Pamela L. Westhoff

Pamela Westhoff is a partner in the Real Estate, Energy, Land Use & Environmental Practice Group in the firm's Los Angeles office.

Areas of Practice

Pam has a broad-based and versatile transactional real estate practice, with an emphasis in acquisitions, dispositions, commercial leasing, technology and insurance issues affecting real estate.  She also has extensive experience in build-to-suit, ground lease and sale-leaseback transactions, including for life science, healthcare and industrial projects.  Pam has worked on all types of real estate development and lending transactions, including workouts, restructures and joint ventures.

Pam represents tenants and landlords in substantial commercial lease transactions, including for global corporate headquarters.  She also represents developers and equity investors in commercial developments, including hotel, condominium, retail, office, industrial, data center, entertainment venue and television and movie studio projects.  She also represents owners and providers in connection with telecommunication issues affecting commercial, residential and retail properties, as well as university campuses. She has extensive experience representing radio and television broadcasters in real estate-related matters, including broadcast and communications tower licensing.

Pamela currently serves on the Board of Governors of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) and is Chair of the ACREL Leasing Committee.  She was recently recognized as a North America Global Elite Thought Leader in Commercial Real Estate by Who’s Who Legal, and is rated by Chambers USA as a Leading Real Estate Lawyer.

Honors

500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2024

Commercial Real Estate Visionary, Los Angeles Times Commercial Real Estate: Updates, Trends & Visionaries, 2024

USA Thought Leader - Real Estate, Lexology (formerly Who's Who Legal), 2023-2025

North America Global Elite Thought Leader - Real Estate, Lexology (formerly Who's Who Legal), 2021-2025

Leading Real Estate Lawyer, Chambers USA, 2013, 2016-2025

Real Estate and Construction, Legal 500, 2010, 2014-2016, 2018-2022

Best Lawyer in America, Best Lawyers, 2013-2025

Lawyers in Real Estate Award, Connect CRE, 2020

Thought Leader - Real Estate, Global Competition Review, 2020

Outstanding Real Estate Attorney of the Year, LACBA Real Property Section Installation and Awards Dinner, 2019

Southern California Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2021-2025

Top Women Lawyers, Daily Journal, 2014, 2015

Los Angeles' Top 50 Power Women, BisNow, 2014

California's Top Real Estate Transactional Attorney, Daily Journal, 2013

2012 Top Rated AV Preeminent Lawyer in Corporate Real Estate Law

Leading Real Estate Lawyer, Guide to the World's Leading Real Estate Lawyers, 2010-2012

International Who's Who of Real Estate Lawyers, 2013

Southern California Super Lawyer, Law & Politics and Los Angeles magazines, 2011

Top 50 Women Super Lawyers, 2010

Most Influential Women in Commercial Real Estate, Real Estate Southern California

Real Estate Lawyer of the Year, Century City Bar Association, 2007

500 Dealmakers in America, Lawdragon

Articles

Real Estate, Land Use & Environmental Law Blog Posts

• "A Landlord’s Guide to Assistive Animals," January 2, 2024

• "Federal Judge Blocks Eviction Moratorium Challenge by Los Angeles Apartment Owners," December 11, 2020

• "Los Angeles County Restricts In-Person Dining Due to Surge in COVID-19 Cases," November 23, 2020

• "California Statewide Stay at Home Order March 19, 2020", March 20, 2020
• "Commercial Real Estate Tips of the Week: Practical Answers from Sheppard Mullin’s Coronavirus Task Force", March 16, 2020
• "Commercial Lease Alert: New Access Law Disclosure Requirements In Leases Effective January 1, 2017," December 23, 2016
• "Commercial Lease Guaranties From Foreign Entities: What You Need to Know to Safeguard Your Security," July 28, 2015
• "Important Alert for Commercial Owners/Landlords and Brokers/Agents: Changes to California Dual Agency Disclosure Laws Effective January 1, 2015," March 2, 2015
• "New Legislative Requirements For Electric Vehicle Charging Stations At California Commercial Properties," January 7, 2015
• "Missing Data Protocols Under AB1103 Energy Use Disclosure Rule And Other Important Facts You Need To Know," October 2, 2014
• "Changes To California Title 24 Energy Use Requirements Effective July 1, 2014," February 5, 2014
• "California Energy Use Disclosure Rules Implementation Postponed Until January 1, 2014," August 27, 2013
• "What Makes A Lease "Enforceable" - What You Need to Know," June 14, 2013
• "California Commercial Building Owners Must Comply With New Energy Use Disclosure Rules Commencing July 1, 2013," May 1, 2013
• "New Disability Access Law Imposes Notification Requirements For Commercial Leases," April 22, 2013

Media Mentions

Speaking Engagements

• Frequent speaker on finance, real estate and telecommunication issues for BisNow, CLE International, Practising Law Institute, International Council of Shopping Centers, the State Bar of California, the Real Estate Conference Group, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
• Speaker, “Just an Old Fashioned Love Song? Rethinking Common and Highly Negotiated Lease Provisions,” American College of Real Estate Lawyer’s Annual Meeting, October 22, 2022

Events

Memberships

President of the Board of Directors, NAIOP (2021), President Southern California Chapter (2020), Board of Directors (Commercial Real Estate Development Association) Southern California Chapter (2010-Present), Executive Committee, 2013 Programs and Education Chair and 2012 UCLA/USC Real Estate Challenge Chair

Board Member, Leasing Committee Chair, American College of Real Estate Lawyers

Chair, Leasing Committee, American College of Real Estate Lawyers

Member, Executive Committee, California Lawyers Association Real Property Law Section

Chair, Board of Directors of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Los Angeles (2005-2006); Board Member (1992-Present)

Program Chair, Practising Law Institute's Commercial Real Estate Financing: What Borrowers and Lenders Need to Know Now (2004-present)

Executive Committee, Real Property Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association

Board Member, UCLA Finance and Investment Conference (2001-2006)

Board Member, USC Crocker Symposium on Law and Business (2003-present); Planning Committee Chair (2007)

Digital Media