Real Estate and Land Use Firm Joins Sedgwick

Seven attorneys from Cassidy Shimko Dawson & Kawakami join Sedgwick San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, January 4, 2009 - Sedgwick Detert Moran & Arnold LLP has added seven attorneys from the Cassidy Shimko Dawson & Kawakami firm to its San Francisco office. With the Cassidy Shimko attorneys, Sedgwick has created a robust California land use practice, and bolstered its existing real estate practice. Effective January 1, 2010, four attorneys will join as partners, two as special counsel and one as an associate.

“The addition of the Cassidy Shimko attorneys will dramatically increase Sedgwick's ability to handle real estate and land use litigation, and transactional work,” said Sedgwick’s Commercial Division Chair Steven Roland. “The creation of Sedgwick’s now state-wide land use practice will also provide a bridge between the existing real estate, environmental and construction practices of the firm.”

“Cassidy Shimko is known as one of the top boutique real estate and land use practices,” said Sedgwick San Francisco Office Managing Partner Michael Healy. “Sedgwick attorneys have had the opportunity to work alongside this talented group for many years, witnessing first-hand their depth of knowledge on incredibly complicated areas of law. We’re thrilled to have them join Sedgwick.”

Partner Anna Shimko focuses her practice on all areas of land use and environmental law, representing both public agencies and private landowners and developers in administrative and court proceedings. Shimko also has particular expertise in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA.) She is a long-standing member of the California Building Industry Association’s CEQA Reform Task Force, the California Business Properties Association, and of the Advisory Council and board of directors for the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association. She earned her J.D. from Cornell Law School and her B.A. from the University of California at Davis.

This third partner to join Sedgwick, Paul Kawakami, focuses his practice on a wide range of real estate transactional and business matters. He specializes in the acquisition, development, sale and exchange of real estate; retail, office and industrial leasing; real estate financing and secured transactions; loan modifications, workouts and restructurings; and the formation of joint ventures and LLCs. He represents developers, investors, institutional lenders, end-users, and educational institutions. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, and the Urban Land Institute. Kawakami earned his J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley School of Law and his A.B. with honors from the University of California at Davis.

Matthew Francois, the fourth partner to join Sedgwick, focuses his practice on all aspects of land use and environmental law. He represents public agencies, private land owners and developers in the land use administrative approval process; frequently advises on compliance with CEQA; and litigates land use and CEQA matters. He is vice chair of the Planning Commission for the City of Walnut Creek and serves on the board of directors for the Walnut Creek Library Foundation. He is also an active member of the Urban Land Institute and the San Francisco Planning & Urban Research Association. Francois earned his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law and received his B.A with honors from the University of California at Berkeley.

Deirdre Dawson has joined Sedgwick as special counsel. Her practice focuses on all aspects of real estate transactions, including purchase and sale agreements, leasing, construction documentation, development agreements, real estate finance, land use and environmental law. Her clients include owners, tenants, retailers, contractors, architects, developers, managers and lenders. She received her J.D. from the University of Oregon, and graduated with honors from the University of California at Davis.

Deborah Kartiganer, who also joined as special counsel, focuses her practice on development and entitlements work, and land use law. Her clients include large corporations, retailers, startup companies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals. She handles matters involving the land use administrative approval process; development of retail, housing, and office projects; public and private partnerships; land use litigation; redevelopment law; compliance with CEQA, the Subdivision Map Act, and the Coastal Act; and property acquisition and sales. She earned her J.D. from New York University Law School and received her B.A. from Yale University.

Luen Lam has joined Sedgwick as an associate. He focuses his practice on commercial real estate transactions, including leasing, purchase and sale, and finance. Lam represents landlords and tenants in the drafting, negotiation and enforcement of office and retail leases, buyers and sellers in the acquisition, disposition and development of commercial real property, and borrowers and lenders in the financing of real property. He earned his J.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law and received his B.S. from the University of California at Berkeley, Haas School of Business.