California real estate and deed of trust disputes | courtroom war stories and lessons learned
About
KEVIN BRODEHL
Kevin is a partner at Patton Sullivan Brodehl LLP. He is a trial and appellate attorney focusing on high-stakes real estate and business disputes.
“Super Lawyer” 2012-2023 | Courtroom Success
Kevin focuses on winning trials, arbitrations, and appeals in high-stakes real estate and business disputes in forums across California.
He won his first trial the day after he was licensed as an attorney in 1998, won his first appeal three years later, and has continued that trend for over two decades. His courtroom experience allows him to diagnose, shape, and favorably resolve many cases before trial.
He has received the “Super Lawyer” distinction every year from 2012 through 2023. Super Lawyers is a rating service by Thomson Reuters driven by market research and peer evaluation (not “pay to play”). The honor is awarded to only 5% of California attorneys.
“Money and Dirt”
Kevin also focuses on disputes over “Money and Dirt” and publishes a second blog by that name (“JD Supra Top Author” – 2018).
His clients include real estate investors, developers, REITs, secured lenders, borrowers, and guarantors. Disputes often involve broken contracts (purchase/sale, option, lease, development, joint venture), deeds of trust, liens, title issues, escrow issues, deed restrictions, easements, partition, eminent domain, receivership, and foreclosure involving commercial, industrial, and multi-family properties.
Other career highlights:
* Adjunct Professor at U.C. Berkeley School of Law (Real Estate Transactions & Litigation, Fall 2016)
* Annual Update Author for CEB’s seminal treatise “Mortgages, Deeds of Trust, and Foreclosure Litigation”
“The LLC Jungle”
Kevin leads a growing niche practice handling LLC disputes. As a thought leader in the field he publishes regularly on his blog, The LLC Jungle.
His cases feature conflicts among LLC members and managers regarding manager authority, fiduciary duties, membership rights, accounting, and “business divorce” (dissolution). His LLC clients are often real estate investment and development groups, but also include other industries such as technology, cannabis, media, and healthcare.
ZACHARY YOUNG
Zachary is a partner at Patton Sullivan Brodehl LLP. He is a trial and appellate attorney focusing on high-stakes real estate and business disputes.
“Rising Star”
Zachary has been recognized by Super Lawyer Magazine as one of Northern California’s “Rising Stars” for 5 years running, from 2017-2021. He has also earned Martindale-Hubbell’s “AV Preeminent” designation, which is the highest peer rating standard available. According to Martindale-Hubbell, this designation is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.
Zachary started his career handling insurance defense matters, where he was given ample opportunity to hone his skills at all stages of litigation, including negotiations, case development, discovery, mediation, and arbitration/trial, including for example over 100 depositions. Because of this, Zachary gained significant practical experience earlier in his career than many of his peers. Over time, he transitioned that litigation skill set to more complicated business and real estate disputes, and now has the luxury of applying his extensive practical experience and knowledge of litigation tactics and strategies to those more complicated disputes. He represents individuals, LLCs, corporations, and other business entities to help solve their complicated business and real estate problems. At his core, Zachary considers himself a problem solver for his clients. He has enjoyed success in both federal and state courts, and the trial and appellate levels on behalf of his clients.
Giving Back
In addition to his practice, Zachary makes it a priority to give back to his community, particularly to the next generation of attorneys. Since 2014, Zachary has served part-time at UC Hastings, College of the Law, in a variety of roles, including as an adjunct professor teaching first year Legal Writing & Analysis and Moot Court, and also as a coach of the school’s very successful moot court teams. During that time, none of Zachary’s moot court teams has ever finished lower than quarterfinalists in any national competition.
One Response to “About”
Thank you for your tenacity in delivering justice for our community of citizens who need a role model authority in fair representation.