Phil Levine is head of the firm’s Northern California Real Estate Group. Phil concentrates his practice representing clients in a wide range of commercial real estate equity and debt transactions, including acquisitions and sales; ground lease transactions; financing (including permanent and construction loans); the structuring and formation of joint ventures and other investment vehicles for the development, ownership, and operation of all major property types, such as multifamily projects, office buildings, and industrial projects (including transactions involving the use of operating partnership units); representing landlords and tenants on office, industrial and retail leasing transactions; and counseling clients on ground-up development projects, including negotiating architect and construction contracts and development management agreements. His clients include REITs, private equity firms, institutional investors (including domestic and foreign investors), and real estate development companies. In the recent words of clients, Phil is “the best lawyer [they] have worked with in [their] career. Very smart and solution-oriented.” (Chambers USA 2022)

Phil is also a member of the firm’s Distressed Real Estate Group and has represented clients in connection with loan restructurings, deed in lieu transactions, foreclosures, REO dispositions and investments in the acquisition and restructuring of real estate debt and equity investments.

The Daily Journal named Phil to its 2013 list of California’s top 25 real estate transactional lawyers. Phil is also recommended by Chambers USA (2023), Best Lawyers in America (2023), Who’s Who Legal (2022), Legal 500 US (2022), Super Lawyers (2020), and IFLR1000 (2024) (all publications based on client and peer recommendations).

Phil is a member of national and local real estate trade organizations, including ULI and NAREIT, is a past member of the NAIOP National Forums, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Silicon Valley Chapter of NACORE.

Phil recently served on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity – Greater San Francisco and was Chairman of the Board’s Legal Committee. Phil has also been a Lecturer on real estate transactions at Stanford University School of Law.