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TOP NATIONAL HONORS
 We are pleased to announce that U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers®, in its third annual ranking of U.S. law firms, has awarded Pircher, Nichols & Meeks the highest ranking for Real Estate Law nationally as well as in both the Los Angeles and Chicago metropolitan regions. See us on the U.S. News website here.
U.S. News Media Group ranked more than 10,000 law firms in 80 practice areas in 118 states or metropolitan areas, providing an unprecedented comprehensive view of the U.S. legal profession both in the range of firms represented and in the range of qualitative and quantitative data used to determine the rankings. Achieving a Tier 1 ranking, as PN&M has at both the national and regional level, is a special distinction that signals a unique combination of excellence and breadth of expertise. You can view the full press release announcing our rankings here.
While we here at PN&M take great pride in the quality of our practice and appreciate all the accolades we have received through the years, we are pleased to have been given this particular national recognition.
Thank you for allowing us to serve you and we look forward to your and our continued success.
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PIRCHER ASSOCIATE TO RECEIVE OUTSTANDING YOUNG LAWYER AWARD
We are proud to announce that Alexis Alonzo, an associate in our real estate department in the Los Angeles office, is the recipient of the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award by the Real Property Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA). Ms. Alonzo is one of four recipients who will receive this prestigious award at the 15th Annual LACBA Real Property Section Annual Installation and Awards Dinner on May 23, 2013.
The Outstanding Young Lawyer Award recognizes exceptional young attorneys, with 10 or fewer years of experience, in the real estate industry. The recipients are acknowledged for their recognition within the legal profession, public speaking or general publication of written work, successful involvement in high-profile, complex transactions, unique legal approaches as well as their contribution of time and talent to the community at large.
“The recognition of Alexis by the Los Angeles County Bar Association reflects not only her individual accomplishments, but also the firm’s collective success and the quality of our practice,” said Stevens A. Carey, a founding partner of Pircher, Nichols & Meeks. “This award is a testament to her hard work, commitment and outreach to the community,” added Mr. Carey.
To read more about the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award or the Real Property Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA), visit their website here.
Ms. Alonzo’s practice focuses on representing commercial developers, institutional investors, and mortgage and mezzanine lenders in all aspects of transactional real estate, including complex acquisitions and dispositions of real estate and related debt instruments, entitlements, development projects, workouts, and related transactions.
For more information about Ms. Alonzo or any of our attorneys, please visit the Attorney Profiles page here.
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PARTNER NAMED TO 2013 BTI CLIENT SERVICE ALL-STARS
 John Irons (Partner-Los Angeles) has been honored with the 2013 BTI Client Service All-Star award for his extraordinary dedication to client relations. The award is given to attorneys who are recognized nationally for their exceptional service.
“I am honored to be included in this distinguished group of professionals who are committed to providing first-rate client service every day,” said Mr. Irons, who is also a member of Pircher’s Executive Committee. “This recognition is a tribute to the outstanding team of colleagues throughout our firm who take pride in providing top quality service to all of our clients.”
BTI Consulting Group conducted interviews with Fortune 500 and 1000 general counsel spanning a range of industries to determine the recipients with a “keen understanding of business issues, thought leading approach and total commitment to client needs.” Mr. Irons is one of the attorneys from leading law firms around the nation selected as a 2013 BTI Client Service All-Star.
“John exemplifies the firm’s core philosophy by consistently delivering high-quality service and contributing toward our clients’ success,” said Leo Pircher, founding partner of Pircher, Nichols & Meeks. “We are honored to be recognized by our clients with this notable achievement.”
Mr. Irons joined the firm in 1990 and is a partner in the firm’s real estate department. Mr. Irons’ practice focuses on real estate acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, financing, secured debt, restructuring and workouts as well as other complex real estate-related matters.
For more information about Mr. Irons or any of our attorneys, please visit the Attorney Profiles page here.
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BISNOW'S THIRD ANNUAL RETAIL REAL ESTATE SUMMIT
 Dave Pezza (Partner-Chicago) led a panel discussion with real estate veterans John Bucksbaum (former Chairman of General Growth Properties) and F. Scott Ball (COO of Starwood Retail Properties) at Bisnow's Third Annual Retail Real Estate Summit, on February 14 in Chicago, IL. The panelists discussed the state of Chicago & National Retail and shared their views on current trends, what retail tenants are looking for, and new development and investment activity. For more information on this event, visit Bisnow's website here.
Mr. Pezza’s practice focuses on real estate development, acquisitions, dispositions, financing, loan workouts and leasing focusing on shopping centers and office buildings. He currently is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and a member of the American Bar Association.
For more information about Mr. Pezza or any of our attorneys, please visit the Attorney Profiles page here.
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CONGRATULATIONS
The firm has promoted Robert J. Cooper, Daniel B. Guggenheim and Michael D. Soejoto to partner.
Robert J. Cooper joined the firm in 2004 as an associate in the real estate practice. His practice focuses on the representation of institutional investors in real estate acquisitions and dispositions, financings and joint ventures as well as other transactional real estate-related matters. Cooper was included in the 2010 and 2011 Southern California Super Lawyers-Rising Stars lists. He has given several presentations regarding real estate joint ventures, including a presentation to the Los Angeles County Bar Association titled “Five Joint Venture Issues that are Often Overlooked or Misunderstood.” Cooper is a member of the real estate sections of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, The State Bar of California and the American Bar Association, and is the co-chair of the firm’s recruiting committee. He received his J.D. and Master of Real Estate Development degrees in 2004 from the University of Southern California.
Daniel B. Guggenheim joined the firm in 2007 as an associate in the real estate department. He has experience representing opportunity and hedge funds, mortgage and mezzanine lenders, and commercial and residential developers in all aspects of transactional real estate. Guggenheim was recently honored by the Los Angeles County Bar Association with the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award for 2012, and was included in the 2010 and 2012 Southern California Super Lawyers-Rising Stars lists. He is the co-author of “Important Issues in Purchasing and Resolving Distressed Real Estate Debt,” published in Real Estate Industry & Law Report by BNA, Inc., and has also given numerous presentations regarding distressed real estate debt and real estate joint ventures. Guggenheim received his J.D. in 2004 from the University of Southern California School of Law and is active with the USC Law School Alumni Association.
Michael D. Soejoto joined the firm in 2004 as an associate in the firm’s tax department. His practice includes federal and state taxation, with an emphasis on partnership taxation and the taxation of real estate transactions, including real estate investment trusts and real estate investments by tax-exempt organizations. Soejoto was included in the 2012 Southern California Super Lawyers-Rising Star list. He has given several presentations on tax and economic matters and joint venture agreements, including the Strafford Publishing webinar “Real Estate Joins Ventures: Opportunities and Legal Risks (Negotiating and Structuring the JV Operating Agreement)” and a presentation to the Los Angeles County Bar Association entitled “Five Joint Venture Issues that are Often Overlooked or Misunderstood.” Soejoto received his J.D. in 2002 from the University of California, Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law.
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WELCOME
Kaleb Keller has joined the firm as an associate in the real estate practice group of our Los Angeles office.
Mr. Keller received his J.D. in 2012 from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, where he was senior copy editor of the Southern California Law Review, president of the Environmental Law Society, a member of Phi Alpha Delta and a peer mentor. In addition, he served as a research assistant to Law professors George Lefcoe and Edward McCaffery. His note, “LEEDing in the Wrong Direction: Addressing Concerns with Today’s Green Building Policy,” was published in Volume 85 of the Southern California Law Review.
Mr. Keller graduated cum laude from University of Southern California Marshall School of Business with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and concentrations in Finance and Real Estate Development in 2005. He is a young leader division member of the Urban Land Institute and has volunteered with a variety of charity organizations, such as Global Green and Habitat for Humanity.
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LACBA SEMINAR AND WEBCAST
Sheldon Halpern (Partner-Los Angeles) was part of a panel discussion at an LACBA CLE seminar held on January 24, 2013 at the Los Angeles County Bar Association in Los Angeles.
Mr. Halpern was joined on the panel by Bret Nielsen, Senior Vice President, Leasing & Asset Management, of Caruso Affiliated Holdings. The topic was “Mixed Use Projects: Things You Need to Tell Your Developer Client.”
For more information on this event, please click here.
Mr. Halpern’s practice focuses on real estate development, leasing and acquisitions. Click here for a link that will enable you to read articles that Mr. Halpern has written on these issues.
For more information about Mr. Halpern or any of our attorneys, please visit the Attorney Profiles page here.
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WELCOME
Daniel W. Finley has joined the firm as an associate in the real estate practice group of our Los Angeles office.
Mr. Finley received his J.D. cum laude in 2004 from New York University School of Law, where he received the Dean’s Scholarship, was named a Robert McKay Scholar as a result of placing in the top quartile of his class and worked as the staff editor for the Journal of Legislation and Public Policy. He graduated from the University of Washington in 2001 and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics.
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WELCOME
Christopher L. Muno has joined the firm as an associate in the real estate practice group of our Los Angeles office.
Mr. Muno has experience representing operating and capital partners in connection with the formation of joint ventures and the drafting and negotiation of joint venture agreements and advising borrowers and lenders in connection with the restructuring of existing financing and the acquisition of distressed and non-distressed debt.
A member of Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of California, Mr. Muno received his J.D. in 2009 from University of Chicago Law School. He graduated cum laude from Boston College in 2005 and holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy.
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