Dana Bessenecker

PRACTICE Ms. Bessenecker's practice emphasizes a variety of real estate transactions, particularly real property purchase and sale, commercial leasing, easements and licenses, financing and related business matters. Ms. Bessenecker’s clients have included owners and developers of shopping centers, commercial and industrial office buildings and residential subdivisions, commercial tenants, property managers, real estate investment companies and banking institutions. BACKGROUND Ms. Bessenecker was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She received a B.A. in psychology and a minor in law from the University of California, Irvine, cum laude, in 1992. In 1995, she earned her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and was admitted to both the State Bar of California and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. While attending Hastings, she clerked for the Honorable John E. Munter of the San Francisco Superior Court, and was an editor for the Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal. During her first two years in practice, Ms. Bessenecker clerked for the Honorable Louisa S. Porter, Presiding Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court, Southern District of California. After her clerkship, she was an associate for almost two years at Hecht, Solberg, Robinson & Goldberg LLP, and for over three years at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, specializing in real estate at both firms. In 2003, Ms. Bessenecker took a sabbatical from her law practice to sail around the Pacific on a 35-foot wood ketch with her husband Chris. After over two years abroad, Ms. Bessenecker returned to San Diego and joined Procopio, where she has continued her legal practice as a member of Procopio's real estate team. In 2007, Ms. Bessenecker added a California real estate broker's license to her credentials. Ms. Bessenecker is committed to involvement with nonprofit causes in her local community and beyond, and has contributed a significant amount of time to pro bono work. In 2002, she was awarded The Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services by the State Bar of California, as well as an Outstanding Service Award by the Legal Aid Society of San Diego. Ms. Bessenecker is particularly involved with Project Concern International (PCI), and has traveled to PCI’s programs in Central America, Africa and Indonesia, including spending two months performing tsunami relief work in Indonesia. Ms. Bessenecker is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, the State Bar of California, the American Bar Association, the San Diego Association of Realtors, and CREW Network (Commercial Real Estate Women).