Thomas Eastmond

Thomas Eastmond is an attorney in Holland & Knight's Newport Beach office and a member of the firm's Real Estate & Hospitality and Transportation & Infrastructure Industry Sector Groups. Having worked as both a litigation and transactional attorney, he is able to advise clients in structuring complex deals and drafting documents with an experienced eye for the pitfalls and precautions that can make a difference in either avoiding or prevailing in litigation, and litigate high-stakes matters with a disciplined awareness of the costs and benefits of the strategy and tactics best deployed in each case.

Mr. Eastmond has a broad range of experience including corporate, commercial and real estate litigation in state and federal courts, and providing counsel to clients in connection with major real estate development projects and contract negotiations. Recent representative matters include:

• lead counsel in an arbitration proceeding between shareholders of entities controlling a large Temecula wine country agricultural property, winning complete victory in first arbitration phase followed by settlement by which client obtained greater relief than originally sought
• briefed and argued a First Amendment appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, obtaining reversal of judgment as to injunctive relief claim in a published opinion
• obtained a critical injunction in a dispute involving assets of a major hotel developer, preventing competing claimants from disposing of critical assets and enabling favorable settlement
• advised large Southern California auto dealership group in complex matter involving interlocking real estate leases and options and multiple litigation matters
• advised real estate developer of multi-site, multi-use project on complicated issue of allocating responsibility for off-site improvements
• advised education support business regarding the application of force majeure clauses to cancellations due to COVID-19 restrictions

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Eastmond worked for the Orange County office of one of California's preeminent public entity law firms, where he practiced land use, litigation and bankruptcy law. In particular, his experience representing public agencies informs his current practice assisting clients in obtaining and if necessary litigating land use and regulatory approvals. Mr. Eastmond has represented bankruptcy trustees and creditors in proceedings to avoid preferences and fraudulent transfers and assisted with Chapter 11 bankruptcy plans. He also has extensive experience in construction law, including thorough familiarity with licensing, mechanic's liens, stop notices, and delay and interference claims.

In addition, Mr. Eastmond has been extensively involved with the firms' Veterans Pro Bono Group, providing pro bono representation to service families in family law and personal financial matters. He is admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, and has handled multiple First Amendment matters both on behalf of amici curiae to the court and party litigants.