Andrew Ditlevsen is a trusted legal advisor to clients with a range of real estate-related needs. Andrew has over a decade of experience counseling clients in three core pillars of practice: real estate litigation, creditor’s rights and manufactured housing law. His long-standing clients are diverse and unique both in their profile and legal needs, which include high-net-worth individuals and families, significant privately held companies, private equity funds and publicly traded companies.

Andrew applies a client-focused, service-based approach across his stable of diverse clients. Consistent delivery on his approach has incubated successfully a deep trust between Andrew and his clients. Among his core values is the deeply held belief that the foundation of every successful relationship – business or personal – is trust rooted in honest communication and mutual respect.

Prior to joining the firm, Andrew was an associate at Sweeney, Mason, Wilson & Bosomworth in Los Gatos, California. While in law school, Andrew was a full-time judicial extern for the Honorable Jeremy Fogel of the United States District Court, Northern District of California. 

Outside the office, Andrew is a dedicated father of four children and blessed to be married to a wonderful woman. When time permits, he enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends, most frequently golfing, hiking and weight lifting. 

Areas of Focus

Services

Sectors

Experience

Real Estate and Real Estate Litigation

  • Represented a large Silicon Valley property owner in disposition of several parcels of commercial real property, including those located in a designated opportunity fund, and the redeployment of substantial proceeds through multiple exchange transactions.
  • Representation of landlords and tenants in connection with commercial multi-million dollars lease disputes, including eviction actions and a variety of matters arising from alleged breach of commercial lease agreements.
  • Representation of individuals and entities invested in real estate in connection with a variety of disputes involving management and disposition of the real estate asset(s).

  • Advice and counsel to private lenders and individuals in connection with claims against title insurance policies.
  • Representation of property owners in connection with a range of real estate disputes, including, for example: partition actions, boundary disputes, easements, licenses and slander of title claims.
  • After multi-day jury trial, client obtained a six-figure damages award, including punitive damages, against his partner arising from fiduciary malfeasance and fraud in connection with a real estate investment located in Mexico.
  • Successful defense, after a multi-day jury trial, of clients against claims for conversion of personal property and fixtures, all arising from a dispute between heirs involving substantial real property holdings.

Manufactured Housing and Mobile Home Parks Law

  • Daily legal and operational advice to owners and management companies representing approximately 350+ communities throughout California, including rules enforcement, eviction litigation, and warehouse lien sales.
  • Represented a large private company in connection with its multi-million dollar acquisition of several California mobile home communities.
  • Represented a subsidiary of a well-known private equity company in its portfolio acquisition of a California-based manufactured housing company with communities located throughout the continental United States.
  • Represented a publicly traded housing developer in its acquisition of a Silicon Valley-based mobile home community, as well as the closure and conversion of the community for purposes of developing thousands of new residential units.
  • Represented many community owners in connection with claims brought by residents under local rent control ordinances, as well as fair housing law claims.

Creditor’s Rights

  • Completed dozens of loan workouts, both pre-litigation and during litigation, on behalf of private lenders, involving hundreds of millions of dollars in debt.
  • Advice and counsel on foreclosure of real estate secured debt, including defense of post-foreclosure related litigation. Recently, commenced prosecution of against a third party under the new Civil Code section 2924m on the basis that the third party was not a “qualified bidder.”
  • Defense of private lenders against claims of usury law violations and unlawful penalties (Civ. Code Sec. 1671), including a recent defense after a one week bench trial on a claim for usury.
  • After approximately 18 months of litigation, and a four-day trial, clients obtained a six-figure judgment for nondischargeability of debt, proving debtors committed actual fraud under 11 U.S.C. §523(a)(2)(A), as well as “willful and malicious” injury under 11 U.S.C. §523(a)(6).
  • Client obtained a judgment of nondischargeability of debt arising from a pre-petition state court judgment against the debtor for violation of California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which nondischargeability judgment was based on 11 U.S.C §523(a)(6).
  • Participated, as second chair, in multi-week jury trial involving claims of fraud and breach of contract in the purchase and sale of a San Jose-based manufacturing company.

Credentials

Education

  • Santa Clara University School of Law (J.D.)
  • University of California - Santa Barbara (B.A., magna cum laude)

Certifications

  • Licensed Real Estate Broker, State of California, 2014-Present

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • California, 2012

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Recognitions

  • ALM – 2023 - “Lawyers on the Fast Track” (one of only 40 lawyers in the State of California to be recognized by The Recorder’s California Legal Awards)
  • Northern California Super Lawyers
    • Rising Star – 2018 to present.
  • Full-Time Judicial Extern, Honorable Jeremy Fogel (Ret.), United States District Court, Northern District of California (2010/2011).

Meet My Team

Professional Activities

  • Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association
    • Property Rights Committee, 2020-present
    • Convention Planning Committee, 2020-present
    • Presented at annual convention, 2019-present
  • The Congressman Don Edwards Inns of Court
    • President, 2018-2019
    • Co-President 2017-2018
    • Vice President 2016-2017
  • Licensed Real Estate Broker
    • State of California, 2014-Present
  • NAIOP – Silicon Valley
    • Member and Developing Leaders Program Participant, 2018
  • City of San Jose Appeals Hearing Board
    • Commissioner (City Council appointee), 2015-2017
  • Santa Clara County Bar Association
    • Member of Civil Practice Committee and Finance Committee, 2014-2017

Community Involvement

  • Santa Clara County High School Moot Court Competition
    • Scoring Attorney, 2015-2017