Over the last thirty (30) years, Kevin Lamb has developed an expertise in a broad spectrum of law, including business, finance, partnerships, real estate and bankruptcy.  He has also been an owner in numerous business ventures, which together, affords him a big picture perspective for solving his clients’ issues. As a business attorney he provides practical, strategic advice and support to business owners and corporate counsel with respect to formation, operational, acquisition and disposition issues. As a finance attorney, he utilizes his business perspective in representing national banks and financial institutions in the structuring, negotiating and documenting of commercial loans, as well as in the restructuring of problem loans.  As a partnership attorney he has expertise in structuring the operating entities and agreements, with a mind toward dispute resolution, as well as an expertise in resolving partnership disputes and facilitating buyouts. As a real estate attorney he brings hands on experience to his representation of lenders, developers, investors, hotel owners and real estate companies in all aspects of real estate law. 

Univ. of Michigan Law School J.D., cum laude - 1986

Univ. of Michigan Honors College B.A., with honors - 1983

I get to help people and their businesses flourish.  I love using my strategic skills and creative problem solving talents to take a business to the next level.  I thrive in the role of business advisor, understanding the business, brainstorming different perspectives and creating options for structuring the deal.  I excel at the challenge of discovering each party’s true needs and limitations, managing challenging personalities, and designing a win-win strategy.
I like to work with people who care, and who are driven to excel.  My ideal client is on a mission to be the best at what they do.  They have discovered a business they are passionate about.  They also have fun doing what they do and do not take themselves too seriously.  They are doing something that makes peoples’ lives a little bit better because they are doing it, and it is something that I can help make better and bigger. 
My clients hire me to problem solve.  They want my advice for overcoming roadblocks.  They want to understand, in simple terms, their best option for complying with the law without hurting their business returns.  To that end, I provide a discerning ear, practical advice based upon their business’ needs, and when appropriate synergistic introductions to my network.  My perspective often offers different options for solving the problem and occasionally an unexpected opportunity.  I make it a point to understand my clients’ businesses, so they can utilize all of the different expertise we have at our firm to their short and long term advantage.  
I view us as strategic partners.  By understanding my client’s business, and they in turn understanding our firm’s range of services, we can brainstorm, solve problems quickly and create the occasional unexpected windfall.  

Business

  • For over 25 years, acted as outside general counsel to a hotel management and development company assisting them and their clients, in the acquisition, repositioning, operation and disposition of numerous hotels from select service to full service luxury.
  • For over 25 years, acted as outside general counsel to a dry cleaning and textile supply company assisting them in operational issues, and roll up of numerous companies in the same and related industries.
  • For over 25 years, acted as outside general counsel to a California farm family with local and international farming operations and real estate holdings and development.
  • For over 27 years, acted as outside general counsel to a Japanese family in connection with their United States investments in golf courses, businesses and real estate holdings.
  • Represented purchaser in the acquisition of a large clothing manufacturer from a publically traded seller.

Finance

  • Represent national and regional banks in loan documentation for real estate loans, revolving credit agreements and term loans for entrepreneurial and middle market clients.
  • Represent out of state lenders in real estate financings.
  • Represented foreign bank in participating financing in Hawaiian townhome development.
  • Worked out, restructured and enhanced $400 million Taft Hartley Retirement Fund’s troubled loan portfolio.
  • Represented national and regional banks in workouts and foreclosures of troubled loans and disposition of REO properties.

Partnerships

  • Prepared operating agreements for partners in numerous industries including, apparel, golf, hospitality, long term pharmacy, and natural gas exploration.
  • Represented minority member in successfully defending a lawsuit from hostile member, which resulted in the forced buyout of hostile member and the subsequent acquisition of supermajority interest of large internet billing company.
  • Represented multi-property partnerships in a negotiated dissolutions involving the sale and trading of properties, infusing an underfunded pension fund with cash and negotiating a favorable extension with a foreclosing lender.
  • Represented member in an apparel company, after the court appointed a receiver, in negotiating an asset purchase and release of claims against affiliated companies.
  • Represented partner in large produce company in structuring a negotiated buyout of other partners utilizing favorable tax treatment and installment payments.

Real Estate

  • Represented hotel owners, managers and lenders in all phases of hotel development, operation and disposition with respect to hundreds of hotels ranging from economy to luxury brands.
  • Acted as owner’s representative together with joint venture developer in connection with planning, processing entitlements, and negotiating ground lease for 500-room hotel, 350-room vacation club/hotel; pleasure boat marina; boatyard; and commercial space on leased land in San Diego, CA.
  • Acted as owner’s day to day representative responsible for selecting development team, coordinating planning, and processing entitlements for golf course reconfiguration, clubhouse with overnight units and luxury townhome development at Sandpiper Golf Course through Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors and Coastal Commission approvals.
  • Represented owner in acquiring golf course from Japanese receiver with 100% financing, and its subsequent repositioning and disposition.
  • Acted as owner’s day to day representative responsible selecting development team, coordinating planning, and processing entitlements for on-shore to off-shore natural gas slant drilling project from entitlement through implementation, included Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors, Coastal Commission and State Lands Commission approval and passage of a State bill to amend revue sharing percentages.