About Paul
Paul S. Rutter: Experienced Real Estate Attorney in Santa Monica, California
Prior to joining Cozen O’Connor, Paul S. Rutter co-founded Gilchrist & Rutter in 1983 and practiced law until 2006, at which time he joined a publicly held real estate client as an executive vice president. After working as an executive vice president and then as co-chief operating officer and general counsel in two publicly held real estate companies from 2006-2014, and the merger of his company into another publicly held REIT, Paul returned to his law practice in January 2014. He 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.
Practice Areas
- Real Estate Law
- Development
- Lending
- Leasing
- Acquisition & Disposition of Office, Hotel, Retail, Mixed-Use, and Industrial Properties
- Business Formation
- Private Equity Investments
- General Business Transactions
Education & Credentials
- Bachelor’s Degree, magna cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was on the Dean's List and a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Gamma Mu.
- Law degree from UCLA School of Law, where he was topic and comment editor of the UCLA Law Review and a member of Order of the Coif.
Firms
- Cozen O’Connor
Affiliations
- Southern California Super Lawyer for many years, selected by Los Angeles Magazine in 2005.
- Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent (highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards).
Recognized Since
Recognized since 1995 for Real Estate Law, Practice Area: Mergers and Acquisitions Law.
Certifications & Designations
- Became a member of the California Bar Association in 1986.
- Selected as Best Lawyers in America, representing them in Real Estate Law for many years, selected by Los Angeles Magazine in 2005.
