August/September 2017 Real Estate Law Newsletter

September 1, 2017 in .
by Peter N. Brewer, Esq.

Every ending is a beginning. The end of summer begins a new school year, with new challenges and opportunities. When escrow closes, one family’s adventure comes to a conclusion, while another family embarks on a brand-new life. Every ending and beginning offers a chance for reflection — a chance to appreciate the past and to also chart a course for the future. Transitions are a part of life, but each step should bring you closer to better.

At Brewer Offord & Pedersen LLP, we are passionately focused on building better for our clients — by investing in new technologies, improving processes, challenging traditional law firm practices, and adding new attorney talent. Over the next few weeks, we will be making some exciting announcements, as we continue to build a better real estate and lending law firm for our clients, colleagues, and friends. As you and your family head out for what hopes to be a fun and relaxing holiday weekend, we wish you a safe and wonderful Labor Day!

Highlights in this month’s issue:

—Join us for breakfast and a seminar about easements on September 7th

—Watch the replay of our recent webinar about land use & zoning

—Read about Peter Brewer’s presentation at the 2017 State Bar Sections Convention, and the conclusion of his tenure as chair of the Law Practice Management & Technology section

—Check out highlights from the event our firm hosted for the Women Lawyers Section of the Palo Alto Area Bar Association

—Hear the podcast of Simon Offord’s most recent appearance on the Brian Copeland radio show

—Catch up on updates from the firm, including speaking engagements, birthdays, trips, concerts, leadership positions, and more!

We hope you enjoy reading the September edition of our newsletter!






zoning webinar header

Have you ever wondered how cities and municipalities in the San Francisco Bay Area regulate economic development, especially in an era of limited housing supply but increasing demand? One solution to the housing affordability crisis is to build new housing developments. But there is little available space in the area, given the unique terrain of the Bay Area. Developers and builders have to be creative, such as taking advantage of mixed-use residential zones.

Navigating land use policies and zoning ordinances can be extremely difficult in California. However, it is important for the larger real estate community to understand these processes. On August 29th, Brewer Offord & Pedersen LLP presented a free webinar about the basics of land use & zoning in California. Senior real estate attorney
Charlie Bronitsky discussed a number of important elements to land use, including basics zoning terms, the zoning process, and permitting.

You can watch a video replay of the webinar, and download the slides, by clicking the button below!
Watch Now





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Peter Brewer Presents at 2017 State Bar Sections Convention

Over the weekend of August 19th, Peter N. Brewer attended the 2017 State Bar of California Sections Convention in San Diego. During the convention, Peter had quite a full slate of meetings, dinners, and presentations. On Friday, Peter Brewer, along with Director of Marketing Clayton Dodds, attended a dinner for the executive committee of the Law Practice Management & Technology section. On Saturday, Peter chaired the quarterly meeting of the executive committee for the Law Practice Management & Technology section. During the meeting, Peter was recognized for his service and dedication to the committee as the outgoing 2017 chairman. Peter now serves as the Immediate Past President for the committee. Following the meeting, Peter gave a presentation about solo & small firm marketing, along with
his very good friend and colleague Peter Rehon, Esq.





Brewer Firm Hosts PAABA Women’s Event



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On August 18th, Brewer Offord & Pedersen LLP sponsored and hosted a lunch program for the Women Lawyers Section of the Palo Alto Area Bar Association (PAABA). The lunch program was about developing a professional image, presented by image consultant Orene Kearn. The event had so many attendees that our firm had to rent chairs and move the event to the main foyer of the office! As a passionate advocate for diversity, our firm recognizes the tremendous impact of having multiple perspectives from diverse backgrounds, and so we were thrilled to host this PAABA event.





simon on KGO



On July 19th, attorney Simon Offord appeared as a guest on The Brian Copeland Show on KGO 810. The popular radio talk show is hosted by Brian Copeland, an award-winning actor, comedian, author, and radio personality.



During the real estate clinic, Simon spoke about trends in the Bay Area real estate market and answered questions from callers, along with a panel of local real estate agents.

You can listen to the entire podcast of this month’s show, including Simon Offord’s insights, by clicking the button below.


brian copeland show









Brewer Firm News


  • Simon Offord successfully settled two failure to disclose cases — one on behalf of a homeowner in Fremont, and the other on behalf of the seller of a condo in South San Francisco
  • Peter N. Brewer accompanied his wife, Laura, a two-time world champion stenographer, to a stenographer conference in Berlin. Following the conference, they joined a week-long organized bicycle tour in and around Stockholm and Copenhagen
  • Attorney Ashlee D. Adkins helped a landlord avoid the cost of trial by resolving a dispute with prior tenants and their parents. The resolution involved the defendants compensating the client for significant damage done to the property prior to move-out
  • Director of Marketing Clayton Dodds attended the Legal Marketing Association’s (LMA) Lead Marketers Roundtable on August 17th
  • Peter N. Brewer enjoyed the company of colleagues at the Mountain Winery, for dinner and a performance by Garrison Keillor
  • Our bookkeeper Diane Hardy celebrated her birthday on August 10th, and marketing director Clayton Dodds celebrated his birthday a day later on August 11th
  • In a hearing in Santa Clara Superior Court, Ashlee D. Adkins won a motion granting a Writ of Attachment, enabling collection actions to proceed against a defendant prior to judgment
  • Office Manager Jessica Urioste and marketing director Clayton Dodds attended an LMA program about productivity and process improvement on August 10th

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