Representative Experience

  • Negotiated favorable settlements for investors and financial institutions in large-scale real estate and construction litigation (with purported class actions), in cases alleging fiduciary breaches and threatened federal enforcement actions.
  • Litigated National Environmental Policy Act nuclear cases and cases involving decisions by federal agencies including the Department of the Interior, the Postal Service and the Department of Transportation.
  • Represented a railroad in a valuation proceeding for 1,850 miles of pipeline easements on railroad property. The 265-day trial spanned four years and resulted in a $100 million judgment for back rent.

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  • Eminent Domain Disputes
    • Represented an American Indian tribe taking land in federal trust.
    • Represented a major railroad in eminent domain matters for major highway infrastructure projects impacting railroad operations.
    • Represented real estate management company in the first major case testing the limits of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision addressing the government’s right to take private property for economic development.
  • Inverse Condemnation Disputes
    • Secured a $4.5 million inverse condemnation settlement for a major railroad against a local county government offering just $20,000.
  • Financial Disputes
    • Provided risk and asset analysis of major real estate investment portfolios for some of the nation’s largest institutional investors, asset managers and investment advisers.
    • Represented a major financial institution in bankruptcy litigation involving an elaborate Ponzi scheme financed by real estate transactions.
    • Appeared on behalf of a Korean investment bank before an ICDR international arbitration tribunal in a complex contract dispute.
    • Handled litigation for several major financial institutions arising from fraudulent transactions by mortgage brokers and loan originators in schemes involving multiple lenders/investors and subprime lending practices, securing substantial recovery of investments.
  • Commercial Lease and Housing Disputes
    • Secured victories and favorable settlements for clients involved in partnership disputes, landlords seeking to recover unpaid rent, and a publicly traded REIT involved in a commercial lease dispute with a landmark Washington, DC, restaurant.
    • Defended REITs, cities and county housing authorities against a variety of civil rights and race discrimination claims.
  • Zoning Disputes
    • Represented educational institutions in campus housing and disputes with the public.
    • Protected a REIT client’s planned urban development through a successful appeal.
  • NEPA/CEQA Disputes
    • Represented a citizens’ group in successful challenge a city’s approval of an option agreement for a downtown land sale to build a new major league baseball team’s stadium.
  • Environmental Litigation
    • Litigated claims for property damage caused by asbestos-containing fireproofing material.
    • Defended a city against a CERCLA claim for indemnity and contribution brought by a shopping center operator alleging that leaks from a sewer contaminated its property.
  • Property Tax Disputes
    • Representing Native American tribes, won reversal of district court’s summary judgment before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, enabling joint venture to operate without liability for county property taxes.
    • Represented a Fortune 50 energy company before both the California Assessment Appeals Board and the trial court to reduce property taxes on one of the company’s major refineries.
    • Obtained broad injunctive relief and civil contempt orders for a client, protecting its $18 million investment in real estate-based entities.
    • Represented a leading satellite television provider appealing property tax assessments for equipment throughout multiple counties in California, and in appealing various property tax assessments in Los Angeles County.
  • Easement/Boundary Disputes
    • Resolved easement and boundary disputes involving train track and pipelines.

Practice Area Highlights

  • U.S. News – Best Lawyers Best Law Firms 2023 National Tier 1 Litigation – Real Estate ranking.
  • Pillsbury is recognized as among the most feared law firms for litigation by BTI Consulting Group.
  • Clients told Chambers USA that Pillsbury’s real estate team and its lawyers offer “[t]op-flight client service,” “deep commercial awareness,” “quality of work” and “timeliness of turnaround.”

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  • Pillsbury’s real estate team and its lawyers are repeatedly recognized by Chambers USA and The Legal 500 U.S. and praised by clients as “technically excellent,” “efficient, responsive and knowledgeable.”
  • Pillsbury was ranked among the top 10 “Leading Real Estate Law Firms” by Commercial Property Executive, a publication that covers the commercial real estate industry’s key trends, issues and concerns.