Richard Self

Richard Self joined Pless Law Firm in 2021, bringing six years of expertise in real estate and business transactions. He began his practice working in San Francisco focusing on construction related litigation. Rich went on to receive his masters from the University of Denver in Real Estate Development and then working at a mid-size firm where he provided counsel to real estate clients in a variety of areas including drafting and reviewing purchase and sale agreements, lease agreements, lease amendments, and other transactional agreements.

He currently centers his practice around assisting clients with business governance documents, negotiation of commercial leases, loan refinances, buy-out agreements, and commercial unlawful detainers.

In his free time, Richard enjoys spending time with his wife, Madeline, and their three daughters!

University of Denver

M.S. (2018) | Real Estate Development

2018

COURSEWORK: Planning, Entitlements, and Public Finance

Honors: Boothby Scholarship Recipient, Real Estate & Construction Management Professional Builders Scholarship Recipient, Benjamin Bozeman Scholarship Recipient, 3.77 GPA

Activities: Graduate Business Scholar

University of San Francisco School of Law

J.D. (2014) | Law

2011 - 2014

Honors: Law Merit Plus Scholarship Recipient, Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition Team Member

Activities: Maritime Law Journal: Associate Executive Articles Editor (2013-2014), Associate Business Editor (2012-2013)

Associate Attorney

Pless Law Firm, LLC

2021 - Current

Commercial Real Estate and Business Law Practice

Associate Attorney

Goodspeed & Merrill

2019 - 2021

Real Estate & Corporate - Real Estate: acquisition, financing, entitlement, zoning, development, leasing, and disposition of both residential and commercial properties - Corporate: entity selection, formation and governance, syndication, mergers, acquisitions and dispositions of business entities

Associate Attorney

Keegin Harrison LLP

2017 - 2018

Real Estate & Corporate - Practice focused on business, real estate and land use-related transactional matters. - Worked with individuals and businesses of varying sizes on a wide range of transactional matters, including entity selection and formation, corporate governance, and mergers & acquisitions. - Real property practice focuses on the acquisition, financing, entitlement, zoning, development, leasing, and disposition of both residential and commercial properties. - Transactional practice with an adept background in litigation and a focus on problem solving and prevention. Prior to joining Keegin Harrison, experience was primarily in civil litigation, including managing cases from initial complaint through trial commencement—handling all pre-trial discovery, depositions, motion drafting, and court appearances in both the San Francisco and Alameda County Superior Courts.

Associate Attorney

Imai, Tadlock, Keeney & Cordery, LLP

2015 - 2017

- Defended premises owners, contractors, etc., in lawsuits stemming from involvement in construction industry; - Actively managed dozens of cases through all phases of litigation cycle from initial receipt of Complaint through resolution; - Negotiated with opposing counsel and co-defendants at depositions, motion hearings, case management and trial-setting; - Cross-examined plaintiffs, percipient witnesses, and expert witnesses at more than fifty depositions; - Argued dispositive motions in San Francisco and Alameda Superior Courts and drafted discovery requests and responses; - Communicated with clients regarding all case development, evaluation, motion, and resolution strategies

Law Clerk

Gagnier Margossian LLP

2013 - 2013

Entity Formation & Corporate Governance

Business Development Intern

OpenGate Capital

2012 - 2012

Private equity firm specializing in acquisitions of divestitures and non-core, carve-outs. Reviewed non-disclosure agreements regarding prospective company acquisitions; tasked with creating condensed, yet comprehensive, overviews of all investment bank-produced confidential information memorandums for the review and analysis of domestic and international M&A partners within the firm.

State Bar of California  # 300422

Member

Current

State Bar of Colorado  # 52946

Member

Current

California

State Bar of California

ID Number: 300422

Colorado

Colorado Supreme Court

ID Number: 52946