Top best Development Lawyers in Oakland | 25 available

Senior Associate, specializing in complex construction litigation and project intervention (claims avoidance, preparation, and advancement, strategic consultation, and procedural review).. Claims experience includes advancing and/or defending claims (range: $1-50M) of breach of contract (scope interpretation, indemnity, abandonment, and termination), negligence, professional negligence (design, including extra cost and/or delay resulting from defective plans and specifications, owner-directed changes or scope-creep), scheduling delays, construction and design defects, water and mold infiltration, fraud, false claims, and prompt payment issues.. Project experience range includes a $100 million continuing care facility, a $40 million city hall replacement, a $30M military hotel, a $350M OSHPD hospital replacement, and various other small and large projects including football stadiums, process-piping facilities, hospital renovations and new construction, cast-in-place and retail/commercial construction.. Delivery and contracting methods experience includes design-build, design-bid-build, CM-at-risk, lump sum, fixed GMP, multi-prime, pure CM, and fast-track design & construction.. Core services include litigation preparation (all levels and California courts), discovery management, and pre-litigation and/or on-site issue consultation and claims development.. Specialties: Discovery management, factual investigation, and claim development utilizing advanmced discovery methods, including database management for the review of paper and digital records.  Certified Trainer: CT Summation

Professional Background. A passion for justice drives me to fight hard for my clients' rights. Over the 25 years I have been practicing law, I have developed skills for handling many types of cases, especially cases involving personal injury (auto, premises liability and products liabilitiy), real estate (contracts, neighbor disputes, nuisances, boundary issues, disabiltiy access, etc.), construction (including design, installation, soils, mold and "indoor air quality" issues) and insurance.  I have handled cases in both State and Federal courts throughout California, achieving hundreds of favorable settlements for clients, and when needed, successfully trying cases to verdict.. Justice is based on truth, and truth is found by investigation and discovery.  When serving as an advocate, I pride myself with skillfully discovering the facts and evidence that will prove up my clients' position in the case, weaken my opponents' case, and help resolve the case. I carefully research the law applicable to the dispute, and consider the effect of the law on the evidence related to the case.  I help my clients understand the range of possible outcomes under the law and facts applicale to their case, preparing them to ultimately make an informed decision about whether to resolve the case at mediation, or take a case to trial or arbitration.. When serving as a mediator, I listen carefully to the  statements and arguments made by both sides.  I find that parties often start with "extreme" positions based on an assumption that if the matter goes to trial, they will get everything they want.  When speaking with litigants, I look for the kernels of information which might help build "common ground" on which to reach a compromise agreement.  I also help people realize potential weaknesses in their position, and possible unanticipated or unfavorable results which might occur if the matter was tried to a jury or judge.  I find that litigants often have not fully considered the "downside" which could occur if a judge or jury does not fully agree with their point of view.  By giving litigants a "neutral evalution" and pointing out possible weak points in their case, I help litigants understand how a mediated resolution which they have the opportunity to craft with the other side is usually preferable to a result which will be decided by a judge or jury over whom they have no control.. As an arbitrator, I conscientiously maintain a respectful, neutral demeanor so that parties feel comfortable that I am giving due consideration to all the arguments and evidence submitted by all sides before making a decision.  I work hard to assure that the atmosphere of the arbitration remains professional, discouraging bickering between parties and counsel which can lead to unnecessary stress and agitation.  Once the evidence is in, I promptly render an award based on my findings after considering all the evidence and arguments.. Personal Information. I am as passionate about life as I am about getting great results for my clients.. In the time when I am not working hard for my clients, I enjoy being active, including biking, tennis, kayaking, hiking with my dogs and almost any outdoor activity.  I also enjoy art, spending many quiet hours drawing, painting and writing, mostly for the enjoyment of my family and friends.. I find that taking this quiet time gives me time to reflect even more about the needs of my clients and I often incorporate "inspirations" from my personal time into the strategies I use in my clients' cases.

Kime Smith is an experienced Bay Area litigator with over a decade of experience defending construction entities.  Mr. Smith’s legal experience includes the areas of construction defect, personal injury, and complex toxic torts.. Mr. Smith represents a diverse client base including general contractors, subcontractors, product manufacturers and construction material suppliers. Mr. Smith has extensive law and motion experience and deposition experience defending San Francisco and Los Angeles based entities.. At Syracuse University College of Law, Mr. Smith received Dean’s List honors and received a certificate from the Technology Management Program where he assessed university based inventions for intellectual property protection.  During the summer of 2002, Mr. Smith studied Chinese intellectual property law at the prestigious TsinghaiUniversity in Beijing, China.. Mr. Smith is an active member of the San Francisco Aquarium Society, the oldest organization of its type in America.

Jeff Brence has broad experience in civil litigation, including construction, employment law, unlawful detainer actions, real estate contract disputes, and litigating probate matters.. Mr. Brence has represented numerous clients including general contractors, subcontractors, real estate developers, and real estate purchasers.  Mr. Brence has experience in law and motion, has drafted several successful summary judgment motions, and has filed briefs in the California Court of Appeals.. Prior to coming to California in 2009, Mr. Brence studied at the University of Colorado and spent his weekends teaching skiing.. Mr. Brence is a member of the San FranciscoCounty and San Mateo County Bar Associations, and is licensed to practice in California.

Garret is a partner at Nomos LLP in Oakland, California where he specializes in construction, real estate and related business disputes.. The son of an architect, Garret grew up around blueprints and drafting tables. And, while he didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps he didn’t stray far either. He worked as a lobbyist in Sacramento and later Washington, D.C. where he represented the design profession and construction industry before the California state legislature, Congress and executive bodies including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.. Since then, Garret’s practice has focused almost exclusively on construction, real estate and related business disputes. He has represented owners, developers, architects, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers and sureties from contract negotiations through trial on numerous public and private projects from state-of-the-art solar projects to the most iconic landmarks in the state including the Golden Gate Bridge.. Recognized as a Rising Star in the area of construction litigation in Thompson Reuter’s annual list of Northern California Super Lawyers, Garret has written and spoken before many of the leading construction organizations in the state and is a contributing author on topics related to construction law for the Continuing Education of the Bar sponsored by the State Bar of California and published by the University of California.. Garret is also the author of the California Construction Law Blog () which provides an informative yet wry look at legal issues affecting the California construction industry.

Connie Chadwick utilizes her personal and professional experience and combines the best of both worlds in the construction field and the law. Ms. Chadwick presently focuses her law practice on construction dispute mediation. Connie is a Tennessee licensed residential general contractor (retired 2024*) with over fifteen years of experience in the construction field. With both legal and construction experience, Connie is a logical choice for contractor disputes. Connie earned her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from The Nashville School of Law after earning her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from Lipscomb University and is a Tennessee Rule 31 Civil Mediator.. Connie is a seasoned business professional who transitioned to the legal profession in 2014 with an intense drive to achieve and deliver results for her clients. Connie has strong management expertise and ability to oversee diverse objectives and challenging deadlines with a sense of confidence and commitment. With more than 25 years of experience in small business and entrepreneurial organizations within the banking, construction and real estate industries, Connie brings a diverse skill set to the table. She is extremely detailed-oriented with excellent research, investigative, and communication skills.. Connie Chadwick is an attorney who mediates cases in the entire Tennessee area either in person or by zoom. Connie Chadwick is recognized by peers and was selected to Rising Stars for 2017 - 2025. This selection is based off of an evaluation of 12 indicators including peer recognition and professional achievement in legal practice. Being selected to Rising Stars is limited to a small number of attorneys in each state. As one of the few attorneys to garner the distinction of Rising Stars, Connie Chadwick has earned the respect of peers as one of the top-rated attorneys in the nation.

Catherine Chen currently focuses her practice on construction defect litigation where she defends contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers of construction materials in suits filed in Northern California.  Ms. Chen draws from her extensive knowledge and experience as a litigator, and is involved with all aspects of case development, including all phases of discovery and law & motion practice.. Ms. Chen’s background includes wide-ranging knowledge of other areas of law as she practiced in the Toxic Torts group with her prior employment with McKenna, Long & Aldridge, and during her employment with Fox, Shjeflo, Wohl & Hartley, she was involved with estate planning, real estate transactions, and corporation formation.

Experienced Development attorney serving clients in Oakland and surrounding areas.

Experienced Development attorney serving clients in Oakland and surrounding areas.

Experienced Development attorney serving clients in Oakland and surrounding areas.

Experienced Development attorney serving clients in Oakland and surrounding areas.

Experienced Development attorney serving clients in Oakland and surrounding areas.

Experienced Development attorney serving clients in Oakland and surrounding areas.