News & Insights

Top Legal Talent, Specialized CRE Services Hallmarks of Rapidly Growing Law Firm

SAN DIEGO (July 25, 2024).  With a roster of high profile clients, a significant California and national presence, and an expanding team of best-in-class attorneys, Southern California-based Crosbie Gliner Schiffman Southard & Swanson LLP (CGS3) celebrates its eleven-year anniversary this month.

Since opening its doors in July 2013, CGS3 has played a key role in some of the region’s most important real estate transactions – from luxury and specialty retail leasing deals to complex commercial sales and acquisitions to high-stakes litigation.  Now, as CGS3 enters its 12th year, it is known as one of California’s leading commercial real estate law firms.

Milestones and accolades over the last year include:

• In the San Diego office, Ulrick Matsunaga has been promoted to associate attorney.
• The Los Angeles office added senior counsel Dorothy Groza.
• For the seventh consecutive year, CGS3 is recognized by Chambers & Partners, the preeminent legal research and law firm ranking publisher, as one of the best real estate law firms in California.
• Earning multiple accolades for firm attorneys, including recognition in Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers and SD Metro’s “40 under 40,” as well as the San Diego Business Journal’s “SD 500,” “Women of Influence in Law,” “Influential Veteran Business Leaders” and “Leaders in Law,” to name just a few.
• Continuing to focus on the importance of inclusivity in the workplace and supporting the University of San Diego’s (USD’s) Advancing Black Leadership and Scholarship Fund.
• Active community involvement including annual sponsorships for: Burnham Moores Policy Institute Board; Camp Out for Kids: Counselor Sponsor; Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA 51st Annual Roof Raisers Golf Tournament: Table Sponsor; NAIOP San Diego: Annual Platinum Partner; SES Tennis Center Fundraising Pro-Am: Sponsor and The New Children’s Museum: Gala Sponsor..
• CGS3 team members are community leaders in organizations including the New Children’s Museum, SES Tennis Center, the Magdalena Ecke Family and Core Spaces’ “Camp Out at Home” Annual Fundraiser.
• CGS3’s recent high-profile deals include:
  • Represent a major San Diego real estate investment company in construction of multi-million-dollar hotel, and leading representation in litigation with subcontractors after the completion of construction.
  • Represent the buyer in the acquisition of a full block of downtown San Diego property through the purchase from a life insurance company of defaulted senior secured mortgage debt, foreclosure and relief from stay in bankruptcy.
  • Represent the developer in the purchase of an option to acquire an entire block of downtown San Diego property, the negotiation of the terms of an Owner Participation Agreement with the City of San Diego, exercise of the option and purchase of the property and all aspects of the development, construction and financing of the Pinnacle Museum Tower condominium project in collaboration with the Children’s Museum of San Diego.
  • Represent the developer in all aspects of the development and financing of a multi-property portfolio of Class A San Diego commercial property and the eventual disposition of that portfolio in an UPREIT structured transaction with a NYSE-traded real estate investment trust.
  • Represent the developer in a more than $200 million credit-tenant lease transaction for the development and construction of a corporate headquarters facility for a Fortune 100 company in downtown San Diego.
  • Represent the ground tenant in the negotiation of a long-term ground lease of downtown San Diego property for the development of a high-rise mixed-use urban retail and multi-family residential project, the leasing of the retail portion of the project to a national retailer and the venture and construction financing of the overall project.
  • Represent major San Diego real estate investment company in construction of multi-million-dollar hotel, and leading representation in litigation with subcontractors after the completion of construction.
  • Represent a privately traded real estate investment company in connection with a $188 million construction and permanent loan secured by an existing class-A office tower and parking structure and a to-be-constructed second class-A office tower and parking structure, located in the UTC area of San Diego.
  • Represent the landlord on a 99-year ground lease in the Midway District for the purpose of initially constructing a mixed-use development with a multifamily residential component of no less than 450 units and no more than 500 units plus retail and other commercial spaces (including parking and storage areas) within the premises.
  • Represent the tenant, a global cybersecurity company, in the relocation and leasing of a full floor office lease in downtown San Diego.

About Crosbie Gliner Schiffman Southard & Swanson LLP (CGS3)

CGS3 is a recognized leader among a new generation of commercial real estate law firms with practice areas covering the entire commercial real estate life cycle, including finance, acquisition/disposition, entity formation, tax, development, land use, leasing, distressed asset workouts and dispute resolution.  Earning a reputation as one of California’s leading commercial real estate law firms, CGS3 recruits the state’s top real estate attorneys from both large corporate firms and senior in-house positions. For more information, visit http://www.cgs3.com.