Kurt U. Campbell - Klinedinst Attorney Profile

Shareholder and Chief Real Estate Officer

Kurt U. Campbell is the head of Klinedinst PC's Real Estate, Construction and Land Use Department. Mr. Campbell's extensive litigation, transactional, negotiation and strategic business planning experience have earned him a reputation of excellence throughout California. He represents a wide variety of corporate clients including Fortune 500 companies, developers, general contractors, design professionals, subcontractors, and real estate professionals. Mr. Campbell has achieved Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards, and has been named to the San Diego Super Lawyers® list since its inception in 2007, four years running. In 2009, Kurt was honored by his peers as a San Diego Top Attorney and featured in the San Diego Daily Transcript.

During his 16 years of practice, Kurt has successfully handled every aspect of residential construction litigation. He has represented large numbers of sub-contractors, design professionals, general contractors, and a limited number of developers. For more than a decade Kurt has also handled complex commercial projects. These projects include high-rise, in-fill, mid-rise, large condo conversion projects, skilled nursing facilities and retirement communities. Kurt’s practice area in this regard involves not only the litigation of defects associated with these projects, but the initial project contracting and risk allocation within these contracts associated with the indemnity obligation, additional insured obligations as well as the allocation of deductible obligations related to shared policies.

Kurt has a broad range of experience in various practice groups, including transportation where he successfully defended commercial trucking companies and mass carriers. Additionally, he has extensive experience in the WRAP arena, including acquisition, analysis, and litigation of these policies on significant projects. This experience has afforded him a unique “cradle to grave” perspective on commercial high-rise, mixed use, and residential high-rise construction projects. Kurt has excelled at advising clients with regard to the construction of these projects, disputes related to the completion, delay and/or associated lien claims. His focus on risk management through review of construction contract drafting helps reduce and spread risk where appropriate.

Furthermore, Kurt’s real estate law practice includes commercial and residential lease agreements and complex real estate transactions. He has also helped clients locate and obtain construction and property acquisition financing.

As a licensed California real estate broker and Realtor®, Mr. Campbell is a successful real estate investor in commercial, retail and residential properties. His experience with purchasing and managing residential, commercial and retail properties affords him a unique perspective when representing clients on real estate and leasing issues.

Mr. Campbell is involved with many professional associations in California including the Building Industry Association, the Associated General Contractors, and San Diego Defense Lawyers, and regularly speaks at a variety of programs and events. His case management, mediation, arbitration and trial skills provide clients with valuable insight geared toward the most efficient and cost-effective resolution of both litigation and transactional matters.

Over the course of his career, he has successfully practiced in a broad array of practice areas, including:

Construction:
Contracting, SB-800 claims, development, risk management, insurance issues, design professional representation, defect work, material suppliers, construction accidents, forensic analysis, business counseling, delay lien and payment issues, and condo conversion defense

WRAP Projects:
Defense of residential/mixed use and converted projects, under-insured projects, carrier exhaustion issues, material and product supplier issues, secondary coverage issues, and is a cooperative resolution/litigation cost reduction specialist

High-Rise Construction:
Representation of general contractors, owners and subcontractors, EIFS cladding system, podium deck waterproofing, fenestration issues, leakage at planter systems, elevator issues/accidents, skilled nursing facilities, and retirement communities

Errors and Omissions:
Defend real estate professionals in a wide array of legal disputes surrounding transactions, acquisitions, financing, brokerage, view rights, easements, property disputes, fraud and fraudulent disclosure cases

Products Liability/Class Actions:
Complex drug cases, exposure cases, catastrophic injury cases, large risk products cases, and class actions regarding strict products liability

Transportation:
Experience with all aspects of litigation defending commercial trucking companies and mass carriers from both property damage and injury claims

Business Litigation Counseling:
Contractual disputes, risk management, formation of business entities, unfair business practice claims, business acquisitions, confidentiality agreement disputes, trade secrets, strategic business planning, non-compete agreements and payment disputes

Environmental Law:
Counseling clients in compliance with state and environmental laws, defense of clients relating to environmental issues, and complex negotiations with various administrative agencies

General Liability:
Complex injury cases, construction and crane accidents, catastrophic truck collision cases, premises liability defense, wrongful death and injury cases, inadequate security premises liability, landlord/owner strict liability and severe injury cases related to animals

Mr. Campbell received his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. He has been licensed to practice law in California since 1994, has been a shareholder at the firm since 1999 and an equity shareholder since 2000. Kurt is the firm’s Chief Real Estate Officer and serves on the Executive Committee.

Martindale-Hubbell Rating

Highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards.

Professional and Community Affiliations

San Diego County Bar Association (Construction, Environmental Law, and Land Use Sections)
The State Bar of California
American Bar Association
Building Industry Association of San Diego County
Licensed Real Estate Broker, State of California, Department of Real Estate (May, 2002)
CBIA Alternate Director and CBIA Construction Defect Reform Task Force
Associated General Contractors
San Diego Defense Lawyers
International Law Society
Treasurer, University of San Diego Appellate Moot Court Board, 1992-1993
San Diego Association of Realtors
San Diego Bankruptcy Forum

Publications and Interviews

"Expert Insights: Construction/Real Estate," The San Diego Daily Transcript (May 6, 2010)
"When Projects Go Awry, in Steps 'CSI' of Construction Defects," The San Diego Business Journal (September 28, 2009)
"Legal Showdown Looms Over Hilton Mold Tab," The Honolulu Advertiser (April 27, 2003)
"SB 800: A Step In The Right Direction; Jimenez v. The Superior Court of San Diego County: Two Steps Backward," BIA Builder Magazine (February, 2003)
"Up Close," BIA Builder Magazine (July/August, 2002)
"Legislation on Construction Dispute Litigation," BIA Builder Magazine (December, 2001)

Recognition and Awards

Recognized in the San Diego edition of Super Lawyers® in Construction/Surety (2007) and Construction and Real Estate Litigation (2008, 2009, and 2010)
Recognized as a Top Attorney in San Diego County - Real Estate Litigation by the San Diego Daily Transcript (2009)
American Jurisprudence Award in Water Rights Law

Speaking Engagements

Spring 2010 USLAW Network Client Conference, Topic: " It Isn't Easy Being Green: Green Litigation Update & Insurance Coverage Issues In Green And Sustainable Design Construction Panel" (April 16, 2010)
California Western School of Law, Topic: "Exploring Options Panel" (October 23, 2008 and September 24, 2009)
8th Annual Key West Seminar, Topic: "Handling Construction Defect Claims, Strategies and Tactics - Developing and Managing High-Rise CD Cases" (October, 2004)
The Conference on the Strand: Risk Management of Indoor Mold Standards, Topic: “Potential Economic Risks Effected by Indoor Mold Standards” (October, 2003)
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA), Topic: "Lawsuit Abuse in San Diego County Exposed" (June, 2003)
Building Industry Association, Topic: "SB 800 Concerns Customer Service - The Key to Avoiding Litigation" (January, 2003)
"Tips for Effective Mediation," (June 19, 2002)
Construction Defect Nuts And Bolts (October, 2001)
Midwest Environmental Claims Association 8th Annual Conference, Topic: "Indoor Air Quality Claims: Mold and More" (October, 2000)