Esteemed attorney and executive brings multifaceted experience to growing California law firm
SAN DIEGO (May 26, 2009) – Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP, a prominent California law firm, today announced the further strengthening of its real estate group with the addition of attorney Charles E. Black to the firm’s San Diego office. Black will be Of Counsel in the firm’s real estate group, focusing on real estate, land use, finance and restructuring, as well as renewable energy.
Black has extensive experience as both an attorney and executive in taking real estate projects from the conceptual stage all the way to completion, including occupancy and commissioning of some of the largest and most complex public and private real estate projects in the region. He was formerly in private practice and has also been a partner with Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich (now DLA-Piper), where he chaired the real estate, land use and environmental law department.
“Charles’ distinctive experience as both an accomplished lawyer and executive is a very unique force to add to our firm’s strength as we continue our strategic growth throughout California,” said Kurt L. Kicklighter, Luce Forward’s Managing Partner. “His diverse background, including executive management, will be a significant contributor to the high quality of service that Luce Forward is known for in serving our real estate clients throughout the state.”
Black was most recently the Regional Senior Vice-President of The Irvine Company where he represented all of the company’s business interests in San Diego County, including approximately seven million square feet of inventory and management of the development process for new projects. He has also served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the San Diego Padres and as Executive Vice President of JMI Realty where he led the PETCO Park development team on behalf of the Padres and the City of San Diego, guiding the development, financing and construction of PETCO Park and all non-lodging assets in the surrounding 26-block Ballpark District. Black also led the master planning, development and entitlement of Ballpark Village and East Village Square, respectively 3.2 million and 700,000 square mixed-use projects in Downtown San Diego.
“Luce Forward has a strong commitment to the real estate industry; this commitment and its resulting reputation have resonated in the firm’s continued growth throughout the state,” Black said. “My respect and admiration for the firm carries through to its team of dedicated attorneys, and I look forward to working in a partnership with them to advance Luce Forward’s standing as the expert firm for real estate and land use transactions.”
Black teaches urban planning and development law at the University of California, San Diego and is a sought after speaker on real estate and development issues in conferences and seminars across the country. He is a board member of CB Richard Ellis Realty Trust, a public, non-traded REIT. Black also volunteers his time as General Counsel of Father Joe’s Villages, a San Diego-based non-profit that provides comprehensive services to aid the homeless as it is the best way he knows how to contribute to the importance of the organization’s mission. Black received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis and his Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Air Force Academy.
Luce Forward has more than 80 attorneys serving the real estate industry. The group represents developers, owners and lenders in major commercial and residential real estate developments throughout California and across the nation. The group also understands the complicated legal issues involved with distressed assets and has experience in handling all aspects of troubled real estate.
Founded in 1873, Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP is a full-service California law firm with offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel Valley/Del Mar, Orange County and Rancho Santa Fe. For more information, visit www.luce.com.
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