John T. Kontrabecki
Real Estate Attorney, Mediator, Advisor, and Transactional Consultant
As an attorney and financier with over three decades of experience, I have been advising companies on various aspects of real estate transactions. My work includes forming legal entities, establishing joint ventures, handling property acquisitions and sales, conducting due diligence, managing land use planning and entitlements, ensuring environmental compliance, and dealing with both secured and unsecured financing. Additionally, I am well-versed in construction contracts, litigation, and arbitration.
I am transaction-oriented and have significant experience in handling a broad spectrum of commercial contracts. My skills include reviewing, drafting, and negotiating joint venture agreements, development agreements, construction contracts, public utility agreements, vendor agreements, service contracts, operation and maintenance agreements, real estate leases, and financing loan agreements, among others. I excel at collaborating effectively with business principals and counsel on large-scale real estate development projects, reviewing relevant legal issues, and facilitating transactions to completion.
My strong background extends to both domestic and international real estate financing transactional practices. I have extensive experience in financing deal structuring and due diligence, which involves reviewing and evaluating contracts, assessing property rights, determining necessary consents and notices, reviewing and negotiating closing documents, and managing closings.
I am also adept at banking and financing matters, including reviewing and negotiating standard documentation for secured and unsecured lending transactions, project financing, operating lines of credit secured by collateralized asset pools, and municipal financing for infrastructure improvements.
I am an accomplished mediator, skilled in resolving disputes and fostering agreement among diverse parties.
- Cornell University
- MBA (1977) | Finance and accounting
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- Cornell University
- J.D. | Business law
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- Cornell University
- B.A. (1973) | Government, history and economics
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- President and General Counsel
- TKG International
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- Founder, president and general counsel of commercial real estate investment, development and consulting firm.
- Chief Financial Officer
- Berg & Berg Developers
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- CFO of Silicon Valley Based Industrial Real Estate Development Company.
- Vice President
- Wells Fargo Bank
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- Real Estate Industries Group financier.
- Associate Attorney
- Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP
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- Real estate practice including land use planning, construction and secured financing.
- Real Estate Broker
- California Department of Real Estate
- State Bar of California # 95398
- Member
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- Cornell Real Estate Council
- Member
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- Illinois State Bar Association
- Member
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- NAIOP
- Member
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- Urban Land Institute
- Member
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- American Bar Association
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- California
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- Illinois
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- Free Consultation
- Contingent Fees
- Arbitration & Mediation
- Business - Arbitration/Mediation, Consumer - Arbitration/Mediation, Family - Arbitration/Mediation
- Real Estate Law
- Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law
- Construction Law
- Construction Contracts, Construction Defects, Construction Liens, Construction Litigation
- Landlord Tenant
- Evictions, Housing Discrimination, Landlord Rights, Rent Control, Tenants' Rights
- Land Use Law
- English: Spoken, Written
- Q. Whats the easiest way to buy a reltive out from their percentage on a property
- A: Make a cash offer. Open escrow with a title company if the offer is accepted. Ask the title company to prepare a quitclaim deed from the family member transferring the title to you. Ask the family member to sign the deed and deposit the deed into escrow. Deposit the cash into escrow. The title company will record the deed first and then release the funds to your relative.
- Q. Should my partner and I purchase our home as a joint tenancy or TIC? We are unmarried; He has kids from prior marriage.
- A: Joint tenancy means each of you will own an undivided one-half interest in the property, and it includes the right of survivorship. Right of survivorship means if one of you should pass away, the person who passed would automatically transfer his or her ownership to the surviving person,. This would cut out his children from inheriting his one-half interest.
A tenancy in common means each of you will own an undivided one-half interest in the property. If one of you passed away, the decedent's interest would automatically pass to his or her heirs. In your case, if your friend died his children would inherit his undivided interest in the house. You could name an heir in your will or ... Read More
- Q. If my ex bought a hot tub for my birthday in 2019 and it's been on my property, can he remove it without my permission?
- A: If it was a gift, the answer is no. When a gift is made it transfers the title to the recipient of the gift without consideration or payment. As a practical matter, if he wants to take it back, let him because it means your relationship is over.