LOS ANGELES – LAWFUEL – First for law, legal, attorney news – Piper Rudnick, an international law firm whose real estate group is ranked number one in the world, announced that Alan Wayte, one of the country’s
foremost real estate attorneys, has joined the firm’s Los Angeles real estate
practice.
The addition of Mr. Wayte is the latest in a series of strategic growth moves in the
California market and follows Piper Rudnick’s announcement in October that it will
merge with the West Coast-based firm Gray Cary.
“Alan Wayte is one of the most highly respected real estate attorneys in the
United States,†said Jay Epstien, chair of the firm’s national Real Estate
practice group. “His substantial experience representing institutional clients
enhances the firm’s ability to serve an important segment of the market.
Michael Meyer, the leader of Piper’s Los Angeles real estate group, said, “We
are thrilled to add Alan to our growing Los Angeles real estate practice, which now
numbers 23 lawyers.”
“We are honored to welcome Alan, whose work and commitment to excellence are so very
well known in Los Angeles,†added Jeff Rosenfeld, managing partner of Piper
Rudnick’s Los Angeles office.
Also joining the firm with Mr. Wayte, as an associate, will be Wilbert H. Watts, Jr.
In the past year, Piper Rudnick has experienced dramatic growth within its national
real estate practice and in California, including:
• The January 2004 opening of the firm’s first San Francisco office, the result
of a merger with the former Steinhart & Falconer, followed by the addition of
leading San Francisco real estate lawyers Caryl Welborn and Steve Cowan.
• The addition to the Los Angeles office in the first quarter of 2004 of 15 real
estate lawyers from Pillsbury Winthrop and Orrick led by partners Claudio Chavez,
John Duffy, Rich Mendelson, Michael Meyer, Jackie Park, Marshall Taylor, and John
Whitaker.
• The January 2004 addition of eight real estate attorneys formerly of Swidler
Berlin Shereff Friedman to the firm’s New York office
The firm also made international headlines in October when it announced that on
January 1, 2005, it will merge with West Coast-based Gray Cary Ware and Freidenrich,
forming Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, a business law firm of more than 1,300 lawyers with
offices in key locations on the East and West Coasts and across the country, as well
as a European office in Paris.
And its real estate department has received a number of important accolades. In
May, two leading international legal publishers placed the firm’s real estate
practice at the top of the profession. In the new Global Counsel Corporate Real
Estate Handbook (2004/05), the Practical Law Company, one of the leading British
publishers in the legal industry, announced that the firm has the premier real
estate practice in the United States. Nearly simultaneously, the third edition of
The International Who’s Who of Real Estate Lawyers dubbed Piper Rudnick “the
number one firm in the world for real estate legal expertise” and cited 12 of the
firm’s real estate attorneys as recommended by their clients and peers–more than
any other firm in the world. In April, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business
Lawyers named 19 of the firm’s real estate attorneys as leading business lawyers
in the U.S. The 2004 guide also ranked the real estate group in the top tier in
more states than any other American firm.
About Alan Wayte
Alan Wayte has focused his practice in real estate in Los Angeles for more than 35
years. He is experienced in all aspects of real estate transactions, including real
estate finance, purchases and sales, leasing, sale-leasebacks, joint ventures and
other forms of partnership, workouts, and foreclosures. His principal clients have
been institutional clients, such as insurance, companies, banks, pension funds, and
REITS. He routinely represents Los Angeles County and handles a range of real
estate work including ground leases.
Mr. Wayte’s experience also has included extensive work in the organization of
business entities such as limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and
corporations. He also is known for his work on unusual projects, such as acquiring
rights of way from railroads for use by the Southern California Regional Rail
Authority.
Mr. Wayte was president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers in 1994-1995.
He has served as chair of the Real Estate Section of the California State Bar and
chair of the Real Property Section of the Los Angeles County Bar. He is a member of
the Anglo-American Real Property Institute and a Fellow of the American College of
Mortgage Attorneys.
He is listed in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers for his real
estate practice, and is cited as a Southern California Super Lawyer. In 2004, he
was also listed as one of the Top 100 LA County Super Lawyers.
Mr. Wayte is a writer and a frequent speaker for professional groups, including the
American Law Institute – American Bar Association (where he is a permanent faculty
member for the annual Modern Real Estate Transactions and Real state Financing
courses); and the Los Angeles County Bar Association and California State Bar
Association Real Property Sections. He lectures at the University of Southern
California Law School and at University of Southern California, School of Urban and
Regional Planning.
Mr. Wayte is active in civic affairs. Since 1972, he has served as a member of the
board of directors of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, and he is its
secretary.
About Wilbert H. Watts, Jr.
Wilbert H, Watts, Jr., received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1999, where he
was primary editor of the Human Rights Journal. He focuses his practice in real
estate law and bankruptcy law. His real estate experience includes drafting and
negotiating documents for real estate financings on behalf of commercial banks and
investment funds and preparing and negotiating commercial leases for a bank in its
capacity as tenant and landlord. His experience in corporate reorganization and
bankruptcy includes advising numerous companies regarding the bankruptcy risks of
proposed asset sales and real estate development projects.
Mr. Watts also has served as an intern to the Kenya Human Rights Commission. He is
admitted to the Bar in California, the District of Columbia, and Virginia.
About Piper Rudnick LLP
In October 2004, Piper Rudnick and West Coast-based Gray Cary agreed to a merger
that becomes effective January 1, 2005, creating a new firm with added capabilities
to address the needs of public and private companies. Piper Rudnick Gray Cary will
be a business law firm of more than 1,300 lawyers with powerful offices in key
locations on the East and West Coasts and across the country, as well as a European
office in Paris. The merger adds Gray Cary’s noted strengths in corporate
securities and intellectual property to Piper Rudnick’s top real estate, business,
litigation, and government affairs practices.
