Steven J. Kahn

Shareholder, Chair - Real Estate & Land Use

6801 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 210
Pleasanton, CA 94566

925-460-3362 | 925-224-7782
steven.kahn@hogefenton.com
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Main Bio
Affiliation & Awards
Speaking & Publications

Main Bio

Practice Overview

Steven Kahn is a seasoned real estate lawyer who balances litigation skill with strategy to achieve his clients’ goals and protect their interests.

Steven focuses on real estate disputes and litigation. He represents clients throughout Northern California, including individuals, families, trusts, real estate professionals, insurers, municipalities, and businesses of any size, private or public.

Steven is fundamentally a “dirt lawyer,” addressing wide-ranging issues involving real estate, and is committed to solving problems and finding solutions for clients in real estate disputes and transactions.

Background

Steven joined Hoge Fenton in July 2014 and was elected a shareholder in January 2016. Previously, he was a partner with Bardellini, Straw, Cavin & Bupp LLP, a boutique law firm specializing in real estate and business litigation, real estate transactions, title insurance, and escrows.

Steven began his legal career as claims counsel with First American Title Insurance Company, where he gained valuable in-house experience in title insurance claims, escrow practices and procedures, and real estate transactions. In addition to his broad real estate practice, he is proud to now represent title insurers, underwritten escrow companies, and title insurance policyholders.

During law school, Steven worked as a California State Bar certified law student at the Katherine & George Alexander Community Law Center’s Consumer Protection Clinic, where he represented low-income individuals in litigation and disputes involving debt collection, credit reporting, and automobile sales.

Practice Areas & Experience

With more than 13 years of experience in-house, at large and boutique law firms, and through all phases of litigation, trials, arbitrations, appeals, and alternative dispute resolution, Steven counsels his clients on important real estate decisions in their business and personal lives. His core practice includes:

Easements
Boundary disputes
Encroachments
Land ownership disputes
Title disputes
Title cleanup and quiet title lawsuits
Partition lawsuits
Title insurance coverage
Escrow disputes
Mechanic’s liens

Lien priority disputes
Commercial real estate transactions and disputes
Residential real estate transactions and disputes
“Home sales gone bad”
Commercial landlord-tenant disputes
Drafting, review, and negotiation of commercial leases

Education

J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law – 2004
B.A., Government, Claremont McKenna College – 2001
Marin Academy High School, San Rafael, California

Admissions

California
United States District Court for the Northern and Eastern Districts of California

Affiliation & Awards

Professional and Community Activities

Steven serves on the Advisory Board of the Katherine & George Alexander Community Law Center.

He is also a member of the Contra Costa County Bar Association, where he regularly presents to the Real Estate and Litigation sections on real estate issues.

Steven is an affiliate member of the California Land Title Association, which represents and advocates on behalf of California’s title insurance and escrow industries.

He is active within the Bay Area ProVisors network, as a member of both the San Francisco 10 group and Pleasanton 1 group, where he serves on the executive committee.

Steven is also responsible for Hoge Fenton’s involvement with Book Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving literacy rates in early readers through partnerships with local public schools. As the firm’s representative, Book Trust is an integral part of Hoge Fenton’s commitment to the community.

Awards

Steven was named a “Northern California Super Lawyer” in 2020 and 2021. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. He was named a “Northern California Rising Star” in 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Personal

Outside the office, Steven enjoys CrossFit, yoga, and road cycling. He is also mildly obsessed with the San Francisco Giants and Formula 1 racing.

Steven and his wife love animals. They volunteer with the local animal rescue foundation where they adopted one of their three senior rescue dogs.

Speaking & Publications

Speaking Engagements

Residential Landlord Tenant Actions, Santa Clara County Bar Association, February 23, 2021
Timely Tax Friendly Tactic: 1031 Exchange, Hoge Fenton, October 21, 2020
Consumer Protection During COVID-19, Katherine & George Alexander Community Law Center, May 20, 2020
The Impact of COVID-19 on Silicon Valley Real Estate Pt. 2 , Hoge Fenton, May 12, 2020
The Impact of COVID-19 on Silicon Valley Commercial Real Estate , Hoge Fenton, April 14, 2020
Tri-Valley Commercial Real Estate Update: Impacts of COVID-19, Hoge Fenton, April 1, 2020
I can’t pay. Now what? An overview of force majeure, impossibility, and frustration of purpose in COVID-19 times, 2020
So You Need A Lawyer: Contractor Edition, UA Locals Union 393, 2019 & 2020
Non-Marital Relationships & Real Estate Ownership: Planning, Settling, & Partitions, Contra Costa County Bar Association, 2018
Real Estate Litigation 101, Contra Costa County Bar Association, 2016, 2017 & 2018
Home Sales Gone Bad: Real Estate Claims & Litigation, Various Residential Realty Companies, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020
California Association of Realtors Residential Purchase Agreement and Contract Forms Update, Various Residential Realty Companies, 2016, 2017, & 2018
Title and Escrow Industry Issues, Litigation, and Legislation, Contra Costa County Bar Association, 2016 & 2017
Real Estate Transactions from A to Z, National Business Institute, 2017
1031 Exchange Creative Solutions, California Lawyers Association Real Property Law Section, 2018
Equitable Subrogation Litigation, Contra Costa County Bar Association, 2014 & 2016