ABOUT US

Selna Partners is a firm focused on California real estate and highly-regulated industries, with an emphasis on helping clients with matters that require government approvals and entitlements.

We have significant experience advancing our clients’ property and business interests and pride ourselves on devising innovative and cost-effective solutions for their greatest challenges. Our diverse client list includes national companies, regional and small businesses, and individuals.

Communication and efficiency are our top priorities. We understand that these aspects of our service are critical to our clients’ ability to make good decisions and cost-effectively manage their legal budget. To ensure our clients receive seamless service, we also have strong alliances with other U.S. and international firms. In sum, we are our clients’ trusted partners. 

OUR COMMITMENT AS YOUR PARTNERS

  • Know our clients’ industries and markets: what brought them to this time as a company; their expectations and goals; their decision-making processes; and how they define success.
  • Actively listen to our clients, and always seek to improve our services by soliciting their input on our performance after matters are complete.
  • Develop creative solutions for our clients’ greatest challenges while also offering efficient, alternative fee arrangements.
  • Truly becoming partners in our clients’ enterprises.

Robert W. Selna

FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER 

(o) 510.336.8974
(d) 510.904.9687
(c) 415.601.5385

robert@selnapartners.com

Rob’s clients include property and business owners, developers, contractors,
operators, and commercial landlords and tenants.

In addition to offering skilled transactional services, Rob’s extensive experience with
local and state government give him an advantage in helping clients whose interests require administrative approvals, including development entitlements, agreements, and regulatory compliance. Rob’s familiarity with statutes, regulations and policies give him an upper hand advising clients in real estate and highly-regulated industries, including cannabis and wine.

When clients reach a business dispute impasse or encounter a governmental roadblock, Rob relies on his extensive litigation and dispute resolution background, including experience in state and federal court, at both the trial and appellate court levels.

Rob also has cultivated strong industry and community relationships. He has taken on leadership roles in the real estate, development, and cannabis industries, including currently serving on the Executive Committee of the Oakland Builders Alliance and the Alameda County Bar Association’s Environmental Law Section. Rob previously served on the Facilities Design Committee of the National Cannabis Industry Association and as a Continuing Legal Education faculty member regarding a range of legal issues.

Professionally and personally, Rob is actively committed to fundamental democratic principles, including the rule of law and public participation. As an example, during the 2022 Presidential Election, Rob and his brother Steve served as Poll Observers in Arizona’s Pima County election district. And, with longstanding Oakland roots, Rob is active in his community. In addition to his leadership on boards and committees, he chairs a neighborhood non-profit organization he founded, which is focused on converting blighted spaces into community gardens.

National and local media frequently quote Rob in news articles about real estate and cannabis, and he speaks at national and international forums. (Please see the “our work has been featured in” section).

Prior to practicing law, Rob was a newspaper reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, LA Times, and other publications, covering land use, real estate, and local government. He also served as the chief of staff to a San Francisco Supervisor, spearheading citywide legislation on zoning and environmental issues.

Professional Affiliations

International Cannabis Bar Association Logo
Alameda County Bar Association Logo