Misha’s Bio

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

Residential Brokerage Services: Specializing in the San Francisco area for residential property as broker-associate with Paragon Real Estate Group.

Real estate attorney: General commercial and residential transactions, with extensive experience representing tenants in retail, office, industrial and R&D leases.  Note:  these activities are not conducted in association with Paragon Real Estate Group.

Developer and Investor: Currently involved in the development of an innovative live/work project near Santa Rosa, California, as well as various commercial investments outside of California.  Note: These activities are not conducted in association with Paragon Real Estate Group.

PAST ACTIVITIES

Co-Founder and CEO, Chili-Up!, San Francisco — 6/95 to 5/02

Cofounder of gourmet fast-food restaurant concept which grew to five locations and sales of approximately $1.5 million. Supervised design, construction, and opening of all retail locations, primarily in first class downtown retail/office complexes. Negotiated all leases and managed general legal matters. Personally supervised transition to high-volume commercial food production by third-party producers. Sold personal stake at over 20x original investment.


Special Counsel, Cooley Godward – 9/87 to 6/95

Real estate attorney, specializing in commercial leasing and sales transactions. Represented owners and tenants in office, R&D, and light industrial transactions with emphasis on facilities leases and acquisitions. Transactions covered spectrum from incubator leases to multi-million dollar acquisitions. Examples:

Negotiated complex multi-building sublease on behalf of Motorola Corporation.
Represented owner on the lease of a seven-story office building to Sprint.
Created a “form lease” for a retail shopping center developer.
Represented the American Heart Association in the acquisition of its mid-Peninsula office building headquarters.
Negotiated multi-million dollar construction contracts on behalf of various high-tech and biotech clients.

Examples of other responsibilities and accomplishments:

Authored a practitioner’s guide to commercial leasing transactions published by the California Continuing Education of the Bar (see publications below).
Created and maintained for the firm’s real estate practice group a database of standard lease provisions.
Participated as a panelist on a leasing symposium for businesses.

EDUCATION

J.D., UC Berkeley, Boalt Hall (1982)
B.A. (English Literature), summa cum laude, UCLA (1979)
Regents’ Scholar, 1978-79
Elected member Phi Beta Kappa, 1979.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Licensed California attorney
Licensed California real estate broker
Member, San Francisco Association of Realtors®

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS AND INTERESTS

Active in real estate investment since 1987.
Extensive experience in residential renovations and construction in San Francisco. Over 12 residential renovations completed.
Freelance food and travel journalist – see publications below.
Foreign language skills: Conversational French.

PUBLICATIONS/PANELS

Professional/Real Estate:
“CEB Action Guide to Commercial Leasing,” California Continuing Education of the Bar (1993)
Panelist, Global Conference Network – ‘Understanding and Negotiating Facilities Leases.” (1991-92)

Food And Travel:
Economist.com – City Guide to San Francisco (2004 through 2007, when website discontinued)
“To Honor The Crab, Dismember It,” More Intelligent Life, Jan 2008
“A Chili in Every Pot,” San Jose Mercury News (October 2004)
“A Tomato Tantrum,” Santa Cruz Sentinel (August 2004)
“The Best Glaciers of Paris,” France Today (9/03)

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