Jonathan Rivin
PartnerJonathan is a founding partner, specializing in real estate. His unique perspective, extensive experience, and reliability helps facilitate deals. He has sat in all chairs at the negotiating table, so he understands the thought processes of each party and can adapt his style to his client’s goals. Jonathan has advised institutional and individual clients on all elements of real property matters since 1980 in both private legal practice and as legal counsel of a major life insurance company and money center bank. He also advises clients on entity structuring and other commercial transactions.
In addition to client work, Jonathan is a frequent speaker and writer for legal and real estate industry groups on current issues in the field. When he’s not facilitating deals, he’s spending time with friends and family, playing tennis, cooking, and enjoying wine tastings.
- Acquisition, sale and tax-free exchanges of properties, including high-rise office buildings, mixed-use business parks, warehouses, shopping centers, agricultural properties, apartment buildings and high-value single-family homes
- Advising family offices on real estate and other investments and operational issues
- Leasing for landlords and tenants of office, industrial, retail and special purpose space and agricultural land; equity leases, sale/leaseback and ground lease transactions
- Conventional, participating, construction and permanent mortgage loans
- Construction and development projects, including agreements with design professionals and contractors, public agencies and development partners and land use matters
- Workouts and restructures of leases and loans, deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure, REO management and sales
- Brokerage and property management relationships and agreements
- Pro Bono representation of various non-profit organizations v
Admissions/Affiliations
- State Bar of California
Education
- J.D. – University of Michigan Law School, cum laude, 1980
- B.A. – Harvard College, magna cum laude, 1977
Representative Articles:
- Author, “Letters of Intent as Enforceable Contracts: If It Talks Lie a Duck and Acts Like a Duck…”, California Real Property Journal, Spring 1998
- Author, “Title Insurance Consideration in Estate Planning Transfers of Real Estate”, Probate and Property, Summer 1998
- Author, “Stealing the Other Guy’s Tenants: Is It Tortious Interference?” Chapter 16, The Commercial Property Lease, ABA, 1993
- Author, “Foreclosing Lenders Required to Disclose All Known Material Facts to Potential Bidders”, California Real Property Journal, Fall 1991
Representative Speaking Engagements:
- Program Chair, “Current Issues in California Foreclosures,” Seminar at State Bar of California Section Education Institute, San Diego, CA, January 2002
- Program Chair, “Realizing the Hidden Value of Surplus Governmental Property,” Seminar at State Bar of California Real Property Law Section Annual Retreat, San Diego, CA, April 1998
- Moderator, “Conflicts of Interest in Representing Financial Institutions,” Seminar at State Bar of California Real Property Law Section Annual Retreat, Silverado, CA, May 1993
- American College of Real Estate Lawyers (Fellow; Chair, Membership Selection Committee)
- American College of Mortgage Attorneys (Fellow)Bar Association of San Francisco
- American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
- Lambda Alpha
- California Lawyers Association Real Property Law Section (Chair, Executive Committee, Adviser, Vice-Chair, Member)
- Easter Seal Society of San Francisco (Member, Board of Directors)
- Down Syndrome Society of the Greater Bay Area (President, Member, Board of Directors)
- Julia Morgan School for Girls (Member, Board of Directors)
- Real Estate