Real Property & Land Use Litigation
Our litigators have expertise in a broad range of real property matters, covering the spectrum from lender and developer representation to eminent domain.
The firm’s real estate litigation clients are equally diverse, and include landowners, developers, contractors, brokers, lenders, investors, and public entities. Consistent with the Firm’s approach to litigation matters in general, our attorneys approach their cases with practical, result-oriented plans which are tailored to the client’s particular needs and budget.
Some of the cases handled by the Real Estate Litigation Practice group include, but are not limited to:
- Borrower and Lender Representation
- Judicial Foreclosures
- Receiverships
- Quiet Title Actions
- Partition and Boundary Disputes
- Purchase and Sale Disputes
- Unlawful Detainers
- Commercial Lease Disputes
- Construction Disputes
- Environmental Litigation
- Contaminated Sites
- Brokerage, Agency and Commission Issues
- Eminent Domain/Inverse Condemnation
- Partnership Dissolutions
Selected Experience
- Downey Brand handled contentious and protracted litigation on behalf of real estate holding company Park Cattle Co. in litigation against Bill Yung and his Tropicana gaming and holding companies for enforcement of a ground lease for the Horizon Casino Resort in South Lake Tahoe. A two month jury trial resolved two days before Downey Brand’s closing argument when Yung and Tropicana agreed to dismiss their complaints against Park Cattle, return the Horizon property, and pay $165 million in damages, plus interest, to Park Cattle.
- At the conclusion of a three week jury trial in Sacramento County Superior Court, jury returned a complete defense verdict for Downey Brand’s clients, real estate developers Charles Somers and Ron Alvarado, who were sued by AKT Development Corporation for fraud, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty regarding an alleged joint venture to purchase significant development property near Sacramento.
- In litigation filed in Placer County Superior Court, Downey Brand represented property developers sued by adjoining landowner for actions related to pursuit of development entitlements. Downey Brand obtained complete dismissal of suit in its entirety under California’s Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (“anti-SLAPP”) statute, based on client’s constitutional free speech and public participation rights, and dismissal was affirmed on appeal, entitling clients to recovery of attorney’s fees incurred both in the trial court and on appeal.
- Downey Brand handled contentious and protracted litigation on behalf of real estate holding company Park Cattle Co. in litigation against Bill Yung and his Tropicana gaming and holding companies for enforcement of a ground lease for the Horizon Casino Resort in South Lake Tahoe. A two month jury trial resolved two days before Downey Brand’s closing argument when Yung and Tropicana agreed to dismiss their complaints against Park Cattle, return the Horizon property, and pay $165 million in damages, plus interest, to Park Cattle.
- At the conclusion of a three week jury trial in Sacramento County Superior Court, jury returned a complete defense verdict for Downey Brand’s clients, real estate developers Charles Somers and Ron Alvarado, who were sued by AKT Development Corporation for fraud, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty regarding an alleged joint venture to purchase significant development property near Sacramento.
- In litigation filed in Placer County Superior Court, Downey Brand represented property developers sued by adjoining landowner for actions related to pursuit of development entitlements. Downey Brand obtained complete dismissal of suit in its entirety under California’s Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (“anti-SLAPP”) statute, based on client’s constitutional free speech and public participation rights, and dismissal was affirmed on appeal, entitling clients to recovery of attorney’s fees incurred both in the trial court and on appeal.
- On behalf of commercial and residential developer seeking enforcement of easement rights against adjacent property owners in Butte County, jury rendered verdict in favor of client after trial.
- In action seeking writ of mandamus against City of Chico to enjoin City’s action in directing Downey Brand’s client, a residential developer, to prepare supplemental environmental impact report, Downey Brand obtained alternative writ at outset of case, and after trial Butte County Superior Court issued final writ in favor of client.
- In suit brought on behalf of developer based on defendants’ failure to honor contract to sell property to client, Downey Brand obtained jury verdict in Amador County Superior Court of in excess of $1M, including punitive damages. Verdict also required defendants to honor contract and sell 240 acres of property to client.
Meghan M. Baker
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5510
Janlynn Robinson Fleener
Managing Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5227
Michael J. Laino
Michael J. Laino
Senior Associate

Since joining Downey Brand in 2019, Michael Laino has represented businesses and individual clients in a wide arrange of civil litigation matters, including partnership and shareholder disputes, construction and product defect litigation, wildfire liability, adversary proceedings in bankruptcy cases, financial security matters, and general real estate and contractual litigation.
Sacramento 916.520.5360
Senior Associate
Sacramento 916.520.5360
Rebecca R. A. Smith
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5281
Robert P. Soran
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5364
Jennifer L. Williams
Jennifer L. Williams
Counsel

Regional public entities, businesses, sole proprietorships, and individuals have benefited from Jenny Williams's legal counsel. In today's challenging economic climate, an increase in case filings have reduced the court's availability to hear oral arguments and resulted in significant delays in obtaining trial dates.
Stockton 209.472.3918
Counsel
Stockton 209.472.3918
Sacramento 916.444.1000
Announcements
16 related items-
March 7, 2025Alexandra Maher Joins Downey Brand’s Litigation Practice
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November 7, 2024Downey Brand Ranked Nationally and Regionally in 2025 Best Law Firms®
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February 9, 2024Zachary A. Streiff Joins Downey Brand’s Litigation Practice
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January 16, 2024Associate Joshua A. Dalavai Joins Downey Brand’s Litigation Practice
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November 2, 2023Downey Brand Ranked Nationally and Regionally in 2024 Best Law Firms®
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November 5, 2022Downey Brand Ranked Nationally and Regionally in 2023 “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®
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March 8, 2021Real Estate Partner Marc Centor Joins Downey Brand’s San Francisco Office
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January 15, 2020Downey Brand Names Two New Partners
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June 7, 2019Downey Brand Welcomes New Litigation Attorney Michael J. Laino
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December 12, 2018Downey Brand Welcomes Two New Associates to its Sacramento Office
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March 7, 2018Jay-Allen Eisen Receives the 2017 Anne K. Meline Award
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December 20, 2017Downey Brand Promotes Four New Counsel
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March 10, 2017Annie Amaral Recognized as Young Leader by Comstock’s Magazine
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March 6, 2017William R. Warne Assumes Chairmanship at Downey Brand LLP
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January 6, 2017Downey Brand Names New Partners and Counsel
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January 4, 2016Downey Brand Names New Partner
Speaking Engagements / Events
2 related items-
October 6, 2022Dust to Dust: An Overview of Real Property Issues for T&E Lawyers
Presenter, Continuing Education of the Bar Webinar -
October 17-20, 201928th Annual Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite®
Presented by the California Lawyers Association
Legal Alerts
1 related items-
May 6, 2014Orange County Trial Court Upholds Cadiz Valley Groundwater Project
Water Law
Publications
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April 12, 2022San Francisco’s Storefront Vacancy Tax is Now in Effect
Downey Brand Publication