- THE FIRM
- Managing Shareholder: Michael Westover
- Founding Shareholders: Frank L Robinson,William R Neff, Thomas J Ragonetti, Bruce B Johnson (deceased).
- Number of Shareholders: 32
- Number of Other Lawyers: 18
FIRM OVERVIEW:
Otten Johnson's inception in January 1985 was guided by a single, formative principle: effective partnership between client and counsel.Guided by that principle, they've built a firm recognized for its commitment, inventiveness and practicality. The result: a synergy between every client's goals and the firm's commitment to realizing them.The firm's desire to serve the full range of their clients' needs has led them to establish practice specialties in land use, real estate, finance, litigation,business transactions and tax, securities and tax, bankruptcy and insolvency.Due to a rapidly expanding client base, the firm has grown quickly, yet careful attention has guided their growth in a way that empowers each client while preserving the firm structure and values that have been important to themfrom the start.Otten Johnson strives to make every client's experience remarkable. For over 20 years, they have done just that.With great optimism and with a continuing commitment to unparalleled client service, they are eager to continue that tradition.
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Real Estate: Otten, Johnson, Robinson,Neff + Ragonetti, P.C. provides legal services to the real estate industry at the local, national and international levels. Their clients include developers,builders, investors,operators,managers,brokers and title insurers of single and multi-family residential projects, office buildings, retail shopping centers and other commercial projects, and resort properties.The firm has represented these clients in all phases of their business from acquisition through development approvals, environmental regulation review and compliance, financing, title insurance matters and construction and development to leasing and disposition.They also have served as lessee's counsel in numerous leasing transactions (including leveraged leases) involving commercial real estate facilities. Additionally, the firm advises its real estate clients on a wide variety of sophisticated federal, state and local tax matters, including entity selection and formation, operational tax matters, partnership taxation,nonprofit taxation,property tax assessment protests and appeals and 1031 exchanges.
Land Use/Government & Condemnation: The firm provides a full range of services to a variety of clients in routine and complex land use and urban development approvals, transaction issues and litigation. The firm handles zoning, subdivision, annexation and related approval matters,both on a standalone basis and as part of their ongoing real estate representation.They frequently provide representation in complex and leading-edge land use and urban development matters, such as largescale, long-term planned developments, historic preservation projects, development agreements and vested rights arrangements, complex annexation agreements, initiative and referendum elections, public highway and interchange issues, urban renewal projects, special district and other public financing and subsidy arrangements and public-private partnerships and transactions. They also represent clients in complex litigation in the areas of regulatory takings, governmental authority, unauthorized or excessive fees and taxes and the constitutional rights of private property owners. The firm has a well-developed practice in representing property owners facing condemnation as part of a public project.
Business Transactions & Tax: The firm represents numerous large and small corporations, partnerships and other business entities in the areas of general corporate, securities, business law and tax. Their services to these clients include providing counsel and representation in debt and equity financings,mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, private placement securities transactions, syndications, formation and restructuring, antitrust, employment contracts, employee benefit plans, product distribution arrangements and franchising, technology issues, including computer law and telecommunications regulation, licensing, trademark and copyright registration and licensing, gaming and tax planning. The firm also provides pro bono counsel to various charitable organizations.
Litigation: The firm handles a broad range of complex commercial litigation. Their litigation lawyers, who have substantial trial experience in the federal, state and bankruptcy courts, have represented clients in contract disputes, employment, energy, product liability, creditors' rights, lender liability, securities, environmental, environmental insurance coverage, antitrust, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks and unfair competition, real estate title issues, construction and mechanic's lien claims and commercial landlord/tenant disputes.
CLIENTS The firm represents a diverse clientele of local, national and international entities and individuals operating in a wide array of industries, including banking; construction; financial services; insurance; investment banking;manufacturing;mortgage; private equity and venture capital; real estate; resort development; telecommunications and transportation, among others.
CONTACTS
Real Estate Christopher T Toll
Land Use/Government & Condemnation Thomas J Ragonetti
Business Transactions & Tax Robert P Attai
Litigation Brad W Schacht