Jonathan Kathrein

/My focus

I handle every aspect of real estate deals—from lease negotiations through complex acquisitions and closings—in one of the country’s most dynamic markets. Whether working with emerging companies securing flexible office or retail space, or landlords managing large commercial portfolios, I focus on identifying potential issues early and crafting solutions that protect my clients’ interests. This includes drafting and negotiating construction and architecture agreements for tenant improvements and buildouts.

My land use practice spans project entitlements, regulatory compliance, and zoning matters. I collaborate closely with developers, property owners, and investors to move projects through the approval process efficiently.

From straightforward lease agreements to multi-million-dollar acquisitions, my hands-on approach means clients have a single point of contact who understands both the big picture and the critical details that make deals successful.

/Representative experience

Tenant Representation

• Represented tenant in leasing 19,000 square feet of ultra-luxury retail space at Americana Manhasset in Manhasset, New York.
• Represented tenant in leasing 12,000 square feet of ultra-luxury retail space at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California.
• Represented tenant in leasing 600,000-square-foot, custom-built distribution center in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Represented tenant in leasing a 270,000-square-foot industrial building with an automotive retail component in Riverside, California.
• Represented tenant in leasing 2,500 square feet of ultra-luxury retail space at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California.
• Represented tenant in leasing 1,750 square feet of street-front retail space in Jackson Square, San Francisco.
• Represented tenant in leasing 3,500 square feet of fully furnished office space in San Francisco’s Financial District.
• Represented tenant in leasing 2,500 square feet of office space in San Francisco’s Presidio.
• Represented tenant in leasing 2,000 square feet of office space in San Francisco’s Financial District.
• Represented tenant in lease buyout of restaurant space on Chestnut Street, San Francisco.

Landlord Representation

• Represented sublandlord in leasing of 38,500 square feet of life science space from the County of Los Angeles.
• Represented landlord in leasing 23,000 square feet of Class A office space in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.
• Represented landlord in leasing 4,000 square feet of Class A office space in downtown Austin, Texas.
• Represented landlord in leasing 2,500 square feet of street-front retail space in downtown Oakland, California.
• Represented landlord in leasing a golf course in Sonoma County, California.

Acquisitions

• Represented investor in joint venture to acquire an 85,000- square-foot creative office building in North Waterfront, San Francisco.
• Represented buyer in acquisition of 9,000-square-foot, mixed-use building in the Alameda District of San Jose, California.
• Represented buyer in acquisition of 20,000-square-foot warehouse and office building in South San Francisco, California.

Other Agreements

• Represented property owners in negotiation of utility, access, and telecommunications easements.
• Represented lenders in property-secured lending.
• Represented tenant in high-end construction contract for high-end buildout of hotel property in Aspen, Colorado.
• Represented tenant in high-end construction contract for buildout of experiential retail property in Morriston, New Jersey.
• Represented property owners and tenants in negotiation of agreements with architects and general contractors.

/Looking ahead

My path to real estate law was unconventional—I studied Real Estate and Political Science at UC Berkeley, led a nonprofit, taught public speaking, and worked as a government relations consultant before attending law school. After practicing at prominent Bay Area firms, I served as in-house real estate counsel at RH (formerly Restoration Hardware), where I gained firsthand understanding of how an organization’s legal, operations, and business teams work together to execute a real estate strategy. That in-house perspective shapes how I advise clients today—I understand not just the legal issues, but the internal dynamics and business pressures that drive real estate decisions.

The pace of the real estate market continues to increase—there is an urgency in the market. Deals are moving fast, lease terms are shorter, and clients need counsel who can keep pace. Whether it is a company racing to secure space before a funding milestone or an investor capitalizing on a narrow acquisition window, I help clients move quickly and decisively—without sacrificing the diligence that protects them long-term.