Robert J. Sykes

Bob handles real estate transactions of all sizes on a national basis, representing retail, industrial, office, medical, and multi-family residential developers and owners in a wide range of projects. Bob's practice focuses on property acquisition, finance, development (including redevelopment), leasing, and construction. He has been responsible for the acquisition, development, and leasing for numerous shopping centers, offices, industrial, apartments, and mixed-use urban development projects throughout California.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Bob was a CPA for Deloitte & Touche in Seattle, Washington, and Los Angeles, California, and worked in property acquisition and finance for two real estate developers/syndicators. He still holds a Certified Public Accountant license. In the community, Bob used his real estate legal background to negotiate the acquisition and finance documents to open a new junior high and second elementary school campus for Stoneybrooke Christian Schools in Ladera Ranch.

Commercial Lease Transactions

Bob has drafted and negotiated commercial leases for developers and owners totaling more than 25 million square feet of commercial space, including many major tenant leases of more than 100,000 square feet. Bob has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating major tenant retail, office, and industrial leases, ground leases, build-to-suit leases, all types of retail leases including anchor tenant, restaurant, pad and shop leases, supermarket leases, theater leases, health club leases, sublease/assignment issues, and lease dispute resolutions and workouts.

Purchase And Sale, Finance, And Joint Venture Transactions

Bob has extensive experience in efficiently structuring, negotiating, documenting and closing the purchase and sale of all types of real estate assets, including office, industrial, multi-family, and retail properties. In addition, Bob regularly represents borrowers in negotiating, documenting, and closing complex real estate secured financing transactions. Bob has closed the purchase, sale and/or financing of more than $1 billion in properties and loans. Moreover, he is often involved in analyzing, structuring, negotiating, and documenting a wide range of joint venture transactions, including those relating to the acquisition, ownership and development of all types of real estate assets. 

CC&Rs, Construction Contracts, And Other Agreements For Commercial Real Estate

Bob also handles REAs, CC&Rs, construction contracts, architects agreements, redevelopment disposition and development agreements, owner participation agreements, and other critical redevelopment documents.

LEED And Sustainable Development

Critical to today's environmentally conscious developer and building owner, Bob has his Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® Accredited Professional (LEED AP) designation by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Bob joins a select group of attorneys nationwide who have recognized the significance of "green" building trends in the future of the building industry. He understands the LEED certification process, and has developed "green" leases that incorporate the relevant LEED or green building code and operations requirements.

Honors & Recognitions

Southern California Super Lawyers, 2020-2021

Selected as an “Influencer in Retail” in Globe St. Real Estate Forum, May 2020, as a member of the Retail and Commercial Development Team, the only law firm included as one of 15 national recipients

Professional Affiliations

International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)

NAIOP - The Commercial Real Estate Development Association

Retail Law Strategist, Contributing Editor

Certified Public Accountant

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® Accredited Professional (LEED AP)

Orange County Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council