Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP

Focus across Bay Area property matters

Two connected bodies of legal work define the firm's practice: real estate transactions and land use planning and zoning. Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP handles private agreements as well as matters that require review by local agencies. In my opinion, this combination gives property owners and developers access to related services within one firm.

The firm has offices in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. Its land use work covers San Francisco, Oakland and the East Bay. The stated service area also includes the North Bay, Peninsula and South Bay.

The client base includes real estate developers, national retailers and small property owners and developers. The website names Tishman-Speyer Properties, Kilroy Realty, Boston Properties, Equity Residential and United Dominion. It also identifies CVS, Starbucks and Sherwin-Williams as clients.

Land use review and local approvals

A proposed development can raise questions about permitted uses, building dimensions, environmental review and local policy. The firm handles zoning analysis and land use due diligence. It also provides permit consulting, legislative analysis and help with project entitlements.

Environmental review and preservation

When the California Environmental Quality Act applies, a public agency examines the possible environmental effects of a project. The process may involve an initial study, environmental documents, public comments and findings by the agency. The firm's listed services include CEQA compliance.

Historic preservation rules can add another layer of review when a property or district has protected status. Agencies may examine proposed alterations, demolition plans and the effect of new construction on historic resources. The firm identifies historic preservation as part of its land use work.

Entitlements, permits and appeals

Local planning staff often review an application before a planning commission or another public body takes action. A file may include plans, zoning calculations, environmental materials and written findings. Public notice and hearings may also form part of the process.

The firm handles project entitlements and appeals. An appeal can send a permit or land use decision to another local decision-maker for review. Permit consulting may also help coordinate applications and agency requirements while a proposal moves through public review.

Real estate transactions, ownership and disputes

A property deal usually turns on the contract, title information, financing terms and the physical condition of the site. The firm handles purchase and sale transactions as well as real estate due diligence. Its services also include lending and entity formation.

In a purchase or sale, the parties commonly address the property description, deposits, inspection rights, closing conditions and allocation of risk. Due diligence may involve leases, title documents, land use records and contracts tied to the property. Entity formation can affect how buyers hold an asset and how participants set their rights in writing.

The firm's leasing work applies to agreements between property owners and occupants. Its stated real estate services also cover construction contracts, condominiums and subdivisions. Those matters can involve development documents, allocation of maintenance duties, recorded maps and approval by public agencies.

Real estate litigation, eminent domain and municipal contracts and leases are also listed. Real estate disputes may concern contract duties, ownership rights, leasing terms or construction obligations. Eminent domain matters involve a public entity's proposed acquisition of private property and the compensation process established by law.

How the legal team is built

The published roster separates the lawyers into partners, of counsel and associates. The firm also has a permit consulting division. That structure places legal and permitting roles within the same real estate focus.

Attorneys with transactional experience

Partners James A. Reuben, Kevin Rose, Tuija Catalano, Jay Drake and Lindsay Petrone all list real estate among their practice areas. Sheryl Reuben, who is of counsel, also practices real estate law. Tuija Catalano speaks Finnish.

James Reuben earned his undergraduate degree at California State University, Northridge and his law degree at Golden Gate University School of Law. His profile covers real estate, land use and zoning, administrative law and estate planning. Kevin Rose earned his bachelor's degree at the University of California, Irvine in 1992 and his law degree at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1995. His work includes real estate, business transactions, land use, landlord and tenant law, and real property law.

Jay Drake earned degrees at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Lindsay Petrone attended the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. Sheryl Reuben earned a bachelor's degree at Brown University in 1984 and a law degree at Columbia University School of Law in 1987.

Land use, environmental and government work

Andrew J. Junius focuses on real estate, land use and zoning, and government matters. His profile also lists business law, environmental law and estate planning. He earned a Bachelor of Science at the University of Nevada-Reno and a law degree at Golden Gate University School of Law.

John Kevlin handles land use and zoning as well as litigation. He earned a bachelor's degree at Ithaca College in 2002 and a law degree at The George Washington University Law School in 2008. Mark Loper works on land use, zoning and environmental matters, and he graduated from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco in 2011.

Matthew Visick and Melinda Sarjapur both focus on land use and zoning. Visick graduated from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco in 2008. Sarjapur graduated from Golden Gate University School of Law in 2012. Thomas P. Tunny handles environmental law, natural resources and real estate law, and he earned a Bachelor of Arts at Bowdoin College.

Public details about the firm's work

Named client examples give a concrete view of the property work associated with the firm. The list includes major real estate companies as well as national retail businesses. The stated client categories also account for smaller property owners and developers.

The firm's published service menu identifies the legal tasks available across land use and real estate matters. Its attorney roster supplies names, roles, education and practice information for the lawyers described above. The firm also identifies company accounts on LinkedIn and X.