John J. Coppinger is a partner in Donahue Gallagher Woods LLP, specializing in real estate transactions and land use matters. Mr. Coppinger represents his clients in a broad spectrum of commercial real estate transactions, including the negotiation and documentation of property acquisitions, dispositions, developments and project financings. He represents clients ranging from individuals and small businesses to large institutions and major retailers such as American Stores Company and its various subsidiaries (including Lucky Stores, Sav-On Drugs, Jewel Food Stores and Osco Drug) and Hancock Fabrics.

He has negotiated, documented and closed hundreds of large scale real property acquisitions of both improved and unimproved properties nationwide with a total value of more than $1 billion. Those acquisitions have included a wide variety of projects, including purchases, ground leases, build-to-suit leases, tax deferred exchanges, and redevelopment projects. He represents clients throughout the entitlement, financing, development and construction process. That representation includes the negotiation and documentation of construction loans and other loans secured by real property and development and redevelopment agreements for commercial and industrial properties with lenders, redevelopment agencies, municipalities, other regulatory agencies, developers, general contractors, architects, engineers and other design professionals.

Mr. Coppinger's experience with property dispositions is equally extensive. Over the past 15 years, he has participated in the disposition of more than $700 million of real property, including the sale of an 80 store department chain located in California, Nevada and Arizona for $450 million, the sale of 28 supermarkets in Arizona valued at $80 million, the sale of 75 Florida supermarkets valued at $150 million, and the sale of numerous individual properties across the western United States with property values ranging up to $25 million.

Mr. Coppinger is experienced in a wide range of land use matters, and has represented clients before regulatory agencies in the development and redevelopment process for small and large commercial projects. In addition to approvals for first use facilities, he has secured approvals for building demolitions and redevelopment of inner-city property and has represented clients in negotiations for infrastructure improvements required in connection with project approvals.

Mr. Coppinger also represents commercial landlords and tenants in negotiating and drafting commercial leases for all types of buildings ranging from office and retail space to light manufacturing facilities, warehouses and service facilities. Mr. Coppinger's practice also includes the resolution of landlord/tenant disputes short of litigation, and he is experienced in the area of property management from both the owner and tenant perspectives.

He has practiced with Donahue Gallagher Woods LLP since 1984, becoming a partner in the firm in 1990. Previously, he was associated for three years with the Palo Alto law firm of Bialson, Bergen & Schwab engaged in the firm's real estate, corporate and taxation practices.

He earned his law degree in 1981 and his Bachelor of Science degree in 1977 from the University of Santa Clara. After completing his undergraduate studies, he spent a year studying business administration at Santa Clara's Graduate School of Business.

Mr. Coppinger is a member of the State Bar of California (Real Property Section) and the Alameda County Bar Association (Real Property Section). An active participant in the sport of Rugby since his undergraduate years, he has sat on the Executive Committee of the Northern California Rugby Football League since 1991, and is currently president of that organization.

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