Paul S. Rutter '75, J.D. '78

Cozen O’Connor attorney Paul S. Rutter '75, J.D. '78, a member of the real estate practice in the firm’s Santa Monica, Calif., office, has been named “Urban Development Lawyer of the Year” by the Century City Bar Association. The Association provides legal education, leadership opportunities and a sense of community to more than 4,000 Century City attorneys. Rutter is among six attorneys being recognized by the Association for distinguishing himself in his respective field of expertise.

Rutter combines his legal and business experience to provide clients with a unique perspective on the real estate industry and the practical and legal aspects of deals. He represents clients in both real estate and general business transactions, including development, financing, leasing, acquisition, and disposition of office, hotel, retail, mixed-use and industrial properties; as well as business formation, private equity investments and general business transactions.

In the past year, Rutter was involved in several large real estate transactions that have helped transform the built environment in California and in other states. Notably, he represented a global real estate investment firm in the negotiation of a programmatic joint venture for land acquisition and development throughout the Southwest with a large California state pension fund, represented the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority on several ground leases and joint development agreements for transit-oriented developments around the County of Los Angeles, and represented the Grand Avenue Joint Powers Authority in negotiations with the developer of The Grand project, which is transforming the Bunker Hill area of downtown Los Angeles. Rutter also has represented private equity funds and sponsors in the acquisition and disposition of office, industrial and mixed-use projects in various locales across the country, including a $179.7 million acquisition of an office campus in Northern California, the disposition of a high-rise office building in San Francisco, and the sale of a majority interest in an 800,000 sq. ft. project in Philadelphia. He also represents financial institutions in connection with real estate loans for construction and permanent financing.

Rutter will be honored at the Century City Bar Association’s 51st Annual Installation Banquet and Awards Ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel, Century City on April 30.