James R. Janz concentrates his practice on real property transactions and land use issues. He has been involved in all aspects of real estate from property acquisition, through entitlements, construction and operation, with over 40 years of legal experience.  He also is a licensed civil engineer and urban planner, and a LEED Accredited Professional.  His land use expertise includes ten years of service as a planning commissioner, and eight years as a city councilman.  Mr. Janz is active in public service, having twice served as the Mayor of Atherton, California.  He has also served on the boards of several non-profits, and is currently a board member of Disability Rights California.

Mr. Janz has served as the general counsel for a hotel development and operating company, as chief real estate counsel for a major restaurant development and operating company, and had primary legal responsibility for a $1 billion portfolio of commercial real estate assets throughout the United States for an international investor client.  Mr. Janz’s clients include real estate investors, asset managers, commercial, residential and hospitality industry developers and owners in all stages of the real estate development process and ongoing operations.  Mr. Janz holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Purdue University, an M.S. in Urban Planning from Columbia University, and a JD-MBA from the University of Chicago.  He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He previously served on the Executive Committee of the Urban Planning and Development Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He has been a partner in two major San Francisco firms, Pettit & Martin, and Sideman & Bancroft, and was a partner in the Tomlinson Zisko firm in Palo Alto.