PALO ALTO, California, January 5, 2010 – Seasoned real estate litigation partner Elizabeth T. Erhardt has joined Rutan & Tucker, LLP, one of California’s oldest and largest full-service law firms, in the firm’s Palo Alto office. Elizabeth concentrates her practice on real estate litigation, including breach of purchase and sale agreements, co-ownership disputes, all aspects of commercial and residential landlord-tenant disputes, CC&Rs, boundary disputes, easements, excavation, fraud and nondisclosure, and real estate-related business and professions code claims.
“As a real estate law specialist, published author and sought-after lecturer, Elizabeth brings a unique perspective and a wealth of experience to the firm’s clients,” said William Eliopoulos, a partner in Rutan’s Trial Section and Construction Law Group, and head of its Palo Alto office.
“We are delighted to have an attorney of Elizabeth’s stature and reputation in the legal community join our firm and know she will be an asset to our growing Palo Alto practice,” said Ski Harrison, Rutan’s managing partner.
Elizabeth has litigated a wide array of real property disputes including agricultural lot line adjustments and Williamson Act claims; commercial warehouse tenant improvements; franchisor-franchisee contracts, violations of lease provisions; developer CEQA compliance; apartment building purchase and sales; residential neighbor disputes; nuisance actions and disputes regarding fire damaged properties. Elizabeth also litigates complex business disputes involving real property, financial elder abuse claims and trust disputes. Her clients include domestic corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, developers, real estate investors, restaurateurs, property managers, commercial landlords and tenants, and apartment owners. She litigates in both state and federal court, has extensive mediation and arbitration experience and conducts writs and appeals.
Elizabeth conducts real estate training seminars, makes presentations to real estate brokers and their agents, publishes articles and is a guest panelist on local and statewide radio programs as an authority on real estate matters. She is recognized as one of the top San Francisco landlord-tenant attorneys in Robert Kiyosaki's 2009 book, The Real Book of Real Estate.
Elizabeth is a member of Commercial Real Estate Women-San Francisco (CREW-SF) and served on the CREW-SF Program's Committee. She is a founding member of Women in Water, Energy and Environment (AWWEE), where she serves on the San Francisco Leadership Committee. Elizabeth is a past board member of the Small Property Owners of San Francisco (SPOSF), and a member of the California Apartment Association (CAA) and San Francisco Apartment Association (SFAA). Additionally, she is a member of the San Francisco steering committee of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and a past board member of Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF). She is listed in Northern California Super Lawyers for 2010.
Prior to joining Rutan, she was a partner for seven years with Sideman & Bancroft LLP in San Francisco. She can be reached at 650.798.5671 or via email at eerhardt@rutan.com.
About Rutan & Tucker, LLP
Rutan & Tucker is California's largest full-service law firm headquartered in Orange County, California with offices in Costa Mesa and Palo Alto. Primary practice areas include corporate and securities law, business and real estate litigation, labor and employment law, intellectual property, real estate, government and regulatory law, land use law, bankruptcy, condemnation and property valuation, environmental law, and taxation and estate planning. Detailed information about the firm is available at www.rutan.com.