Thu Sep 17 2009
Tim Paone Joins Theodora Oringher to Chair Its Real Estate and Land Use Group
Tim Paone, formerly a partner of Manatt Phelps & Phillips, has joined the Orange County office of Theodora Oringher, where he will oversee the expansion of the Firm's Real Estate and Land Use Group. Paone will continue to provide entitlement and litigation services to his land use clients and those of the Theodora firm.
Theodora Oringher Miller & Richman PC is a regional firm with offices in Los Angeles and Orange County. The firm provides a wide range of business, real estate, and litigation services to a diverse client base. It is best known locally as lead counsel for Angels Baseball in one of Orange County's most closely watched real estate disputes, the litigation between the Angels and the City of Anaheim involving the team naming rights under the stadium lease. Angels Baseball prevailed in that case.
In discussing the firm's plans to expand its Real Estate and Land Use Practice Group, Todd Theodora commented: "We're taking our real estate practice to the next level and we've challenged Tim to lead the way." He added, "Tim is one of the area's best known and most accomplished land use lawyers. He brings an impressive client list to our firm."
Theodora Oringher anticipates that when the real estate industry emerges from recession, builders, developers, and owners of land will look more closely at the cost and delivery of legal services. "When they get back to business, it won't be business as usual – and it shouldn't be," said Paone. "They'll look much more closely at billing rates, turnaround time, and general efficiency, but they'll still want their work done by the best lawyers." Theodora Oringher plans to respond to these changing demands by assembling a top-tier real estate transactional and land use group to provide sophisticated legal services without the inflated billing rates and staffing so common in boom times.
While the Theodora firm has remained healthy and Paone's practice has remained strong through the recession, their track records do not reflect what is happening in the legal industry as a whole. "It's inevitable that during tough economic times major law firms will face difficult decisions, particularly with their real estate and corporate departments," said Theodora. "There will be downward pressure on rates and compensation, and outstanding lawyers will see their productivity temporarily deflated. That means opportunity for firms like ours." To Paone, that means offering top real estate and land use lawyers an opportunity to practice in an environment which may be more attractive to their clients, and offering clients outstanding services at a more acceptable price. "Our fees should flow from the type of relationship we want to have with our clients, rather than having our relationships defined by our fees," he said. "The Theodora business model provides the flexibility to do so and that's why I'm here."
Named as one of the "Best Lawyers in America" for his land use expertise, Paone brings to Theodora Oringher extensive experience in complex and controversial development entitlement projects, a highly successful land use litigation practice, and a strong reputation within the building industry. Known equally for his strategic guidance and hands-on technical skills, over the past three decades Tim has brought his insight and expertise to scores of projects throughout Southern California, with considerable work in the Coastal Zone. A small sampling of his projects includes the Newport Banning Ranch (Newport Beach), Shea/Baker Ranch property (Lake Forest), the Newport Coast (Newport Beach/County of Orange), Bolsa Chica (County of Orange), Mountain Park/Gypsum Canyon (Anaheim), Santa Monica Place (Santa Monica), Rancho San Pasqual (Escondido), Ridgeline Equestrian Estates (Orange), Sunnymead Ranch (Moreno Valley), and One Ford Road (Newport Beach), and projects within the Platinum Triangle (Anaheim).
Paone also has been active within the building industry, serving for many years as member of the Board of Directors of the Building Industry Association and as a member of the Board's Executive Committee. Additionally, he was a Governor's appointee to the California Law Revision Commission, a planning commissioner, and a planning commission chairman. He served as Vice-President for Entitlement with The Irvine Company, managing entitlement for the company's projects in Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Anaheim, and Orange.
Deeply committed to community service, Paone presently serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of HomeAid Orange County, the Boards of the Great Park Conservancy and the Community Foundation of Orange, and the President's Advisory Board of Servite High School. He is a Past-President of the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation, as well as of the Community Foundation of Orange. He also is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Chapman University Law School where he teaches Environmental Law Practice.
"Tim is the complete package: he's had a distinguished career in private practice, worked for a world class developer, served in the public sector, and given back to the community, all while being a devoted family man. We're delighted that he's joining our firm," said Theodora.