® 2009
Jonathan Gross has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2009 (Copyright 2008 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.).
Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 25,000 leading attorneys cast almost two million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their specialties, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers "the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice."
Susan Fowler McNally and Diane Hvolka Honored as "Women of Influence" by Real Estate Southern California
Susan Fowler McNally and Diane Hvolka are profiled as "Women of Influence," in the October 2008 issue of Real Estate Southern California. The feature recognizes the outstanding women responsible for spearheading some of the largest commercial real estate deals in Southern California. This is Ms. McNally's seventh year as a recipient and Ms. Hvolka's first recognition.
Ms. McNally was included based on her work on deals such as a 1.47 million sq. ft. mixed use development above the Universal Metro Red Line. Ms. Hvolka was recognized for her commercial leasing work including more than 250,000 sq. ft. in downtown Los Angeles' central business district.
Gilchrist & Rutter Partners Profiled in the Los Angeles Business Journal's "Who's Who in L.A. Law"
Martin Burton and Donald Nanney have been recognized in the Los Angeles Business Journal's special report "Who's Who in L.A. Law 2008." The report profiles leading environmental attorneys in Los Angeles. Mr. Burton was acknowledged for his land-use work including expediting the modernization and rebuilding of a 400,000 sq. ft. retail shopping center in Orange County. Mr. Nanney was included based on his environmental work as it relates to real estate such as providing environmental compliance counseling in connection with emergency response to the recent Universal Studios back lot fire and clean-up.
Jonathan Gross Recognized as a California Dealmaker by California Real Estate Journal
Jonathan Gross has been selected as a "California Dealmaker" by the California Real Estate Journal. "California Dealmakers" is a ranking of the state's premiere attorneys, brokers, lenders and developers who have the ability to close the most complex and challenging deals. Mr. Gross was included based on the transaction volume of his deals as well as their impact on Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The office leasing deals that Mr. Gross has closed reinforce the continued vitality of Southern California by adding energy and credibility to the areas as a thriving professional office center.
Gilchrist & Rutter Ranked Among Top Real Estate Law Firms by Chambers USA
Gilchrist & Rutter has been ranked among the top real estate law firms in the 2008 edition of Chambers and Partners USA, widely recognized as one of the primary arbiters of achievement in the legal profession. Included among Chambers' listing of top Real Estate firms in California, Gilchrist & Rutter is acknowledged as an "extremely credible operation." In addition, clients commented that the Gilchrist & Rutter team has the "ability to cut to the chase and get deals done quickly. You definitely get value for money here." In addition to recognizing the firm's achievements, Chambers and Partners USA recognized managing partner, Jonathan Gross, as an "excellent attorney - especially in the field of leasing."
Chambers USA lists are compiled through intensive research and interviews with both law firms and their clients, and are broken down into all major practice areas nationally as well as key practice areas within each state. The qualities on which rankings are assessed include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, commitment, and other qualities most valued by the client.
Don Nanney Elected as Chair of Real Property Section, LACBA
Donald C. Nanney
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.
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.
