Stephen G. Stwora-Hail

Partner

621 Capitol Mall
18th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Areas of Law:

Real Estate, Banking/Financial Institutions, Real Estate Acquisition, Development, Leasing, Financing and Land Use; Financial Institutions

Admitted to Practice in:

California

With over 25 years of experience in greater Sacramento's real estate community, Steve Stwora-Hail could be considered one of the region's deans of real estate law. He brings diverse knowledge of nearly every facet of real estate law to the negotiation table on behalf of his clients. Steve has represented major commercial developers of retail, office, and warehousing projects with the acquisition, land use, development, and leasing of their properties. He has also represented sophisticated landlords as well as anchor and credit tenants, and knows the critical issues on both sides. Steve has worked for both financial institutions and developers in negotiating real estate secured loans and workouts. A lawyer's lawyer, Steve has published numerous articles and is a frequent speaker on real property law for the American Bar Association, California's Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), and the Real Property Section of the California State Bar. He has recently coauthored chapters in CEB's California Easements and Boundaries and CEB's California Real Property Sales Transactions. Steve is a former chair of the Real Property Section of the California State Bar and was a member of its Executive Committee for six years.

Experience

RALEY'S/BEL AIR MART—In addition to performing real estate related work for over 150 shopping center sites for Raley's, Bel Air Mart, Nob Hill Foods and Food Source, Downey Brand also represents the Teel Family Trust, owner of these corporations as well as other real property holdings including Raley's Sierra Ranch, a 4,000 acre spread in Nevada and Placer Counties, California.

Representation of Raley's/Bel Air Mart/Nob Hill Foods/Food Source includes title review and negotiation and preparation of documentation for its supermarkets, which includes anchor tenant leases, purchase agreements, development agreements, operation and easement agreements and agreements with governmental entities. This representation has included the acquisition of the Bel Air Mart and Nob Hill Foods chains. Downey Brand assisted Raley's in the development and financing of its $35 million warehouse distribution site in North Natomas.

Raley's Landing Project is a 20-acre mixed use project on the Sacramento River in West Sacramento, California. Steve worked in obtaining all entitlements for this site from the City of West Sacramento and its Redevelopment Agency through a Development Agreement and an Owner's Participation Agreement. He also participated in negotiations with CALSTRS which acquired land to build its corporate headquarters on the Project. We recently concluded negotiations with the City and Redevelopment Agency to add two additional city blocks to the Project for a residential element to be built by Signature Homes, and to add additional office space for acquisitions by Panattoni Development for a mixed use office, residential and retail high rise and by CalSTRS for new corporate headquarters.

SACA DEVELOPMENT, LLC—Has developed stand alone stores and small centers for Office Max, and has completed in Elk Grove a neighborhood center anchored by Pier 1 and Party America, with a food court including national tenants such as Chili's, Chipotle, Quizno's and Jamba Juice, and a 200,000 square foot power center whose anchors include Toys R Us, Sports Chalet, Jo Anne's, Pet Club and Sacramento Natural Foods Cooperative. We are currently working with Mr. Saca on a new 500,000 square foot center in Lincoln, California with Home Depot, Target, PetsMart, Staples, Ross Dress for Less and TJ Maxx. Pad users include Carl's Jr., Panera Bread, Mimi's Café, Chili's, Kragen Auto Parts, TGI Friday's and Panda Express.

RED ROCK VENTURES, LLC – Focusing on the central valley in Northern Nevada, this commercial developer specializes in retail strip centers and office business parks. Downey Brand LLP assists Red Rock Ventures in the acquisition and entitlement of real property, development and construction of its projects, leasing, sales and property management. We also advise on and prepare investment joint ventures for the company, including LLC's, limited partnerships and tenancy in common agreements.

STONE BROTHERS, CO—Based in Stockton, this family-owned developer owns numerous retail centers throughout the Central Valley, including Sherwood Mall in Stockton. Downey Brand LLP assists this company in negotiating leases with anchor tenants such as Best Buy, as well as national tenants such as Brinker International (operator of Chili's, Macaroni Grill, On the Border and Rockfish Seafood Grill).

THE GOLDEN 1 CREDIT UNION—With over $4.3 billion in assets, The Golden 1 is one of the largest credit unions in the United States and, with its primary membership being California state employees, it has offices throughout the state. We have assisted The Golden 1 in acquiring branch sites through acquisition and leasing, and in leasing and managing the acquired sites. Downey Brand assisted The Golden 1 in its acquisition and development of a new 250,000 square foot headquarters building in Sacramento, California.

MEMBERSHIPS

State Bar of California, Real Property Law Section, Former Executive Committee Member and Past Chair; Past Advisor; Former Legislative Analyst and Legislative Committee Chair and past chair of Sacramento/Central Valley Real Property Round Table

Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), Governing Committee, Past Member; Real Estate Advisory Board, Member

Sacramento County Bar Association, Real Property Section, Member and Past President (2 terms); MCLE Committee Former Member; and Community Education Committee Former Member

California Business Properties Association, Member; Membership Committee Co-Chair; Advisory Board Member; and Legal/Legislative Committee Member

International Council of Shopping Centers, Member; Northern California Program Committee, Member

ACRE (Association of Commercial Real Estate Brokers), Member

Lambda Alpha International, Member

Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Member

EDUCATION

University of Santa Clara, School of Law (J.D., 1982)
University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (B.A., 1977)

PUBLICATIONS

CEB Real Property Journal, "The Serious Implications of Black Hill Investments," September 2007, Co-Author

Continuing Education of the California State Bar (CEB), "Chapter 3: Letters of Intent," 2007 Real Property Sales Transactions, Co Author

Continuing Education of the California State Bar (CEB), 2003 Legal Update Sales Transactions, Contributing Editor

Continuing Education of the California State Bar (CEB), 2001 Legal Update Office Leasing, Contributing Author

California Real Property Journal, "2000 Legislative Summary," as well as for the 6 previous annual legislative summaries for this publication, Author

California Real Estate Law & Practice, Matthew Bende, 1999 edition, Consultant

Probate & Property, "Using Letters of Intent in Real Estate Transactions," January/February 1997, Co-Author

The Daily Recorder, Real Property Law, 1991-1995, Columnist

Santa Clara Law Review, Former Associate Editor

PRESENTATIONS

International Council of Shopping Centers, 2006 ICSC Monterey–Idea Exchange, "The Legal Panel," 2006, Moderator

American Bar Association, 7th Annual Spring CLE and Committee Meeting, "Office Leasing," Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), 1996; "Negotiating Letters of Intent to Lease," 1995, Moderator

Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), Annual Meeting of the State Bar, "Current Issues in Landlord/Tenant Law," 1993; "New Trends in Leasing," Annual Institute of Real Estate Law, 1995, Speaker

CHARITABLE

Business Council, Inc., San Joaquin County, Former Board Member

Sacramento Neighborhood Housing Services, Former Corporate Counsel

Business Volunteers for the Arts, Past Volunteer

Old Eagle Theatre, Former Board Member