Education
J.D., University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
B.A., with highest distinction, University of California, Berkeley
Bar Admissions
California
Industries
Memberships
American Bar Association
Urban Land Institute (ULI) San Francisco District Council, Executive Board, UrbanPlan Committee, former
University of California, Berkeley Alumni Association
With more than two decades of commercial real estate experience, Lee provides deep market insight and skillfully leads his clients through the full range of transactions related to property ownership, development, management, and leasing. He wins the confidence of landlords, tenants, buyers, sellers, and developers using the knowledge he has accrued from frequently working either side of deals.
Like all Allen Matkins real estate lawyers, Lee thrives on doing deals and getting deals done. He never loses sight of the business at hand as he works to protect his clients from a legal perspective and aims to enhance their strategic objectives.
From the beginning of lease negotiations, Lee likes to establish a constructive, positive tone. He seeks to find commonalities and connect parties in a manner that will encourage productive interactions going forward.
On the landlord side, Lee represents institutional owners and investors, including real estate investment trusts and large development companies, in transactions that range from small, multi-tenant floor leases to leasing entire buildings.
In negotiations with prospective tenants, Lee employs techniques that favor long-term relationships without compromising the preservation of owners' rights. In all cases, he works to protect his landlord clients’ varied interests in the preparation, negotiation, and review of leases for properties that range from office buildings and corporate headquarters to commercial mixed-use properties, shopping centers, medical buildings, and more.
As tenant's counsel, Lee represents a variety of large enterprises, with a focus on the technology sector where he excels at negotiating its non-traditional requirements. For example, tech companies often have specific issues regarding confidentiality, security, and technical infrastructure. Routinely, they desire the ability to make a space uniquely theirs and expect favorable terms and conditions related to alterations and improvements. Also, due to the intermittent growth that technology companies typically face, he helps them to negotiate assurances should they require additional space or to receive fair and reasonable subleasing rights as their needs evolve.
For all sectors, as competition for space increases, tenants are extremely concerned about missing out on opportunities if they are unable to act quickly. But Lee’s understanding of the commercial landlord’s perspective—what matters and what doesn’t—ensures his clients a speedy, efficient process. He strives to guide tenant clients away from the issues that have already been asked and answered by the market—what it tolerates and what it expects—and to remove unnecessary obstacles that slow things down, allowing tenants to negotiate and secure the space they want in an effective and timely manner.
Lee also drafts and negotiates ground leases, subleases, license agreements, and related documentation, including tenant work letters, guaranties, consents and subordination, non-disturbance and attornment agreements, among others.
Despite market demand for additional space in prime jurisdictions, new governmental regulations and taxes continue to present significant challenges for investors and developers. Leveraging the talents of the Allen Matkins multidisciplinary team in finance, tax, corporate structuring, environmental, litigation, and bankruptcy, Lee is frequently engaged to lead creative workarounds that facilitate the acquisition, disposition, and development of existing properties and raw land.
Lee is a long-standing member of the Urban Land Institute, serving on the Executive Board and the UrbanPlan Committee of the San Francisco District Council. He is particularly passionate about his involvement in its UrbanPlan program—an educational enterprise. The curriculum is taught in high schools and colleges, and has been adapted for use in one-day workshops for elected and appointed public officials in connection with which Lee has served on a national steering committee. UrbanLand highlights the fundamental forces that shape the real estate development process. Lee volunteers as a facilitator in high school classrooms and as an instructor at one-day workshops.
Like all Allen Matkins real estate lawyers, Lee thrives on doing deals and getting deals done. He never loses sight of the business at hand as he works to protect his clients from a legal perspective and aims to enhance their strategic objectives.
From the beginning of lease negotiations, Lee likes to establish a constructive, positive tone. He seeks to find commonalities and connect parties in a manner that will encourage productive interactions going forward.
On the landlord side, Lee represents institutional owners and investors, including real estate investment trusts and large development companies, in transactions that range from small, multi-tenant floor leases to leasing entire buildings.
In negotiations with prospective tenants, Lee employs techniques that favor long-term relationships without compromising the preservation of owners' rights. In all cases, he works to protect his landlord clients’ varied interests in the preparation, negotiation, and review of leases for properties that range from office buildings and corporate headquarters to commercial mixed-use properties, shopping centers, medical buildings, and more.
As tenant's counsel, Lee represents a variety of large enterprises, with a focus on the technology sector where he excels at negotiating its non-traditional requirements. For example, tech companies often have specific issues regarding confidentiality, security, and technical infrastructure. Routinely, they desire the ability to make a space uniquely theirs and expect favorable terms and conditions related to alterations and improvements. Also, due to the intermittent growth that technology companies typically face, he helps them to negotiate assurances should they require additional space or to receive fair and reasonable subleasing rights as their needs evolve.
For all sectors, as competition for space increases, tenants are extremely concerned about missing out on opportunities if they are unable to act quickly. But Lee’s understanding of the commercial landlord’s perspective—what matters and what doesn’t—ensures his clients a speedy, efficient process. He strives to guide tenant clients away from the issues that have already been asked and answered by the market—what it tolerates and what it expects—and to remove unnecessary obstacles that slow things down, allowing tenants to negotiate and secure the space they want in an effective and timely manner.
Lee also drafts and negotiates ground leases, subleases, license agreements, and related documentation, including tenant work letters, guaranties, consents and subordination, non-disturbance and attornment agreements, among others.
Despite market demand for additional space in prime jurisdictions, new governmental regulations and taxes continue to present significant challenges for investors and developers. Leveraging the talents of the Allen Matkins multidisciplinary team in finance, tax, corporate structuring, environmental, litigation, and bankruptcy, Lee is frequently engaged to lead creative workarounds that facilitate the acquisition, disposition, and development of existing properties and raw land.
Lee is a long-standing member of the Urban Land Institute, serving on the Executive Board and the UrbanPlan Committee of the San Francisco District Council. He is particularly passionate about his involvement in its UrbanPlan program—an educational enterprise. The curriculum is taught in high schools and colleges, and has been adapted for use in one-day workshops for elected and appointed public officials in connection with which Lee has served on a national steering committee. UrbanLand highlights the fundamental forces that shape the real estate development process. Lee volunteers as a facilitator in high school classrooms and as an instructor at one-day workshops.
Bisnow's The Future of Mid Market
San Francisco, California
4.12.16
Bisnow's San Francisco Property Management Summit
San Francisco, California
8.28.13
Bisnow San Francisco Office of the Future
San Francisco, California
9.28.12
Avoiding Leasing Land Mines: Identifying and Understanding Landlord Priorities
San Francisco, California
11.02.11
Accommodating Google’s Growth: War Stories/Lessons Learned-Mountain View Acquisitions
Santa Clara, California
5.25.11
Preparing for and Dealing with a Tenant Audit
San Francisco, California
7.07.09
Law Seminars International (LSI) Commercial Real Estate Leases Conference
San Diego, California
11.06.07
While Still Pessimistic, Retail Outlook Begins to Rebound
7.21.21
Thirty-Two Allen Matkins Attorneys Named 2020 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Press Release
7.08.20
Thirty-Eight Allen Matkins Attorneys Named 2019 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Press Release
6.26.19
Forty-One Allen Matkins Attorneys Named 2018 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Press Release
7.16.18
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the UrbanPlan for Public Officials Workshops
5.07.18
What Drove Mid-Market's Office And Retail Boomlet?
Lee A. Edlund in Real Estate Bisnow San Francisco
Press Mention
4.18.16
SF Diligence, Closings Even More Aggressive Than Pre-Crash
Lee A. Edlund in Law360
Press Mention
5.21.14
Lee A. Edlund in Real Estate Bisnow San Francisco
Press Mention
5.16.14
LinkedIn Inks Lease For 26-Story San Francisco Tower
Lee A. Edlund in Law360
Press Mention
4.23.14
Google’s Hiring Graph Still Going up
Lee A. Edlund in GlobeSt
Press Mention
9.16.13
60 Allen Matkins Attorneys Named Among Super Lawyers 2013 and Rising Stars 2013
Press Release
7.11.13
Commercial Landlords in San Francisco Beware
2.25.13
If George Jetson Designed Offices
Lee A. Edlund in Real Estate Bisnow San Francisco
Press Mention
9.20.12
Real Estate Jukebox: Changes - The Danger of Too Much Control
9.20.11
9.01.11
Real Estate Jukebox: The Man Who Can't Be Moved - Locating and Relocating Easements
5.03.11
Real Estate Jukebox: When Will I Be Loved - Payment of Commissions on the "Busted Deal"
2.25.11
12.20.10
3.23.10
1.04.10
11.13.09
10.06.09
Landlords: Don't Give Away the Store!
By Cheryl S. Prell and Lee A. Edlund in the Los Angeles Business Journal
Article
9.29.09
Critical Lease Provisions From a Landlord's Perspective
By Lee A. Edlund and Cheryl S. Prell in iCounsel Newsletter
Article
9.08.09
Real Estate Jukebox: Disturbia - Survival of Lease Amendments in Foreclosure
8.19.09
Real Estate Jukebox: It's Too Late - Boilerplate Notice Provisions May Have Unexpected Consequences
7.08.09
Landlords: Keep Tenants Without Putting Long-Term Building Sale and Refinancing at Risk
By Cheryl S. Prell and Lee A. Edlund in FacilitiesNet
Article
7.01.09
Real Estate Jukebox: Money Changes Everything - Buybacks for Concessions Granted to Tenants
6.04.09
Real Estate Jukebox: Danger Zone - Landlords Need to Act Quickly After Eviction
5.21.09
Real Estate Jukebox: Take a Chance on Me - Suggestions for Reducing Subtenant's Exposure
5.05.09
4.23.09
Are You Using The Best Title Insurance Form?
4.23.08
A Title Policy for the New Millennium
By Kyle Y. Hoshide and Lee A. Edlund in the California Real Estate Journal
Article
4.14.08
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