General Transaction, Real Estate and Municipal Law Attorney and Advisor. Getting Deals Done.
Introduction
Rich’s practice includes all aspects of general transactional and municipal law, with a focus on real estate and related issues. Rich is passionate about preparing and negotiating contracts as efficiently as possible. Since opening his private practice in 2024, Rich has assisted clients, both individuals and institutions (including California State University Dominguez Hills, the Los Angeles Knight Riders, Rolling Hills Preparatory School, and various municipalities), with drafting, negotiating and interpreting all manner of agreements. During his 20 years as Deputy City Attorney for the City of Long Beach, Rich drafted, reviewed, and negotiated thousands of contracts, in addition to managing a team of 12 transactional attorneys and support staff. He has extensive experience with real estate, public-private partnerships and complex legal transactions and is intimately familiar with local government operations and policy. Prior to his employment with the City of Long Beach, Rich was an Associate at the law firm of Sheppard Mullin.
Experience
• Worked with the cities of Long Beach, Redondo Beach, Lake Elsinore and Walnut on various municipal real estate, development and housing related matters.
• Drafted, negotiated and analyzed purchase and sale agreements, ground leases, commercial leases, easements, licenses, permits and related real estate documents on behalf of both public and private clients, and provided support from transaction inception to closing.
• Served as lead counsel for all real estate transactions and public-private partnerships involving the City of Long Beach as lessor, lessee, buyer, seller, and owner.
• Worked with Plenary Americas in support of the affordable housing component of the San Francisco Potrero Bus Yard public-private partnership development project.
• Drafted, negotiated and analyzed loan agreements, deeds of trust, security agreements and related financing documents on behalf of both lenders and borrowers, including the City of Long Beach, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo Bank, and conducted title review in connection therewith.
• Served as lead counsel for the City in drafting and administering a project agreement and related documents establishing a public-private partnership for the $500m redevelopment of the Long Beach Civic Center and the sale and development of adjacent properties.
• Served as lead counsel for the City in the preparation, negotiation and administration of agreements for several complex special events, including the Long Beach Grand Prix and the 2028 Olympics.
• Served as lead counsel for the Long Beach Public Utilities Department and provided legal advice and counsel on all matters related to water, natural gas, and sewer utilities, including the negotiation of a $1b prepaid natural gas procurement agreement.
• Served as lead counsel for the Long Beach Housing Development Company and provided advice on all aspects of affordable housing law and landlord-tenant regulations, including establishing affordable housing loan programs and drafting and negotiating regulatory agreements related thereto.
• Provided advice and support in connection with the administration of all major City assets, including the Airport, the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Queen Mary, Community Hospital, and the Civic Center.
• Served as lead counsel for the City in all matters related to oil & gas operations, including negotiations with the City’s oil field contractor, the State Lands Commission, and the Coastal Commission.
• Provided advice and support in connection with several municipal bond issuances.
• Provided advice and support in connection with the imposition and collection of local taxes, including drafting property, transient occupancy, and sales tax sharing agreements.
• Drafted and reviewed wills & trusts, partnership agreements, and LLC operating agreements.
• Interfaced with the public and organized interest groups regarding the implementation of local laws.
Education
J.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 2000
B.A., University of California, San Diego (Revelle College), 1996
Let’s Work Together
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