Santa Monica, CA – Cozen O’Connor attorney Paul S. Rutter, a member of the real estate practice in the firm’s Santa Monica, Calif., office, has been named “Urban Development Lawyer of the Year” by the Century City Bar Association. The Association provides legal education, leadership opportunities, and a sense of community to more than 4,000 Century City attorneys. Paul is among six attorneys being recognized by the Association for distinguishing himself in his respective field of expertise.
Paul combines his legal and business experience to provide clients with a unique perspective on the real estate industry and the practical and legal aspects of deals. Paul represents clients in both real estate and general business transactions, including development, financing, leasing, acquisition, and disposition of office, hotel, retail, mixed-use, and industrial properties as well as business formation, private equity investments, and general business transactions.
In the past year, Paul was involved in several large real estate transactions that have helped transform the built environment in California and in other states. Notably, Paul represented a global real estate investment firm in the negotiation of a programmatic joint venture for land acquisition and development throughout the Southwest with a large California state pension fund; represented the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority on several ground leases and joint development agreements for transit-oriented developments around the County of Los Angeles, and represented the Grand Avenue Joint Powers Authority in negotiations with the developer of The Grand project, which is transforming the Bunker Hill area of downtown Los Angeles. Paul also has represented private equity funds and sponsors in the acquisition and disposition of office, industrial and mixed-use projects in various locales across the country, including a $179.7 million acquisition of an office campus in Northern California, the disposition of a high-rise office building in San Francisco, and the sale of a majority interest in an 800,000 sq. ft. project in Philadelphia. Paul also represents financial institutions in connection with real estate loans for construction and permanent financing.
Paul will be honored at the Century City Bar Association’s 51st Annual Installation Banquet and Awards Ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel, Century City on April 30, 2019.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has more than 925 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor services its clients’ needs through 33 offices across two continents.