Lawyers

TODD J. WENZEL

Partner — San Francisco

EXPERIENCE

After practicing 8 years in Los Angeles, Mr. Wenzel joined RMKB in their San Francisco office in June 2000. His practice is in real estate litigation and transactions, landlord-tenant disputes, construction litigation, and business transactions and disputes. Other areas of his practice include toxic tort (mold) and premises liability actions. His clients include landowners, real estate brokers and agents, architects and engineers, contractors and developers, and business owners.

Mr. Wenzel is a member of the State Bar of California, the Bar Association of San Francisco, and the Napa County Bar Association. He is licensed to practice in all California State and Federal Courts. In 2007, he served on the Advocacy Committee for the Northern California Chapter of the US Green Building Council, and in 2007-2008, he served as Chairman of the Landowner Liability Substantive Law Committee for the Association of Defense Council for Northern California and Nevada.

Mr. Wenzel lives in Napa, California with his wife Robin and their two sons.

OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Seminar Presentations:

• (09/27/01) “The San Francisco Residential Rent Stabilization & Arbitration Ordinance.” Rancho Cordova, CA (Presented to Fireman’s Fund PIRCO Litigation Unit)
• (09/20/02) “The Rise And Fall of Mold Litigation.” San Francisco, CA (Presented to lawyers, property owners, and insurance adjusters.)
• (06/04/04) “Defending Violations Under the San Francisco Residential Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Ordinance: Discovery Practices” Alameda, CA (Presented to Valarian, Patterson, Stratman & Love.)
• (06/30/05) “Real Estate Transactions and the San Francisco Rent Control Ordinance.” San Francisco, CA (Presented to real estate brokers agents and title agents.)
• (10/27/05) “Landlord-Tenant Law for the Experienced Practitioner: Problem Tenants.” San Francisco, CA (Presented to lawyers and property owners.)
• (06/23/06) “Calculating and Proving Damages” San Francisco, CA (Presented to lawyers, accountants, and litigation experts.)
• (2006-2007) “Legal Issues in Residential Real Estate: Disclosures.” SF Bay Area, CA (California Department of Real Estate approved seminar, presented to numerous real estate agents and brokers.)
• (2007) “Arbitration, Mediation & Liquidated Damages.” SF Bay Area, CA (Presented to real estate agents and brokers.)
• (05/31/07) “Legal Solutions for Bad Tenants” Oakland, CA (Presented to members of the California Apartment Owners Association.)
• (Fall 2007) "Real Estate Update: Disclosures and Arbitration provisions" SF Bay Area, CA (Presented to real estate agents and brokers.)
• (12/13/07) “Mediating and Settling Tenant Habitability Claims” San Francisco, CA (Presented to members of the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California & Nevada.)
• (01/24/08) “How to Raise Rents Under Rent Control & Just Cause Evictions” Oakland, CA (Presented to members of the California Apartment Owners Association.)
• (01/31/08) “How to Raise Rents Under Rent Control & Just Cause Evictions” Burlingame, CA (Presented to members of the California Apartment Owners Association.)
• (02/21/08) “Landlord-Tenant Law: Beyond the Basics” San Francisco, CA (Presented to property owners, property managers, and lawyers.)
• (02/26/08) “Law of Easements: Legal Issues and Practical Considerations” San Francisco, CA (Presented to property owners, property managers, and real estate professionals.)
• (04/30/08) "Real Estate Update: Disclosures and Arbitration provisions" Daly City, CA (Presented to Coldwell Banker-Daly City.)
• (07/19/08) “Legal Issues in Residential Real Estate Transactions” Dublin, CA (Presented to the Bay Area Legal Secretaries Association.)
• (08/14/08) “Green or Sustainable Construction” San Francisco, CA (Presented to developers, architects, lawyers, city planners, and building officials.)
• (08/27/08) “Green or Sustainable Construction” Oakland, CA (Presented to developers, architects, lawyers, city planners, and building officials.)

Publications: Articles Written

• (11/10/03) “Treble Damages: Defending a Wrongful Eviction Suit Under the S.F. Residential Rent Ordinance.” "Calif. Real Estate Journal", p.22.
• (12/09/03) “Evicting Landlords: Pendulum Designed to Protect S.F. Tenants Has Swung Way Too Far.” "San Francisco Daily Journal", Forum, P.4. (Reprinted 01/12/04 in "Calif. Real Estate Journal", p.16.)
• (June 2004) “No Silver Lining on This Anniversary Cloud” (Discussion of 25th Anniversary of San Francisco Residential Rent Stabilization & Arbitration Ordinance). "San Francisco Apartment Association Magazine", p. 14.
• (10/04/04) “California Real Estate Agents Must Be Wary of Local Rent Ordinances.” "Calif. Real Estate Journal", Front Page (co-authored by Daniel Flores, Esq.)
• (06/06/06) “S.F. Officials Pile on Obstacles to Home Ownership.” "San Francisco Daily Journal", p.8. (Reprinted 06/26/06 in "Calif. Real Estate Journal")
• (03/26/07) "California LEEDS Way in Green Build Movement: New legislation, government incentives encourage environmentally sound development." San Francisco Recorder; Real Estate Section, p.16.
• (January 2008) "Confronting the Sub-prime Mortgage Crisis: Real Estate Professionals Should Know What to do in Case a Claim is Filed." "The Registry", p.38 (co-authored by Jesshill E. Love).
• (April 2008) "Investing In Real Estate? – Consider An LLC To Limit Liabilities" "The Registry", p.16-17 (co-authored by Jesshill E. Love).
• (May 2008)"They're Coming! They're Coming!" "The Registry", p.36 (co-authored by Jesshill E. Love).
• (July 2008) "Everything You Were Afraid To Ask About Foreclosures: Foreclosure 101: How it Works and Viable Alternatives." "The Registry", p.30 (co-authored by Jesshill E. Love).

Quoted In Publications

• (03/21/05) “Bill Changes Apartment Owners’ Rights: Assemblyman introduces legislation to restrict use of Ellis Act to evict tenants for condo conversions.” "Calif. Real Estate Journal", p. 8.
• (Spring 2004) “Lightening the Burden of Liability.” "Multifamily Trends Magazine" (Urban Land Institute), at p.37, 49.
• (April 2006) “Conversion Conflict: San Francisco landlords turn to Ellis Act to evict renters.” "Multifamily Executive Magazine" (Hanley Wood LLC), at p.20.
• (04/16/07) “Lennar’s Request for Discounts Raises Legal and Ethical Questions.” "Calif. Real Estate Journal", p. 14.