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Biography

Craig helps clients successfully meet a broad range of real estate needs. Focusing his practice on the areas of real estate and land use transactions, he has managed and led a variety of real estate transactions over the course of his career: from acquisition to sale, and everything in between, including procurement of real estate development entitlements, construction, financing, and leasing.

Craig has handled such diverse transactions as the purchase and sale of office buildings, industrial parks, warehouses, factories, oil refineries, gas stations, hotels, radio stations, and high school campuses; the preparation of private placement offerings for the financing of a marina, restaurants and residential communities; and the coordination of leasing activities for regional malls, fast-food companies and major public utilities.

In addition, Craig has extensive experience successfully representing real property owners on a diverse range of regulatory and administrative matters, including in particular: analysis and application of City and County General Plans, Specific Plans and zoning ordinances; obtaining Conditional Use Permits and Zoning Variances; negotiating development agreements with Cities and Counties to protect ongoing construction projects against interference by changes in local laws; and reconfiguring property boundaries for sale and redevelopment through lot line adjustments and subdivisions.

Craig is a member of the Real Estate Section of the Orange County Bar Association.  He performs legal services for local farmers through his membership in Western Growers.  He is on the Board of Directors of the Conservation Corps of Long Beach, which provides high-school education and career training to youths and young adults and creates environmental projects for communities throughout Los Angeles County.

Other Info About Craig

Experience

Legal Work Highlights

Representing a global oil and gas company in the $1.3 billion sale of an oil refinery, which also involved the sale of hundreds of miles of related pipelines, several tank farms, a wharf used to receive crude oil from tanker ships, and the related sales of 250 gasoline service stations to dozens of individual retail operators in Southern California.

Coordinating an international motorcycle manufacturing company’s sale and leaseback of its corporate headquarters in Southern California, including drafting and negotiating hazardous material provisions to cover a complete paint shop, a motorcycle test track, and a 500-gallon fuel storage tank next to the office building.

Representing a leading global technology and engineering company in the expedited sale of a former car battery manufacturing plant and subsequent leaseback of the property to allow for cleanup of possible contamination and pollution on the site.

Advising a major US entertainment company with respect to leases and construction and buildout of its studio and office space.

Acting as City Attorney for the City of South Gate on a broad range of matters, including:  drafting ordinances, resolutions, agenda bills and contracts; advising City officials as to compliance with state laws pertaining to City administration, such as the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, and bidding requirements for public works projects; assisting with the analysis of contractor bids and the award of public works contracts; interpretation of zoning questions, modifications and disputes; and advising Planning Commissioners on a variety of issues which arise during City Planning Commission meetings and hearings.

Education

Law School

University of Southern California, J.D., 1985

Undergraduate School

University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., Economics, 1981

Bar Memberships

Craig is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

California, 1985

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Orange County Bar Association

Orange County Business Council

National Association of Industrial and Office Properties

Western Growers

State Bar of California

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