James Devereaux

James Devereaux represents real estate owners, managers, principals and directors of incorporated and unincorporated businesses and community associations. He specializes in the representation of clients regarding legal, operational, transactional, and real estate matters. He also has extensive experience in appellate law, appearing in both state and federal appellate courts. Mr. Devereaux assists clients in establishing and organizing corporations, partnerships, and other business organizations. He negotiates and drafts complex contracts and real estate documents such as commercial leases, easement and license agreements, purchase and sale agreements, deeds and deeds of trust as well as the revisions of governing documents for common interest developments whose documents are no longer current under present day laws. Served as First Assistant Clerk of the Michigan Court of Appeal and has taught Conflicts of Law at Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Partner, Berding & Weil LLP, 1990 to present; Mr. Devereaux successfully briefed and argued Burnham v. California Superior Court, an important constitutional issue before the Supreme Court of the United States, has represented numerous clients in state and federal courts and has filed several amicus curiae briefs in the Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal of California. He has been practicing law in Northern California since 1982. In addition to practicing before the California courts, Mr. Devereaux has been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the U.S. Courts of Appeals (Sixth and Ninth Circuits), and U.S. District Courts.