Galuppo and Blechschmidt Lawyers Commercial and Residential Real Estate Law Firm of North County Carlsbad San Diego: landlord-tenant, contracts, leases, zoning, eviction, litigation, real estate disputes, code enforcement, property and land use acquisitions

Louis A. Galuppo

Mr. Galuppo has been involved in the real estate industry since 1975 as a principal, builder, real estate broker, mortgage broker, developer, and attorney. From 1989, Mr. Galuppo has been practicing law, emphasizing both transaction and litigation matters relating to real estate, finance, construction, development, environmental and land use. Mr. Galuppo serves as general counsel for various real estate, development, construction, and mortgage lending companies. He is licensed to practice in all courts of the State of California; including the four Federal District Courts. Previously, Mr. Galuppo was a partner in the real estate law firm of Peterson & Price.

A few years ago, he was awarded the distinction of an “AV” rating with the lawyer rating service of Martindale-Hubble. The AV® certification mark is the highest level of rating accomplishment awarded by Martindale-Hubble. It is a testament to the fact that the lawyer's peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. Knowledge and skill derived from extensive experience are usually prerequisites for an AV rating. The standard of excellence is determined by the lawyers practicing in that particular area.

Mr. Galuppo is also the Director of the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate at the University of San Diego (“USD”). He has taught Legal Aspects of Real Estate in the School of Business Administration at USD as a professor starting in 1998. In 2004, in the Masters of Science of Real Estate (“MSRE”) he started teaching Real Estate Law, Ethics and Public Policy. Also in the MSRE program, Mr. Galuppo teaches Real Estate Transactions and the Land Use Process.

Furthermore, he actively speaks, writes and performs research on issues affecting the real estate community and sustainability and is currently involved with the San Diego Chapters of the National Association of Industrial & Office Properties, the Institute of Real Estate Management, the Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute, Urban Land Institute, Building Industry Association, the San Diego Association of Realtors, and the North San Diego County Association of Realtors. Mr. Galuppo is also a member of the honorable Lambda Alpha International Society for the advancement of Land Economics.

He received his Bachelor of Science Degree, with an emphasis in finance, from San Diego State University. After several years working as a real estate professional, Mr. Galuppo returned to school, receiving his Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in 1989. While in law school, Mr. Galuppo was part of the staff of Law Review and interned with the Superior Court of California in San Diego and with the Fourth District Court of Appeals, Division One.

In the early 1990’s, Mr. Galuppo served on an advisory group to the Housing Commission for the City of Encinitas. During the early 2000’s, he was a Director for CCIM, San Diego Chapter. Mr. Galuppo was a Board Member for the New School of Architecture, as well as a Board Member for the San Diego Community College Real Estate Advisory Committee.

Mr. Galuppo was born and raised in Southern California. He has been married over 20 years to Kathryn; and they have two children.

Bart Blechschmidt

Mr. Blechschmidt currently practices law, emphasizing in real estate and business litigation. In addition, Mr. Blechschmidt handles real estate transactions and land use matters.

Mr. Blechschmidt started his legal career at a small law firm representing small trucking companies throughout the state of California. Mr. Blechschmidt has since practiced law with several prestigious law firms in San Diego and South Lake Tahoe, California. In addition to private practice, he has also served as General Counsel for Pars Assets LLC, a real estate investment company and Microskills, LLC, a computer training school.

Mr. Blechschmidt received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Washington State University and earned his Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in 1993. Mr. Blechschmidt is licensed to practice law in both California and Nevada. He is married to his wife Alicia and has two lovely daughters, Sierra and Madison, and a son, Kyle.

Katie Jo Keeling

Ms. Keeling was born and raised in Southern California. She was a law clerk for Galuppo & Blechschmidt, APLC in 2006, and subsequently became an associate in 2007 after being admitted to the State Bar of California. She is licensed to practice before both the California State Superior Courts and the California Southern District Federal Court.

Ms. Keeling earned her Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2007. During law school, Ms. Keeling worked as a student advisor for the school’s pro bono Entrepreneurship Clinic, where she received the award for Outstanding Entrepreneurship Clinic Intern. Further, she earned admittance into the international legal fraternity Phi Delta Phi. In addition to her legal experience, Ms. Keeling has a practical understanding of financial markets, having spent time as a licensed investment advisor.

Ms. Keeling graduated in three years with high honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2004, with a major in Business Economics and minor in Professional Writing.

Efren A. Limbag

Mr. Limbag graduated cum laude from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. During law school, Mr. Limbag was Senior Editor of Law Review. He worked as a legal intern for the United States Attorneys Office and the Office of the Attorney General. Mr. Limbag was also a Judicial Intern for the Honorable J. Michael Bollman and the Honorable Charles R. Hayes of the San Diego Superior Court.

Before joining Galuppo & Blechschmidt, APLC, Mr. Limbag practiced landlord-tenant law, including commercial, residential, foreclosure and subsidized unlawful detainers. In addition, he practiced in the areas of bankruptcy and collections. He is a licensed California real estate salesperson.

Mr. Limbag is a member of the State Bar of California and District of Columbia, Court of Appeals. He is also admitted to the Northern, Central, Southern and Eastern District Courts of California.

John C. Demas

Mr. Demas’ practice focuses on real estate, estate planning and small business matters. He is licensed to practice law before all California and Colorado courts, and before the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Demas has extensive business experience in hotel management, accounting, corporate due diligence, title insurance, and the closing of complex commercial real estate transactions. He has previously managed a law practice in Colorado. Mr. Demas received his Juris Doctor from the University of Denver, a Master of Business Administration from New Mexico State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University, Fullerton.

Mr. Demas is at home in San Diego with his wife and two children after being born in Chicago, Illinois, raised in Irvine, California, and living throughout the American West. Mr. Demas is also an Instructor with the University of San Diego, Southwestern College, and City College, teaching law, escrow, paralegal, and real estate courses.

Robert Berton

Mr. Berton has been a trained mediator since 1997 and a practicing attorney for nearly five decades. He has vast expertise in the areas of commercial and residential real estate purchase/sale transactions, leasing, land development, construction defect, and probate and trust law. Mr. Berton held a Certificate of Specialization from the California State Bar in Probate, Trust, and Estate Planning. He has successfully represented clients in mediation, arbitration, and civil court litigation.

Mr. Berton received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1959. He then received his Juris Doctor in 1962 from UCLA School of Law. In 1963 he attended University of Southern California (USC) School of Law for post graduate legal studies.

Mr. Berton received Mediation Skills training from the National Conflict Resolution Center in 1997 and 2007. He has served as a Superior Court Arbitrator. He is also a former Mediator for the American Arbitration Association in Probate and Trust matters with an 80% resolution rate in cases conducted.

Ed Estes, Jr.

A San Diego native, Mr. Estes received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California in 1980 and his Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1983.

He is a Master Instructor for the California Association of REALTORS, has taught for National University School of Law, University of Phoenix and Palomar College; Ed is the author of two DRE approved courses as well as a textbook on how to pass the California Real Estate Exam.

Mr. Estes has served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Superior Court and Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and is a former Mayor of the City of Vista, CA.

Mr. Estes has been an Attorney at Law since 1983 emphasizing in general business, real property and land use law, with particular attention directed to risk management administration and alternative dispute resolution. He has been a licensed real estate broker since 1984 and is active in real estate consulting, development, investment and residential brokerage management.