California has one of the most complex and competitive real estate markets in the world. From large-scale commercial developments in Los Angeles to multibillion-dollar fund transactions spanning Silicon Valley and beyond, the legal work involved is rarely straightforward. Hiring the right real estate lawyer is not just about contracts. It is about protecting assets, navigating environmental regulations, and making sure deals close without costly surprises.
According to the State Bar of California, California has more licensed attorneys than any other state in the country. Within that large pool, only a small number of real estate lawyers earn consistent recognition from Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, and the Daily Journal, the three most credible independent benchmarks in the field.
Here are five real estate lawyers in California who stand out for their experience, verified track records, and peer-recognized expertise.
1. Anton N. (Tony) Natsis: Global Real Estate Group Chair at Allen Matkins, Century City, CA
Tony Natsis is a name partner and Chair of the Global Real Estate Group at Allen Matkins. Chambers USA has ranked him Band 1 in California Southern Real Estate for seven consecutive years, and Allen Matkins has held a Band 1 California real estate ranking for 23 consecutive years. His practice covers commercial leasing, acquisitions, development, and joint ventures. In the past decade alone, he has closed commercial leases exceeding 50 million square feet, worked on purchase contracts totaling more than $30 billion, and represented clients in portfolio investment sales exceeding $75 billion.
2. Sanford C. (Sandy) Presant: Global Real Estate Fund Practice Co-Chair at Greenberg Traurig LLP, Los Angeles, CA
Sandy Presant is Senior Chair of the Private Funds Group and Co-Chair of the Global Real Estate Fund Practice at Greenberg Traurig. With over 30 years of experience, he has structured and negotiated the tax and business aspects for more than 100 real estate private equity funds and 500 joint ventures across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia. His clients include Greystar, Bridge Investment Group, and over 50 leading private equity fund sponsors. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America, recognized as a California Super Lawyer, and is co-author of the two-volume treatise Tax Aspects of Real Estate Investments.
3. Diane C. De Felice: Land Use and Real Estate Development Shareholder at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Los Angeles, CA
Diane De Felice has over 25 years of experience in land use, environmental law, and real estate development across California. She is recognized in the 2025 and 2026 editions of Best Lawyers in America, named to the 2025 Southern California Super Lawyers list, and named a Top Real Estate and Development Lawyer by the Daily Journal in 2025. She has deep expertise in CEQA, NEPA, the Subdivision Map Act, and the California Coastal Act, and successfully represented the City of Baldwin Park at trial in a contested CEQA case involving a regional waste facility.
4. Allan J. Abshez: Land Use and Real Estate Development Partner at Loeb & Loeb LLP, Los Angeles, CA
Allan Abshez has over 40 years of experience in land use development law and real estate litigation in California. He graduated with highest honors from UC Berkeley and earned his J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) in 1984. Before returning to private practice, he served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Kaufman and Broad Home Corporation and as a legal extern for a California Supreme Court justice. He is recognized by Best Lawyers in America for both Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law in 2025, holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating, and has been named a California Super Lawyer multiple times.
5. Mathew A. Wyman: Real Estate Transactions Partner at Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, San Francisco, CA
Mathew Wyman is a partner and co-chair at Cox, Castle & Nicholson, one of California’s most respected real estate-focused law firms, and has been with the firm for over 37 years. His practice focuses on acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, project finance, workouts, and M&A transactions for developers, pension funds, and institutional investors. Best Lawyers in America has recognized him in Real Estate Law continuously since 2007. He is also recognized by Northern California Super Lawyers, Legal 500 USA, and serves on the Urban Land Institute’s Community Development Council leadership committee.
How to Choose the Right Real Estate Lawyer in California
The five lawyers on this list cover the full range of California real estate legal needs. Natsis at Allen Matkins is the strongest choice for major commercial leasing, acquisitions, and high-value transactions. Present at Greenberg Traurig is the right fit for real estate fund structuring, REITs, and complex cross-border investment. De Felice at Brownstein brings proven courtroom and regulatory experience for land use, CEQA, and development approvals. Abshez at Loeb & Loeb has four decades of land use permitting and litigation experience across every development sector in Los Angeles. Wyman at Cox Castle offers deep transactional expertise from San Francisco for developers and institutional investors.
California real estate law is shaped by some of the most demanding environmental, zoning, and regulatory frameworks in the country. The right attorney depends on the nature of your matter, whether that is a commercial transaction, a zoning dispute, a fund investment, or a complex development approval. Each lawyer on this list has built a career on delivering results in exactly these kinds of situations.
If your real estate matter is significant, these are names worth knowing before you sign anything.
