Press Release 08.20.26
Steve is our ‘go-to’ attorney and trusted advisor not only because of his extensive experience in all types of real estate transactions, but also because of his accessibility, patience and willingness to affect pragmatic resolutions.
Steve Hamilton, Pillsbury’s San Diego Real Estate practice leader, has extensive experience in structuring, negotiating and closing real estate finance transactions.
Steve represents lenders in originating, restructuring and working out construction, term and permanent loans, lines of credit and letters of credit for projects ranging from housing subdivisions, retail centers and office buildings to warehouses, hotels and senior/assisted living facilities. He also advises lenders on highly structured and time-sensitive transactions involving complex capital stacks, loan modifications, workouts and distressed situations, bringing practical judgment to difficult structuring and documentation issues while remaining focused on execution certainty.
Representative Experience
- Represented lender on a $600 million revolving line of credit secured by a borrowing base of approximately 20 properties in Northern California.
- Advised lender regarding real estate matters in connection with a multi-state, mixed-collateral work-out and bankruptcy trustee sale of agricultural business.
- Represented the lender regarding syndicated construction loans to the developer of assisted living facilities in Oregon, Arizona and Texas.
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- Advised lender in connection with a ground lease-secured transaction to redevelop a regional airport involving a new fuel depot, hangars and related improvements.
- Represented agent/lender on two syndicated loans of almost $380 million for distribution center warehouses of over two-million square feet in Southern California.
- Advised a financial institution on key legal issues in draft loan documents for a $152 million construction facility to build an eight-story, 573-unit luxury Class A multifamily property in Redmond, Washington.
- Represented a financial institution on a $92.2 million construction loan for a 362-unit luxury apartment community.
- Represented lender on $80 million construction loan for the development of a water-front apartment complex in Alameda, California.
- Advised lender in a term loan transaction secured by a hotel project in downtown San Diego, California.
- Provided lender representation on a loan transaction to acquire office towers in Oakland, California.
- Advised a financial institution on key legal issues in draft loan documents for a $152 million construction facility to build an eight-story, 573-unit luxury Class A multifamily property in Redmond, Washington.
- Represented a financial institution on a $92.2 million construction loan for a 362-unit luxury apartment community.
Professional Highlights
- Ranked in Chambers USA Real Estate-California (2022–2026).
- Recognized by Best Lawyers (published by BL Rankings LLC), Real Estate Law (2023–2027) and Land Use and Zoning Law (2026–2027).
- Co-Authored “Lenders Beware: Default Interest Provisions within Acceleration Clauses Are Not Automatically Triggered by Maturity,” published as a Pillsbury Client Alert in 2012.
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- Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. in Real Estate (2017).
- BTI Client Service All-Stars (2018).
- Speaking Engagements
- “Episode #26: The Real Estate Market – Warehouses, Ports and Addition by Subdivision (Steven Hamilton),” The Pillsbury Industry Insights Podcast (February 23, 2021).
Education
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J.D., University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 1999
cum laudeB.A., University of California, Santa Barbara, 1996
with highest honors
Admissions
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California