About Jim

EDUCATION:

I attended University of California at Los Angeles (B.A. 1973) Go Bruins! I went to Southwestern University for law school (J.D. 1977) and was admitted to California Bar in 1977.

EXPERIENCE:

From 1977 to 1985 I was counsel to Chicago Title Insurance Company in its regional legal departments in Los Angeles and San Francisco. From 1985 to 1988 I was the Associate Regional Counsel for The Travelers Real Estate Investment Department in its regional legal department in the East Bay. I have been in private practice since 1988.

My work has concentrated on title insurance defense, title insurance claims,  escrow matters, real estate lending and development transactions throughout the western United States.  We have experience with individual legal needs, such as sale contracts and also  with corporate clients and new business entities. 

I have authored articles for the J.F.K. University Law Record — “Revocation of Escrow Instructions: The Escrow Agents’ Liability”, and also contributed an articles to the Contra Costa Lawyer on “Earthquake Preparedness in the Escrow Closing”, “Neighbor Boundary Disputes: A Primer” and on the “New Real Estate Contract As Escrow Instructions” (September 2000). I was also a contributing author to "California Title Insurance Practice," 2nd Edition 1997, California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB).

TEACHING:

I was an adjunct professor teaching Real Property Law at JFK University School of Law for thirty-eight years.  I have also taught at various seminars in the Bay Area, for brokers, attorneys and other real estate professionals.

EXPERT WORK:

I have been called on to be an expert witness on matters concerning real property, title, and lending. I testified for the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office as a real estate expert in a criminal trial on a real estate lending matter.

ABOUT ME:

I am a proud parent of three daughters; Becky is the Co-founder of a nonprofit, The Adventure Project. Liz is an elementary school teacher in Denver, CO. Hanna, after graduating from Sacramento State and grad school at Columbia University, works in HR at a major financial institution. I love traveling to historical landmarks and I am actively involved with Lafayette United Methodist Church.