Law Firm Overview

Civil Litigation,  Business, Construction, Real Estate and Insurance

Ira's practice primarily revolves around complex contract, real estate, construction and commercial litigation for business and real estate clients. Immediately after passing the Bar in 1981, Ira began trying complex commercial litigation cases under the tutelage of current Supreme Court Justice Ming Chin while at Aiken, Kramer & Cummings. He formed his own law office in 1985 with an additional focus on secured transactions, broker errors and omission and construction cases. Ira handled a variety of construction disputes for homeowners, builders, as well as many public entities during this time period. He joined Morgan, Miller & Blair in January of 1991, and played a primary role in the investigation and resolution of the "Blue Water" claims that plagued the building industry in 1990 through 1993. From 1991 through 2000 Ira represented many of the nation's largest residential and commercial builders in land use, contract, mechanic lien, construction defect and insurance coverage disputes. With the turn of the millennium, Ira decided to reopen his own law offices in Orinda, California. His practice continues to specialize on the mediation, arbitration and litigation of real estate, commercial and construction disputes.

Ira is a member of the Home Builders Association of Northern California and the Associated General Contractors of California. He is the past chair of the Case Management Committee of the Construction Defect Coalition for northern California. He is also active in both the Contra Costa and Alameda County Bar Associations as a mediator and arbitrator for real estate, business, construction and insurance matters. Ira's practice has specialized in these areas for 27 years after having received his law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. Ira and his wife are long time residents of Orinda.

Areas of Practice

• Real Estate Transactions 5%
• Commercial Leasing 1%
• Real Estate Litigation 48%
• Commercial Litigation 40%
• Insurance Coverage Litigation 1%
• Arbitration, Mediation and Private Judging 5%

Published Works

• Sunken Treasure: Additional Insured Endorsements, Contra Costa Lawyer, October, 1994
• Additional Insured Coverage: A Practice and Forms Manual, January, 1998
• Are Your Indemnification and Additional Insured Agreements Effective? The Answer is Now Clouded by Several 1999 Decisions, Contra Costa Lawyer, January, 2000

Classes and Seminars

• Speaker, Documenting Your Agreement and Your File, Building Industry Association, 1993
• Evaluator, Construction Litigation and Insurance Workshop, Homebuilding Association of Northern California Members, 1992 - 1993
• Speaker, The Advantages of Mini-Trials, Contra Costa County Bar Association, 1994
• Speaker, The Purchase Experience, Department of Real Estate Continuing Education Course, Department of Real Estate, November, 1995
• Speaker, Top Ten Insurance Pitfalls of the Construction Industry, Contra Costa County Bar Association, September 30, 1998

Pro Bono Activities

• Contra Costa County Superior Court Mediator, 1993 - Present
• HOMEAID, 1998 - 2000

Representative Clients

• Barry Swenson Builder
• John Muir Hospital
• Bay Medical Managment
• Earl Anthony Bowling, Inc.
• Luk & Associates
• San Joaquin Wetlands Associates
• Sterling Management & Financial Services
• Mid Peninsula Endoscopy Center
• L.J. Rodarte Construction

References

• William Stepanek, Citicorp, Berkeley, CA
• Paul Koenig, Attorney, Walnut Creek, CA
• Bruce Ring, Attorney, Walnut Creek, CA
• Theodore Hoffman, Jr., Earl Anthony Bowling, Inc., Dublin, CA
• Steve Andrews, Barry Swenson Builder, San Jose, CA
• Dr. Michael Mainardi, Mid Peninsula Endoscopy Ceneter, San Mateo, CA
• Don Kittleman, Sterling Management Corporation, Walnut Creek, CA

Ancillary Businesses

• Mediation, Arbitration, Neutral Evaluations and Private Judging

West Practice Categories

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, Mediation, Mini-trials, Private Judging, Deceptive Trade Practices, Unfair Competition, Bad Faith Insurance, Banking & Finance Law, Lending & Secured Transactions, Foreclosure & Alternatives, Foreclosures, Business & Commercial Law, Consumer Protection, Contracts, Debtor/Creditor, Lemon Law, Secured Transactions, Transactions, Uniform Commercial Code, Warranties, Business Organizations, Business Successions, Closely Held Businesses, Directors' & Officers' Liability, Dissolution, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, Collections, Eminent Domain, Construction Law, Construction Contracts, Construction Liens, Housing & Construction Defects, Insurance Law, Bad Faith, Commercial Insurance, Directors' & Officers' Liability Insurance, Errors & Omissions Insurance, Insurance Malpractice, Property & Casualty, Title Insurance, Litigation & Appeals, Complex Litigation, Federal Trial Practice, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, Personal Injury -- Defense, Defamation & Privacy -- Defense, Premises Liability -- Defense, Property Damage -- Defense, Slip and Fall -- Defense, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff, Premises Liability -- Plaintiff, Property Damage -- Plaintiff, Slip and Fall -- Plaintiff, Motor Vehicle Defects, Recreational Products, Professional Malpractice Law, Medical Malpractice, Other Professionals Malpractice, Real Estate Law, Commercial Real Estate, Conveyancing, Land Use & Zoning, Landlord/Tenant, Residential Real Estate, Securities Law, Securities Fraud & Insider Trading, State, Local & Municipal Law