Legal Solutions for You,
Your Family & Your Business
Find a Lawyer >
Real Estate lawyers serving San Francisco County, CA >
Nancy Lewellen, Esq.
Back to Search Results
Nancy Lewellen, Esq.
Palladian Law Group
605 Market St.
Suite 505
San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415) 399-0993 | Fax: (415) 399-0993
http://www.palladianlawgroup.com
Representation that Means Business
Legal Topic
Real Estate
Preferred New Clients
Litigation, arbitration, mediation, and transactional work for individuals and small businesses with real estate needs: Landlord/Tenant issues, encroachment/nuisance issues; residential property sales with non-disclosure issues; drafting/negotiating commercial and residential leases; real estate broker issues; probate transfers of title; real estate transfers to trusts; forming LLCs and corporations to hold real estate assets; neighbor/neighbor disputes.
Sub-Categories
Commercial Real Estate
- Broker & Transaction Litigation
- Building Codes
- Buying & Selling
- Condominiums & Cooperatives
- Construction Contracts
- Construction Defects
- Construction Financing
- Conveyancing
- Homeowners' Associations
- Insurance
- Land Contracts
- Mechanics' Liens
- Mortgages
- Property Taxes
- Real Estate Loans
- Renting & Leasing
- Title Insurance
- Title Litigation
- Landlord
- Tenant
- Tenants' Rights
- Broker & Transaction Litigation
- Building Codes
- Buying & Selling
- Condominiums & Cooperatives
- Construction Contracts
- Construction Defects
- Construction Financing
- Conveyancing
- Homeowners' Associations
- Insurance
- Land Contracts
- Land Use & Zoning
- Mechanics' Liens
- Mortgages
- Property Taxes
- Real Estate Loans
- Renting & Leasing
- Title Insurance
- Title Litigation
- Tenants' Rights
Bar Admissions
CA, Dec 2000
Bar Number: 211838
Other Court Admissions
US District Court and Supreme Court of California.
Association Memberships
California Bar Association; Queen's Bench; President, BNI Ace Networking Chapter; Ewomennetwork; member, City Club; Board Member, Hearth Homes Community Builders; Cal Alumnae Association; Haas School of Business Alumnae Association.
Continuing Education
I attend continuing legal education seminars on topics of real estate and corporate law and I generally exceed the number of hours required by the state bar. Additionally, I review other related topics in which I am interested.
Example Cases
• Mediated two disputes where my clients purchased homes with significant undisclosed structural problems. Results were a $25,000 award to both my clients toward damages.
• Helped a realtor in litigation win her real estate commission from a seller who took her home off the market during the listing period ($15,000).
• Won a $200,000 judgment against a former client who did not pay his legal fees on two lawsuits involving my former firm.
Education
Degree:
B.S.
School:
UC Berkeley
City:
Berkeley
State:
CA
Year:
1967
Honors:
Brick Muller Society, Freshman year (honor society).
Focus and Accomplishments:
Political Science (International Relations); history minor.
Degree:
J.D.
School:
Santa Clara University School of Law
City:
Santa Clara
State:
CA
Year:
2000
Honors:
Public Interest Scholar; International Law Certificate
Focus and Accomplishments:
International Law.
Degree:
MBA
School:
UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
City:
Berkeley
State:
CA
Year:
1975
Focus and Accomplishments:
Advanced graduate courses in finance and economics at Golden Gate University MBA program as well.
Number of Attorneys
2
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
Palladian Law focuses on the following areas: real estate transactional, mediation, arbitration and litigation work (45%); corporate/business transactional, mediation, arbitration and litigation work (45%); wills and trusts (10%). Corporate work includes entity formation, drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts and corporate buy/sell agreements, purchase of business and business valuation; dissolution of entities, mediation, litigation and arbitration.
Established in February 2007, after being in partnership with another attorney for three years.
Previous Employment Summary
• Managing Partner, Palladian Law Group, APC 2004-2007
• Law Offices of Nancy Lewellen 2002-2004
• Associate Attorney, Pinnacle Law Group LLP 2001-2002
• President, Home-A-Loan Mortgages 1998-present
• CFO, LandBank Investments 1995-1996
First Nationwide Bank 1993-1995
• President, California State Financial Co LLC 1989-2000
• Vice President, Feher Young and Associates 1987-1989
• Vice President, Crocker National Bank, 1975-1986
• Assistant Vice President, Bank of America 1969-1975
Activities and Awards
• Pro Bono Mediator for Community Boards San Francisco and Human Resources Dept. County of Santa Clara
• Public Interest Law Certificate, International Law Certificate, Santa Clara University School of Law
• President, BNI Ace Networking Chapter
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
Because of my extensive banking, business, and mortgage brokerage background prior to law school, I approach cases from both a business and legal standpoint. I am able to tell my clients not only what their legal rights are and their chances of recovery, but whether it makes business sense for them to pursue their case. I always try to educate my clients as to what their rights are, what the law says, and what their chances of a good outcome are. Sometimes it doesn't make sense to pursue a case because of the cost. Where cost is a significant issue, I train my clients to provide me information in a cost effective manner, and ask them to do as much of the non-legal legwork as they can to minimize my fees.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I frequently review documents prepared by clients. Depending on the nature of the case and the client's budget, I can usually direct them so that the finished product will be as effective as it can be.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I frequently coach clients who have a small amount in dispute to go to small claims court or Community Boards Mediation Services and tell them how to win their claim. I give them samples of documents they may need, and tell them how to present their case so that they have the strongest arguments for the judge or mediator.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I had several successful careers in corporate and international banking and in the commercial and residential mortgage brokerage areas. As banks began consolidating in the early 1990s it became clear that there would be fewer jobs and no job security in the future. My father and sister were lawyers and one brother is a paralegal at a major law firm. I had taken international law as an undergraduate student at Berkeley, and wanted to see if a career in law would be appealing to me. I have enjoyed helping people in the legal field, and hope to continue practicing until I am well into my eighties.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I believe my MBA program and my banking experience, along with having had several solo businesses, helps me understand my business clients better than most attorneys. I am able to speak their language and tell them whether what they want to do makes business sense as well as legal sense.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
My background has been in real estate and corporate lending for 30 years. I didn't need to learn a lot of the legal language or concepts in these areas as I had been working in these fields for many years.
What do you like best about your career?
Working with and helping people solve their problems. Most of them tell me when their issue is solved that they sleep better at night and have a better outlook on life than when they were in the midst of conflict.
Tell us about your law firm:
I am a solo practitioner, so my clients deal directly with me. I have part time clerical help.
What are your strengths and style?
I am very extroverted with a good sense of humor. I am also very analytical and can get down to the meat of the problem relatively quickly. I love working with people and figuring out how to help them. My manner is relaxed, and clients tell me that I put them at ease and make them feel better after they discuss their problems with me and I offer solutions.
Personal Interests:
Art, music, dance, interior decorating, fixing up old houses, gourmet cooking and haute couturier sewing. I love being a mom to my two adult daughters and granddog, Cyrus, a darling Welsh Corgi.
Office Manager/Assistant
Georgia D'Antonio.
Fax
(415) 399-0993
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Evening and weekend appointments are available if needed.
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Foreign Languages
Spanish.
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
Depending on the situation, I can sometimes quote a fixed fee or a "not-to-exceed" fee so that I stay within the client's budget. I can offer a friends and family discount of 20% for Nolo clients. Certain fees, like entity formation are fixed. In some cases it is impossible to do this, as the opposition may deliberately drive up the cost by their actions to which we may need to respond.
Hourly Rates
$300.
Free Initial Consultation?
I generally give a 15 minute free consultation to see what the legal situation or problem is. Alternatively, the potential client can email me and tell me their story. If a person needs a half-hour or more, it is generally at my hourly rate with the discount for Nolo clients.
Typical Retainer
The retainer is based on what I estimate the entire matter to be billed at, so nothing is typical. It can range from a few hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
