SHAREHOLDERS
Charles G. Knox (Shareholder) born Erie, Pennsylvania, June 10, 1948; admitted to bar, 1973, Pennsylvania; 2008, Nevada; 2009, California; U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California; U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Education: Williams College (B.A., Economics, 1970); University of Michigan (J.D., 1973).
Charles Knox focuses his practice on real estate law with particular emphasis in the area of commercial real estate finance. He has represented institutional lenders and commercial real estate developers with respect to acquisition, finance, construction and leasing transactions.
Charley has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and has repeatedly been named by his peers to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® list, which ranks the top 5 percent of attorneys practicing in Pennsylvania.
On behalf of his clients, Charley has:
· Documented and closed a number of unsecured loans from institutional lenders to publicly traded real estate investment trusts and other large commercial developers, including a number of unsecured lines of credit involving between $100 million and $300 million.
· Documented and closed numerous syndicated construction and renovation loans from institutional lenders for shopping malls, apartment projects and office buildings throughout the United States, including a number of construction loans for shopping centers and multi-family projects involving between $100 million and $400 million.
· Represented landlords and tenants in the negotiation of office and industrial lease transactions.
· Represented buyers and sellers of commercial real estate properties.
· Represented real estate developers and owners with respect to mortgage finance transactions.
Publications & Speeches
70 Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney Attorneys and Specialists Named Best Lawyers in America; Firm Ranks First in Several Categories {newline}August 5, 2009
38 Pittsburgh Attorneys Noted in Pittsburgh Business Times for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2009 List {newline}November 18, 2008
69 Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney Attorneys and Specialists Honored As Best Lawyers in America {newline}September 26, 2008
Forty-Five Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney Attorneys Selected as Pennsylvania Super Lawyers {newline}May 28, 2008
Affiliations
Pennsylvania Bar Association
American Bar Association
State Bar of Nevada
Member: Pennsylvania Bar Association; American Bar Associaton; State Bar of Nevada.
Practice Areas: Real Estate; Commercial Leasing; Retail Development.Email: Charles G. Knox
Keith R. Solar (Shareholder) born Chicago, Illinois, May 9, 1960; admitted to bar, 1985, California. Education: Indiana University (A.B., with highest distinction, 1982) Phi Beta Kappa; University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law (J.D., with great distinction, 1985) Order of the Coif.
Keith Solar represents both public and private clients primarily in connection with water rights and water-related issues, matters involving the United States tuna industry, real estate matters and commercial law issues.
With respect to water rights and water-related issues, Keith has extensive experience negotiating and documenting the purchase, sale or lease of adjudicated groundwater rights, groundwater, privately owned water systems, shares in mutual water companies, and public/private partnerships for municipal water systems. He also handles agreements for the manufacture and sale of membranes and spiral-wound elements for use in desalination facilities, and agreements regarding desalination facilities, including without-limitation agreements regarding the purchase of desalinated seawater, water transfer agreements, and agreements for the treatment of contaminated groundwater.
On behalf of private water clients, Keith has particular experience, among other things, in analyzing the nature and priority of riparian, overlying, appropriative or prescriptive water rights that such clients are applying or attempting to apply to reasonable and beneficial use.
With respect to water or water-related issues, Keith has represented the City of Carlsbad, the City of Indio, the County of San Diego, the Indio Water Authority, the San Diego County Water Authority, Basin Water, Inc., James C. Roberts, Inc., Kaiser Ventures, Inc., Psomas Engineering, Pulte Homes, Inc./Del Webb, Rancon Real Estate, Sepro and Western Water Company.
In addition to water law, Keith has more than 20 years of experience in legal representation of companies and individuals engaged in the United States tuna industry, including the negotiation and documentation of: agreements for the purchase and sale of tuna purse seine vessels; bareboat charter agreements; vessel management agreements; joint venture agreements; and tuna fishing agreements between sellers of tuna and buyers engaged in the business of purchasing, processing and selling tuna. His experience extends to negotiations with representatives of foreign governments and/or financial institutions, such as those located in the Marshall Islands and the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, in tuna-related matters.
Keith also has particular experience securing financing for companies and individuals who own tuna purse seine vessels. This experience includes negotiation and documentation of loans authorized under Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 and obtained through the United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service.
With respect to the tuna industry, Keith has represented: A&M Ventures, Inc., Andrea C. Fishing Corporation, David G. Burney, Chicken of the Sea International, Castagnola Fleet Management, Evelyn Da Rosa, Inc., FCF Fishery Company, Ltd., M&F Fishing, Inc., M/V Sea Quest, Inc., South Pacific Tuna Corporation and Tradition Mariner, Inc.
In regard to real estate and commercial matters, Keith has more than 20 years of experience in corporation and business formation planning, financing and credit transactions, joint ventures, partnerships, contracts, purchase and sale agreements, syndication, and private placements of securities. He also has more than 20 years experience in real estate purchases and sales, development, land use, mortgage financing and credit transactions.
Keith was a co-founder of Alhadeff & Solar, LLP, a San Diego and Inland Empire-based commercial law firm that combined with Buchanan in June of 2007.
In 2008, Keith was selected as a San Diego County Top Attorney 2008 and was featured in a special edition of The Daily Transcript, titled "Top Attorneys 2008." Also in 2008, Keith was nominated as a "Top Influential" by readers of San Diego's The Daily Transcript.
Publications & Speeches
Addressing the Current Water Crisis in California {newline}panel moderator, 6th Annual Riverside County Water Symposium {newline}May 28, 2009
Overcoming Boundaries: Salinity Management {newline}panel moderator, 40th Anniversary Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority Conference {newline}January 29, 2009
San Diego Water Law Attorney Keith Solar Nominated as Top Influential by Daily Transcript Readers {newline}November 11, 2008
San Diego Water Law Attorney Keith Solar Noted in CleanTECH Newsletter for Top Attorney Award {newline}November 5, 2008
San Diego Water Law Attorney Keith Solar Noted by Daily Transcript for Attending its Roundtable Discussion {newline}October 30, 2008
San Diego Water Law Attorney Keith Solar Selected as a San Diego County Top Attorney 2008 {newline}July 1, 2008
San Diego Water Law Attorney Keith Solar Featured in Daily Transcript {newline}May 19, 2008
Attorney Keith Solar Publishes Opinion Article on California Water Supply Problem in The Daily Transcript {newline}November 12, 2007
Collegiate Athletic Participation: A Property or Liberty Interest? {newline}Vol. 15 Pacific Law Journal 1203
Civic & Charitable
General counsel, board member and chair of Compensation and Nomination and Governance committees, Basin Water, Inc.
Affiliations
San Diego County Bar Association
Former member of Legal Affairs Committee (2002-2004), Association of California Water Agencies
Member: San Diego County Bar Association; Association of California Water Agencies (Former Member of Legal Affairs Committee, 2002-2004).
Practice Areas: Real Estate; Corporate Finance & Technology; Water Law; Environmental Law.Email: Keith R. Solar
COUNSEL
Kirk M. Nuzum (Counsel) born Providence, Rhode Island, January 30, 1964; admitted to bar, 1989, California; U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California; U.S. District Court for the Central District of California; U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California; U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California; United States Patent and Trademark Office. Education: Colorado School of Mines (B.S., Petroleum Engineering, 1986); University of Tulsa (J.D., 1989) Energy Law Journal.
Kirk M. Nuzum focuses his practice on Intellectual Property law with an emphasis on mechanical technologies, and has experience in managing both large and small patent portfolios.
Kirk's practice includes all aspects of client counseling in the patent field including United States and foreign patent prosecution, patent searches, patentability opinions, validity and infringement opinions, pre-litigation assessments, clearance investigations and re-design evaluations.
On behalf of his clients, Kirk has handled appeals, re-examinations and other proceedings before the United States Patent Office. Kirk's technology areas are directed primarily toward the mechanical arts and include electromechanical systems, medical devices, medical appliances and products, drilling equipment, oil and gas recovery systems, telecommunication equipment, LED light bulbs, alternative energy systems including wind and solar systems, computer networking devices, water treatment and recovery systems, and business and manufacturing methods.
Kirk was an associate with Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis, one of the oldest and largest law firms in the United States focusing exclusively on intellectual property, until its lawyers and other professionals joined Buchanan in 2005.
Kirk is affiliated with the San Diego office of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, but resides and maintains a home office in the San Francisco Bay area.
Affiliations
American Bar Association
American Intellectual Property Law Association
Member: American Bar Association; American Intellectual Property Law Association.
Practice Areas: Intellectual Property; Mechanical; Emerging Technology; Intellectual Property Litigation; Patent Litigation; Trademark Litigation; Trade Secrets Litigation; Unfair Trade Practices and Unfair Competition Litigation.Email: Kirk M. Nuzum
SENIOR ATTORNEYS
Robert K. Edmunds (Senior Attorney) born Spring Lake, Michigan, August 21, 1951; admitted to bar, 1978, Virginia; 1979, California; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; U.S. District Court for the Central District of California; U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Education: Davidson College (B.A., 1973); University of Virginia School of Law (J.D., 1978) Raven Society; Hardy Dillard Fellow; William Minor Lile Moot Court Board.
Robert K. Edmunds, a seasoned attorney with nearly 30 years of legal experience, focuses his practice on corporate law, Native American law, gaming and real estate law.
Bob has served as counsel to:
· A national financial institution in loan transactions with federally recognized Indian tribes and their entities.
· A family-owned winery in the sale of its business and related real property.
· A regional accounting firm in a merger with a national accounting firm.
· Lessees of lands held in trust by the United States Department of Interior on behalf of federally recognized Indian tribes.
· Real estate developers of:
- 500-acre Wolf Creek Specific Plan in Temecula, California.
- 246-acre Cove Specific Plan in San Jacinto, California
- 250-acre Esplanade Specific Plan San Jacinto, California.
· Property owners and developers in implementation of Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan.
· Property owners and developers in implementation of the California Native American remains law.
· In addition, Bob has successfully represented clients in defending against writ of mandate actions, as demonstrated in the following cases:
- Chris Pedersen v. Susan W. Jones (Cal. Court of Appeal, Fourth Dist., Case No. E030186). Successfully represented respondent S-P Murdy, LLC in defending against a writ of mandate action seeking to validate a referendum petition directed at the City Council of the City of Temecula, California.
- Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians v. County of Riverside (Riverside County Superior Court Case No. RIC 362867). Successfully represented Respondent MDC Vail in defending against a writ of mandate action seeking to invalidate a parcel map approval under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Affiliations
San Diego County Bar Association
State Bar of California
American Bar Association
Member: San Diego County Bar Association; State Bar of California; American Bar Association.
Practice Areas: Real Estate; Environmental Law; Gaming; Corporate Finance & Technology; Real Estate and Land Use Planning Litigation; Financial Crisis Team.Email: Robert K. Edmunds
S. Douglas Kerner (Senior Attorney) born San Diego, California; admitted to bar, 1992, California; U.S. District Court for the Central District of California; U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Education: San Diego State University (B.S., cum laude, 1988); Washington University School of Law (J.D., 1992) Associate Editor, Washington University Law Quarterly.
Doug Kerner focuses his practice on real estate law and development, with particular emphasis in the areas of land use and environmental issues. He also represents clients in civil litigation involving real estate and land-use matters and administrative hearings and appeals on development projects.
Doug regularly assists developers and builders in subdividing and entitling a variety of residential, commercial and mixed-use projects throughout Southern California. His practice areas include land use and zoning matters, compliance with environmental laws and local government relations and project advocacy. On behalf of development projects, Doug regularly interfaces with engineers, planners, architects, agency staff, and appointed and elected officials at the city and county levels. While serving as a deputy city attorney for the City of Indio, California, Doug sat with the planning commission at public hearings on an assortment of development projects and worked extensively with planning staff on development-related issues.
Doug has successfully handled matters involving general plan amendments and zone changes, large-scale residential projects, agricultural issues, transportation and infrastructure matters, redevelopment, affordable housing and annexations. He has also negotiated, drafted and reviewed a number of real estate and development-related agreements, including purchase and sale agreements, development agreements, easement and license agreements and project conditions of approval.
Matters Doug recently has worked on include:
· The entitlement of a mixed-use, specific-plan project with state-of-the-art architecture, live-work units, and a lifestyle commercial center on behalf a growing regional homebuilder.
· The entitlement and environmental review of two 500-plus acre residential projects in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs on behalf of a national land development company.
· The negotiation and drafting of a multi-party agreement for the design and construction of major drainage facilities in the County of Riverside on behalf of a public homebuilder.
· The entitlement of a residential project involving estate-size lots in the Temecula wine country, including the resolution of several zoning, agricultural and infrastructure issues.
· The entitlement of a 400-unit apartment project for a national builder/developer.
· A proposal on behalf of a development company to build a high-rise, mixed-use condominium development that spanned several blocks in a downtown redevelopment area, and that incorporated the latest eco-friendly "green" concepts and design standards.
· Representation of a large, Southern California concrete supplier in litigation involving zoning and environmental issues.
· Representation of several wineries in the Temecula wine country on land use approvals, permits, and the resolution of code-enforcement matters.
Doug previously served as counsel for Alhadeff & Solar, LLP, a San Diego-based commercial law firm focused on providing business services, commercial insolvency, environmental, estate planning, government regulation, land use, litigation, municipal law, real estate and water. Alhadeff & Solar combined with Buchanan in June of 2007.
Publications & Speeches
San Diego Real Estate Attorney S. Douglas Kerner's Article Published in Real Estate Finance {newline}June 30, 2008
Streamlined Zoning Process Held Unlawful {newline}January 22, 2008
Federal Courts Lack the Power to Consolidate Arbitration Proceedings {newline}69 Wash. U.L.Q. 399 {newline}1991
Civic & Charitable
President, Rolling Hills Ranch Community Association Board of Directors
Elder Board, Eastlake Community Church
Coach, Sweetwater Valley Little League
Affiliations
Environmental Law, Public Law, and Litigation Sections, State Bar of California
Environmental Law Section, San Diego County Bar Association
California Building Industry Association
Urban Land Institute
CleanTECH San Diego
American Council of Engineering Companies of California
Member: State Bar of California (Member, Environmental Law, Public Law and Litigation Sections); San Diego County Bar Association (Member, Environmental Law Section); California Building Industry Association; Urban Land Institute; CleanTECH San Diego; American Council of Engineering Companies of California.
Practice Areas: Environmental Law; Real Estate; Litigation; Real Estate and Land Use Planning Litigation.Email: S. Douglas Kerner
ASSOCIATE
Cyril J. Dantchev (Associate) born Neuilly, France, November 17, 1961; admitted to bar, 1987, California; U.S. District Court for the Central District of California; U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California; U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; United States Tax Court; United States Court of Federal Claims; United States Supreme Court. Education: University of San Diego (M.C.L., 1985).
Cyril Dantchev has more than 20 years of experience in a wide range of legal matters, including land use, environmental compliance, conservation and real estate as well as municipal and redevelopment law. He also represents clients in civil litigation and administrative hearings involving environmental and land use issues.
Cyril is a former assistant city attorney for the City of Indio and worked closely with the Indio City Council and its staff on various development and redevelopment projects. He also worked on a variety of municipal and governmental law issues, including annexations, public meetings law, political contributions and conflicts of interest.
Cyril has also been involved in the negotiation and drafting of numerous real estate-related agreements.
He previously was an associate with Alhadeff & Solar, LLP, a San Diego-based commercial law firm focused on providing business services, commercial insolvency, environmental, estate planning, government regulation, land use, litigation, municipal law, real estate and water. Alhadeff & Solar combined with Buchanan in June of 2007.
Cyril is fluent in French.
Affiliations
San Diego County Bar Association
Member: San Diego County Bar Association.
Practice Areas: Real Estate; Environmental Law; Public Finance; Real Estate and Land Use Planning Litigation.Email: Cyril J. Dantchev