Contact us at 510.336.8974 or [email protected]

REAL ESTATE

Selna Partners represents clients with DIVERSE REAL ESTATE INTERESTS, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS, SMALL AND LARGE BUSINESSES, AND DEVELOPMENT FIRMS.

We provide expert advice and representation on the full range of real estate transactions, land use issues (the use and development of real estate) and litigation for property owners, developers, investors, and operators. In turn, we assist clients in an extensive list of areas including, contracts, permitting and other government approvals, zoning and general plan matters, easements, boundary issues, subdivisions, CEQA compliance, code violation and enforcement action defense and general due diligence. We also assist other real estate professionals, including architects, engineers and environmental experts.

We are skilled at drafting agreements and permit documents, and are strategic and ethical negotiators, but we also know that sometimes litigation is necessary. Our success representing clients in real estate litigation, including writs of mandate challenging government decisions, means that we are well prepared if the need arises.

TRANSACTIONAL WORK

Commercial and residential property owners rely on us for real estate
transactional assistance, including: 

  • Leasing
  • Purchase and sale agreements 
  • Due diligence
  • Finance
  • Easement agreements
  • Title and boundary issues
  • Entity selection and formation
  • Property tax matters, and more

Land Use

WE ARE EXPERTs IN REPRESENTING CLIENTS IN JURISDICTIONS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA WITH MATTERS BEFORE CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING PERMITTING, ZONING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.

We assist our clients in obtaining conditional use permits, variances, subdivisions and development agreements from cities and counties, and we guide them through environmental reviews and other CEQA matters.  We are adept at formulating and executing strategies to obtain permits that involve understanding the law, community, and strategic communications, including the media.

Over the years we have developed a useful guide that applies statewide. See our Development Entitlement Checklist HERE.

Our clients also benefit from our long-standing work and relationships with local and state agencies, and commissions. Our industry participation includes leadership and active membership on local and regional boards, including the Oakland Builders Alliance, the Alameda County Bar Association, and CCIM.

Our toolkit includes experience with initiatives and referenda. And, when a city or county wrongly decides a matter, we are prepared to litigate. We are highly experienced in writ of mandate practice at both the superior and appellate court levels on Planning and Zoning and CEQA matters.

Violations and Enforcement Actions

Property owners often are the target of government agency enforcement actions, warranted or not. When those instances arise, we actively defend our clients against enforcement actions brought by agencies, including building, planning and fire departments. Our facility with code and legislative interpretation and keen understanding of the inner workings of local government gives us an advantage in negotiating with public agencies. Vast experience advocating for clients before boards and commissions further enables us to successfully represent clients in hearings and appeals.

In addition, enforcement actions are often a product of third-party violations or misunderstandings that can be solved through effective communication and negotiation, areas in which we excel.