Holland & Knight Expands Its West Coast Real Estate Practice with Addition of Kenneth Kecskes in the San Francisco Office
July 12, 2007
Kenneth A. "Ken" Kecskes- San Francisco
Kecskes Has Extensive Experience in Complex Real Estate Projects
SAN FRANCISCO – Kenneth A. Kecskes has joined Holland & Knight as a partner in the firm's San Francisco office. Kecskes brings a wealth of experience in handling a wide variety of complex real estate projects, including master planned and mixed use communities, hotels and resorts, corporate campuses, and a major league ballpark, further strengthening Holland & Knight's West Coast Real Estate Practice.
Kecskes has assisted developers of large master planned, mixed use communities in the full life cycle of their development from initial acquisition to the sale of lands to merchant home builders and commercial developers. He also has experience in acquisitions and dispositions, project development documentation, construction contracts, developer/equity participant venture formation, and analysis of land use entitlements. He has drafted and reviewed commercial and industrial leases on behalf of biotechnology and software companies, dot-coms, retailers and landlords. In addition, he has advised publicly traded and private companies on the real estate issues involved with mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs.
By adding Kecskes to the Real Estate Group in San Francisco, Holland & Knight further deepens its expertise in the development of large, mixed-use master planned communities. The firm is now advising clients on 13 different master planned communities in various stages of development in California from San Diego County to San Benito County, totaling more than 20,000 residential units and over 5.5 million square feet of commercial space. Kecskes' background also includes working on a team of lawyers that was responsible for the development of Petco Park in downtown San Diego, the home of the San Diego Padres. Holland & Knight is currently advising the ownership of the Oakland A's in its efforts to build a new ballpark in the San Francisco Bay area and is assisting the San Jose Earthquakes with the development of a new soccer stadium.
"Ken's experience in so many facets of the real estate industry will continue to expand the depth and breadth of our West Coast real estate reach," said Susan Booth, head of Holland & Knight''s West Coast Real Estate Practice. "His work with a diverse group of industries, including construction, telecommunications and biotechnology, will play a pivotal role in further developing our practice."
Holland & Knight's San Francisco Real Estate and Land Use Practice has grown significantly over the last few years. Less than two years ago the firm added a large team of land use and environmental lawyers from Beveridge & Diamond, headed up by Jennifer Hernandez and Elizabeth "Betsy" Lake. The Real Estate Group has also added additional associates to support its active real estate practice, which includes work for some of the world's leading hotel brands on large, master planned hotel and resort communities in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Holland & Knight’s Real Estate Section is the largest real estate practice in the United States.
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Kecskes was with DLA Piper, where he was co-chair of that firm's Homebuilding and Master Planned Communities Practice Group. He earned his B.A. from the University of California at Los Angeles and his J.D., cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law.
Contact: Kristin Ricca (813) 769-4335