Emily specializes in real estate litigation representing clients in state and federal courts. Her broad array of clients encompasses individual owners and developers, as well as managers of shopping centers, office buildings, industrial properties, hotels, and senior care facilities. Emily provides counsel on matters involving the purchase and sale of real estate, ownership disputes, easement disputes, construction and development disputes, partnership disputes, commercial lease disputes, including nonpayment of rent, exclusives, options, cotenancy issues, tenant improvements, mechanic’s liens, lease terminations, tenant bankruptcies, and post-lease termination collections. She has also worked on numerous eviction cases for both commercial and residential premises. Emily often solves issues for her clients by using provisional remedies to obtain faster results.

Additionally, Emily represents a variety of public sector clients including cities, counties, transit agencies, special districts, and regional planning entities in litigation matters involving real estate, land use, and code enforcement.

In addition to serving as the firm’s Assistant General Counsel, Emily contributes significant time to pro bono legal services in her community. Currently, she sits on the board of directors of the Golden Hour Restoration Institute, a non-profit providing ecological restoration education, and Matter of Trust, a non-profit linking surplus with needs; additionally, she serves as a volunteer Court Appointed Judicial Advocate, a non-profit supporting foster youth, and International Action Network for Gender Equity & Law, a non-profit connecting legal assistance to the cause of women’s rights.

Bar Admissions

• California
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Education
J.D., University of San Francisco School of Law (2005)
B.A., Mills College (2002)

Significant Accomplishments
Emily represents community, regional and super regional shopping centers in lease disputes including those relating to non-payment of rent, exclusives, tenant improvements, tenant bankruptcies, and a myriad of other defaults.

Professional Associations

• Association of Corporate Counsel
• Bar Association of San Francisco
• Marin County Bar Association
• CREW San Francisco, Community Affairs Committee
• International Council of Shopping Centers

Professional Activities and Experience
Accolades

• California Lawyers Association, Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Legal Services Award (2019–2021)
• Pro Bono Attorney Honor Roll, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies

"Labor Action at Retail Locations: Free Pass or Trespass?" co-author, Shopping Centers Law Alert (October 2016)