Kurt U. Campbell

Shareholder

Executive Profile

Kurt U. Campbell is a Shareholder in Klinedinst PC’s San Diego office and is the head of the firm’s Real Estate, Construction and Land Use Department. Mr. Campbell’s extensive litigation, transactional, negotiation and strategic business planning experience have earned him a reputation of excellence throughout California. He represents a wide variety of corporate clients including Fortune 500 companies, developers, general contractors, design professionals, subcontractors, and real estate professionals. Mr. Campbell has achieved Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards and been named to the San Diego Super Lawyers® list every year since 2007. In 2009 and 2010, Mr. Campbell was honored by his peers as a San Diego Top Attorney and featured in The San Diego Daily Transcript. He was also named a Top Attorney by San Diego Metropolitan Magazine in 2011 and 2012.

During his years of practice, Mr. Campbell has successfully handled every aspect of residential, commercial, and mix use construction litigation. He has represented developers, general contractors, a large number of subcontractors, and design professionals. For more than two decades Mr. Campbell has handled complex commercial and residential projects. These projects include high-rise, in-fill, mid-rise, large condo conversion projects, skilled nursing facilities and retirement communities. Mr. Campbell’s practice area in this regard involves not only the litigation of defects associated with these projects, but the initial project contracting and risk allocation within these contracts associated with the indemnity obligation, additional insured obligations as well as the allocation of deductible obligations related to shared policies.

Mr. Campbell has a broad range of experience in various practice groups, including transportation where he successfully defended commercial trucking companies and mass carriers. Additionally, he has extensive experience in the WRAP arena, including acquisition, analysis, and litigation of these policies on significant projects. This experience has afforded him a unique “cradle to grave” perspective on commercial high-rise, mixed use, and residential high-rise construction projects. Mr. Campbell has excelled at advising clients with regard to the construction of these projects, disputes related to the completion, delay and/or associated lien claims. His focus on risk management through review of construction contract drafting helps reduce and spread risk where appropriate.

Furthermore, Mr. Campbell’s real estate law practice includes commercial and residential lease agreements and complex real estate transactions. He has also helped clients locate and obtain construction and property acquisition financing.

As a licensed California real estate broker and Realtor®, Mr. Campbell is a successful real estate investor in commercial, retail and residential properties. His experience with purchasing rehabilitations and managing residential, commercial and retail properties affords him a unique perspective when representing clients on real estate and leasing issues.

Mr. Campbell is involved with many professional associations in California including the Building Industry Association, the Associated General Contractors, and San Diego Defense Lawyers, and speaks at a variety of programs and events. His case management, mediation, arbitration and trial skills provide clients with valuable insight geared toward the most efficient and cost-effective resolution of both litigation and transactional matters.

Over the course of his career, he has successfully practiced in a broad array of practice areas, including:

Construction:

Contracting, SB-800 claims, development, risk management, insurance issues, design professional representation, defect work, material suppliers, construction accidents, forensic analysis, business counseling, delay lien and payment issues, and condo conversion defense.

WRAP Projects:

Defense of residential/mixed use and converted projects, under-insured projects, carrier exhaustion issues, material and product supplier issues, secondary coverage issues, and is a cooperative resolution/litigation cost reduction specialist.

High-Rise Construction:

Representation of general contractors, owners and subcontractors, EIFS cladding system, podium deck waterproofing, fenestration issues, leakage at planter systems, elevator issues/accidents, skilled nursing facilities, and retirement communities.

General Liability:

Complex injury cases, construction and crane accidents, catastrophic truck collision cases, premises liability defense, wrongful death and injury cases, inadequate security premises liability, landlord/owner strict liability and severe injury cases related to animals.

Products Liability/ Class Actions:

Complex drug cases, exposure cases, catastrophic injury cases, large risk products cases, and class actions regarding strict products liability.

Business Litigation Counseling:

Contractual disputes, risk management, formation of business entities, unfair business practice claims, business acquisitions, confidentiality agreement disputes, trade secrets, strategic business planning, non-compete agreements and payment disputes.

Transportation:

Experience with all aspects of litigation defending commercial trucking companies and mass carriers from both property damage and injury claims.

Errors and Omissions:

Defend real estate professionals in a wide array of legal disputes surrounding transactions, acquisitions, financing, brokerage, view rights, easements, property disputes, fraud and fraudulent disclosure cases.

Environmental Law:

Counseling clients in compliance with state and environmental laws, defense of clients relating to environmental issues, and complex negotiations with various administrative agencies.

Mr. Campbell received his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. He has been licensed to practice law in California since 1994, has been a shareholder at the firm since 1999 and an equity shareholder since 2000. Mr. Campbell is the firm’s Chief Real Estate Officer and serves on the Executive Committee.

Education

  • Heidelberg University, Germany (1988–1989)
  • San Diego State University (B.A., cum laude, 1990)
  • University of San Diego School of Law (J.D., 1993)

Language

  • German

Awards, Professional and Community Involvement

Professional and Community Affiliations

Recognition and Awards

Media

  • “Expert Insights: Construction/Real Estate,” The San Diego Daily Transcript (May 6, 2010)
  • “When Projects Go Awry, in Steps ‘CSI’ of Construction Defects,” The San Diego Business Journal (September 28, 2009)
  • “Legal Showdown Looms Over Hilton Mold Tab,” The Honolulu Advertiser (April 27, 2003)

Speaking Engagements

  • “It’s a Wrap,” Spring 2017 USLAW Conference (April 7, 2017)
  • “Owner Controlled Insurance Programs: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly,” BIA of San Diego Educational Seminar (February 26, 2014)
  • Panelist, “Building Product Failures – Leading to Class Action Lawsuits? Round II,” MC Consultants 19th Annual West Region Construction Defect and Insurance Coverage Conference (September 19, 2013)
  • “What’s Working and Not Working About Wrap-Ups,” 2012 IRMI Construction Risk Conference (November 12, 2012)
  • Panelist, “Building Product Failures – Leading to Class Action Lawsuits?” MC Consultants 18th Annual West Region Construction Defect and Insurance Coverage Conference (September 20, 2012)
  • “It’s a Wrap,” Spring 2012 USLAW Conference (April 13, 2012)
  • Panel Moderator, “It’s a WRAP! – 2011 Market Update,” MC Consultants 17th Annual West Region Construction Defect and Insurance Coverage Conference (September, 2011)
  • California Western School of Law, Topic: “Exploring Options In Legal Specialties Panel” (October 7, 2010)
  • Panel Moderator, “WRAPS: An Update From the Front Lines,” MC Consultants 16th Annual West Region Construction Defect and Insurance Coverage Conference (September, 2010)
  • “It Isn’t Easy Being Green: Green Litigation Update & Insurance Coverage Issues In Green And Sustainable Design Construction Panel,” Spring 2010 USLAW Network Client Conference (April 16, 2010)
  • “Exploring Options Panel,” California Western School of Law (September 24, 2009)
  • California Western School of Law, Topic: “Exploring Options Panel” (October 23, 2008)
  • “WRAPs: Are They All They’re Cracked Up to Be?” Building Industry Association (December 12, 2006)
  • “Handling Construction Defect Claims, Strategies and Tactics – Developing and Managing High-Rise CD Cases,” 8th Annual Key West Seminar (October, 2004)

Publications

  • “SB 800: A Step In The Right Direction; Jimenez v. The Superior Court of San Diego County: Two Steps Backward,” BIA Builder Magazine (February, 2003)
  • “Up Close,” BIA Builder Magazine (July/ August, 2002)
  • “Legislation on Construction Dispute Litigation,” BIA Builder Magazine (December, 2001)

Related News

Photo of Kurt U. Campbell

Admissions


  • California and U.S. District Court, Southern District of California (1994)

Practice Areas

Contact

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