Robert Pearman, Robinson & Pearman: Attorney & Arbitrator

public works

Assisted a public agency client in analyzing various responses for a joint development proposal for its headquarters building; proposals were received from various major developers and property owners in the City. Once a single developer was selected, detailed and complicated negotiations took place for a complicated land exchange and joint development of a mixed-use transportation, retail and office complex (Union Station Gateway). Mr. Pearman provided legal services on a number of dispositions and construction documents: Purchase and sale agreement, grant deed, interim parking licenses, reciprocal easement and operating agreement, permanently reserved easement for parking spaces for transit riders, remediation agreements, recorded environmental restrictions, parking development agreement, and security documents such as a guarantee and subordinated deed of trust. He also represented the client in developing its master construction contract, and property management and construction management agreements, among others.

Represented CRA/LA in the construction and development of a major arts and educational facility in the downtown redevelopment district. For this $80 million project, documentation included disposition and development agreement, long-term ground lease and related documents.

Examples of redevelopment legal services rendered include: Negotiation, review and drafting of all manner of contracts and agreements; Litigation; Conflict of interest, Political Reform Act, and Brown Act advice; Analysis of Municipal Codes, building codes, the State of California Community Redevelopment Law; Advise on Board policy, contractual and legal authority for corporate actions; Assistance regarding disposition and development agreements and project area development; Advise on techniques for issuance of public financing by agency; CEQA; Creation of and amendments to redevelopment project areas.

Case Studies

los angeles city central library

Mr. Pearman led a team responsible for drafting a series of three (3) very complicated ground leases on the complex proposal to creatively finance and lease back the L.A. City Central Library. Ground leases went from the city to its redevelopment agency to an investor-purchaser with a lease back to the City; AND the building was severed from the ground and subject to its own series of leases. The existing bonded indebtedness of the city and the Agency was implicated in the financing, which contemplated new bonded indebtedness as well related to the library facilities.