Real Estate
Bartko Pavia’s real estate practice offers unparalleled expertise across the full spectrum of real estate transactions and disputes. Representing tenants, property owners, developers, and investors nationwide, the firm handles leasing, acquisitions, sales, and management of commercial, retail, and industrial properties. The team is well-versed in addressing complex issues such as environmental assessment analysis, title reviews, and reciprocal easement agreements.
We bring significant experience to diverse transaction types, including drafting and negotiating purchase and construction agreements for corporate headquarters, distribution centers, warehouse facilities, and office projects. We work seamlessly to assist clients with comprehensive due diligence, lease restructuring, operating expense evaluations, tenant-in-common agreements, and architectural and construction contracts. Whether guiding clients through retail, restaurant, office, or industrial leases or resolving related disputes, Bartko Pavia delivers innovative solutions tailored to the client’s business objectives.
With a distinguished reputation in the industry, Bartko Pavia also provides valuable counsel on space needs, lease extensions and renewals, and strategies to optimize exit opportunities through subleases, assignments, or surrenders. Our client-focused approach, combined with deep market insight and technical expertise, ensures efficient and effective results, no matter the complexity of the project. From high-stakes developments to navigating everyday transactional needs, Bartko Pavia’s real estate team is a trusted partner committed to securing success for its clients.
Bartko Pavia has one of the largest and strongest retail leasing practices in the country, representing many well-known tenants in the industry. Unlike most law firms, our primary real estate practice is retail leasing representing retail tenants. Our attorneys are passionate about retail leasing, with over 22 years of experience in retail leasing on average. Most have worked in-house at national retailers, and approach retail leases from a practical in-house point of view with a healthy respect for the retailer’s operational issues and business relationship with the developer. We have developed a sophisticated “one stop shop” to satisfy nearly all of the legal needs of retailers, including commercial litigators who specialize in property management and retail lease dispute resolution. We are also able to provide our retailers real-time insight into what peers and other tenants of leverage are getting in their leases, and assist in leasing strategy.
Bartko Pavia’s real estate practice offers unparalleled expertise across the full spectrum of real estate transactions and disputes. Representing tenants, property owners, developers, and investors nationwide, and worldwide, the firm handles leasing, acquisitions, sales, financing and management of commercial, retail, industrial and residential properties. The team is well-versed in guiding clients on complex issues including environmental assessment analysis. We bring significant experience to diverse transaction types, including drafting and negotiating purchase and construction agreements for corporate headquarters, distribution centers, warehouse facilities, and office projects. We work seamlessly to assist clients with comprehensive due diligence, lease restructuring, operating expense evaluations, and architectural and construction contracts. Whether guiding clients through retail, restaurant, office, or industrial leases or resolving related disputes, Bartko Pavia delivers innovative solutions tailored to the client’s business objectives.
With a distinguished reputation in the industry, Bartko Pavia also provides valuable counsel on space needs, lease extensions and renewals, and strategies to optimize exit opportunities through subleases, assignments, or surrenders. Our client-focused approach, combined with deep market insight and technical expertise, ensures efficient and effective results, no matter the complexity of the project. From high-stakes developments to navigating everyday transactional needs, Bartko Pavia’s real estate team is a trusted partner committed to securing success for its clients.
Insights
Press Release
23, December 2025
Bartko Pavia Elevates Howland Gordon to Equity Partnership
SAN FRANCISCO (December 23, 2025) — Bartko Pavia LLP is pleased to announce the elevation of Howland Gordon to equity partner, effective January 1, 2026. Gordon's rapid ascent reflects both his exceptional business development success and his embodiment of what makes Bartko Pavia's real estate practice distinctive: a team of former in-house counsel who understand legal services from the client's perspective.
Speaking Engagements
08, October 2025
Melissa Harvey to Present at ICSC on Non-Retail Development in Shopping Centers
Melissa Harvey will be a featured speaker at the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) conference. She will co-present with Bruce Ritter of Clark Hill PC, New York, in a session titled “Non-Retail Development in a Shopping Center: What Doesn’t Fit in This Picture (or Does It?).”
Speaking Engagements
03, October 2025
Howland Gordon to Participate in ICSC Mock Negotiation on Anchor Exclusives
Howland Gordon will participate in the mock negotiation, “Anchor Exclusives and Prohibited Uses: Forbidden Concepts for Us to Anchor You Center,” at the upcoming ICSC Law Conference. This interactive program will showcase real-world strategies for addressing one of the most complex and contentious areas of retail leasing. Howland will highlight how exclusivity and prohibited-use provisions can be structured to protect landlord interests while anticipating the operational realities retailers face.
Speaking Engagements
24, September 2025
David Graham to Speak at NRTA Conference
David Graham will be a featured speaker at the NRTA 2025 Conference. The conference draws real estate and retail industry professionals from across the country to discuss key trends and challenges in retail real estate management. David will lead sessions on Managing Outside Counsel and Surrender and Return of Leased Premises, sharing practical strategies and insights drawn from his decades of experience negotiating leases nationwide and advising on the full retail real estate lifecycle.
Honors and Awards
01, January 2025
Bartko Pavia Earns Recognition in 2025 Best Law Firms® Rankings
We are proud to announce that Bartko LLP has been ranked in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®, a distinction that underscores our commitment to delivering outstanding legal services. This recognition, based on peer reviews and client feedback, highlights Bartko’s excellence across eight practice areas.
Press Release
01, November 2024
Matthews Negotiates Piperlime Flagship Lease in NYC
David Matthews negotiated the first store lease for Gap Inc.’s fashion boutique brand, Piperlime. The store opened September 6 to much publicity.
Media Mentions
02, February 2023
Firm Opens LA Office and Names New Leaders
San Francisco based law firm – Bartko Pavia – celebrated the opening of its Los Angeles office and a new, diverse leadership group at a reception this week, ushering in a new era for the business trials, labor, employment, and real estate transaction firm as it approaches five decades of practice. The pdf of the Daily Journal news article can be viewed here.
Insights & News
Media Mentions
27, October 2025
Honors and Awards
03, April 2026
Patrick M. Ryan Recognized as a Daily Journal Leading Commercial Litigator
Speaking Engagements
14, April 2026
Honors and Awards
27, March 2026
Media Mentions
16, April 2026
An Nguyen Ruda Named Dual Finalist for Law.com's 2026 Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards
Press Release
17, December 2025
Honors and Awards
26, November 2025
Patrick M. Ryan Named to Daily Journal’s 2025 “Top Antitrust Lawyers” List
Media Mentions
30, May 2025
Honors and Awards
23, September 2025
Patrick M. Ryan Earns Repeat Recognition as 2025 Top 100 Lawyer
Honors and Awards
01, January 2025
Bartko Pavia Earns Recognition in 2025 Best Law Firms® Rankings
Press Release
14, May 2025
Bartko Pavia’s Patrick M. Ryan obtains $222 million jury verdict against Walmart
Press Release
23, December 2025
Speaking Engagements
30, January 2026
An Nguyen Ruda Joins Panel on Law Firm Governance and Organizational Structure
Press Release
31, May 2019
Bartko Pavia Firm Obtains $845,114,000 Judgment for ASML Against XTAL, Inc.
Media Mentions
05, February 2024
Speaking Engagements
20, February 2026
An Nguyen Ruda Discusses Building Authentic Culture at Bartko Pavia LLP
Speaking Engagements
17, February 2026
Giovanni Spinelli Presents at Milan Bar Seminar on Judicial and Prosecutorial Independence
Media Mentions
13, February 2026
AI and the Human Premium: An Nguyen Ruda on the Legal Late Night Podcast
Honors and Awards
08, November 2023
Press Release
11, March 2022
Bartko Pavia Scores Huge Defense Jury Verdict in $411 Million Sutter Health Antitrust Class Action
Press Release
07, February 2023
Press Release
30, October 2025
An Ruda Serves as Judge at the Berkeley Female Founders & Funders Summit
Honors and Awards
17, May 2023
Media Mentions
27, October 2025
Honors and Awards
03, April 2026
Patrick M. Ryan Recognized as a Daily Journal Leading Commercial Litigator
Speaking Engagements
14, April 2026
Honors and Awards
27, March 2026
Media Mentions
16, April 2026
An Nguyen Ruda Named Dual Finalist for Law.com's 2026 Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards
Press Release
17, December 2025
Honors and Awards
26, November 2025
Patrick M. Ryan Named to Daily Journal’s 2025 “Top Antitrust Lawyers” List
Media Mentions
30, May 2025
Honors and Awards
23, September 2025
Patrick M. Ryan Earns Repeat Recognition as 2025 Top 100 Lawyer
Honors and Awards
01, January 2025
Bartko Pavia Earns Recognition in 2025 Best Law Firms® Rankings
Press Release
14, May 2025
Bartko Pavia’s Patrick M. Ryan obtains $222 million jury verdict against Walmart
Press Release
23, December 2025
Speaking Engagements
30, January 2026
An Nguyen Ruda Joins Panel on Law Firm Governance and Organizational Structure
Press Release
31, May 2019
Bartko Pavia Firm Obtains $845,114,000 Judgment for ASML Against XTAL, Inc.
Media Mentions
05, February 2024
Speaking Engagements
20, February 2026
An Nguyen Ruda Discusses Building Authentic Culture at Bartko Pavia LLP
Speaking Engagements
17, February 2026
Giovanni Spinelli Presents at Milan Bar Seminar on Judicial and Prosecutorial Independence
Media Mentions
13, February 2026
AI and the Human Premium: An Nguyen Ruda on the Legal Late Night Podcast
Honors and Awards
08, November 2023
Press Release
11, March 2022
Bartko Pavia Scores Huge Defense Jury Verdict in $411 Million Sutter Health Antitrust Class Action
Press Release
07, February 2023
Press Release
30, October 2025
An Ruda Serves as Judge at the Berkeley Female Founders & Funders Summit
Honors and Awards
17, May 2023
Media Mentions
27, October 2025
Honors and Awards
03, April 2026
Patrick M. Ryan Recognized as a Daily Journal Leading Commercial Litigator
Speaking Engagements
14, April 2026
