Karen L. Hallock

Associate
About

Karen Lee Hallock is an attorney in the Los Angeles office of DLA Piper LLP (US). Her practice covers a broad range of land use and real estate matters, including development entitlements, land use diligence, environmental compliance, project management and real estate and land use litigation.  Karen has guided projects in all aspects of development from the design phase, entitlements, permitting, operations and litigation.  Karen has particular expertise in the development of mixed use projects, industrial projects, senior housing development and affordable housing.

Karen is a member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association and a board member of Commercial Real Estate Women – Los Angeles.

Areas of FocusReal Estate
Bar admissionsCalifornia

EXPERIENCE

  • Assisted in the defense of one of California's largest supermarket chains against a claim by its landlord for millions in additional rent, resulting in a defense verdict and a million dollar recovery by the supermarket
  • Served as lead trial counsel and successfully obtained judgment in favor of client and an award of attorneys' fees against a mortgage brokerage firm in a case involving a violation of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
  • Served as second chair of an arbitration, defeating breach of contract claims involving a $200 million development project, which resulted in a complete judgment in favor of the client and an award of attorneys' fees
  • Successfully obtained complete dismissal on demurrer on behalf of a lender in a wrongful foreclosure case
  • Successfully obtained complete dismissal on demurrer on behalf of a lender, defeating claims to cancel title to fourteen properties
  • Assisted in the defense of six class-action lawsuits against a public utility company's implementation of its billing system
  • Served as second chair in a jury trial awarding judgment on behalf of a global real estate services company in the defense of an action arising from tenant-in-common real estate transactions
  • Served as lead counsel and successfully obtained summary judgment in favor of an affordable housing developer resulting in full dismissal of the case
Education
  • J.D., Southwestern University, magna cum laude
    • Associate Editor; Southwestern Law Review 
    • Chair, Trial Advocacy Honors Program 
    • Schumacher Scholarship 
    • Dean's Merit Award
  • M.A., American Conservatory Theater 


  • B.A., University of California at Los Angeles

Awards

  • The Legal 500 United States
    2021 - Recommended, Real Estate Land Use / Zoning

Pro Bono

  • Southwestern University School of Law Trial Advocacy Honors Program - Coach

Seminars

  • Panelist, "Construction Lender Risk Management Roundtable," Making Tough Deals Work Panel, March 2022

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Japanese American Bar Association
  • Asian Pacific American Bar Association
  • Commercial Real Estate Women - Los Angeles

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