SUMMARY OF PRACTICE
Real Estate. Sam’s real estate and business expertise assist him in his notable real estate practice. He has extensive experience in commercial and residential development transactions, including representing developers in purchase and sale agreements, obtaining entitlements, coordinating and documenting development agreements, resolving land use and title issues, and negotiating long-term leases. Sam has also enjoyed success in various real estate litigation cases, obtaining several awards in excess of $1 million.

HONORS
Silicon Valley’s Top Lawyers, San Jose Magazine, 2000-2005
Million-Dollar Advocates Forum
Northern California Super Lawyer, San Francisco Magazine, 2004, 2005

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Judge pro tem, Santa Clara County Superior Court
Hearing officer, Santa Clara County Tax Assessor’s Appeals Board
Executive Board, Baseball San Jose

NOTABLE LITIGATION

Morter, et al. v. Thunderbird Realty, et al. (Santa Cruz County Superior Court Case #CV136523)
- obtained a judgment of over $1 million for homeowners who were not adequately represented by their real estate agent.

Mavin Income Fund v. Chang (Sacramento County Superior Court Case #96-AS05978, California Court of Appeal Case #C031484)
- won a $2.1 million award for an investment group that provided seller financing to an apartment owner who failed to maintain the property.

Overland Development v. Gilroy Presbyterian Church
- successfully represented developer in binding arbitration for lost profits arising from seller’s breach of real estate sales contract, obtaining a judgment of approximately $1 million.

Daheb v. Kim (San Mateo County Superior Court Case # CIV 420013)
- defeated a claim brought by a buyer alleging misrepresentation and construction defects in a $2 million custom home.

NOTABLE TRANSACTIONS
Denise and Filice Packing Company
- handled the sale of the world’s leading red-onion grower and packer to a multinational farming conglomerate.

HWY 152 & HWY 101
- represented property owner in multi-phase sale/development at Highway 152 and Highway 101 in Gilroy, California, involving Costco, Loews, and Super Walmart.

Reno Shopping Centers
- counseled developers in the purchase, development, and leasing of several shopping centers in the greater Reno area.

Residential Developments
- negotiated, documented, and advised developers in the acquisition of raw land, entitlement thereof, and sale for residential development.

PUBLICATIONS
Sam has contributed articles to Bay Area Lawyer magazine and the California Association of Realtors newsletter. He has answered real estate questions in the San Jose/Silicon Valley Business Journal “Q&A” column. Sam is frequently quoted in local and regional newspapers and publications regarding current real estate issues.

EDUCATION
Sam earned his law degree in 1991 at the prominent University of Southern California School of Law. During his studies, he was distinguished as chair of one of the school’s three honors programs – the Hale Moot Court Honors Program. Sam was also named a finalist in the school’s Moot Court Competition, marking him as one of the top four students in his class of 209. He was also tapped for the school’s National Moot Court Team.

Sam obtained his undergraduate degree in 1988 at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. While at the university, Sam was the recipient of the Wall Street Journal Outstanding Achievement Award and was inducted into the Mortar Board Senior Honor Society, which is reserved for the top 15-20 seniors at the university.

BAR ADMISSIONS
Sam is admitted to practice in all California courts, including the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

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