REAL ESTATE LAW:

William Simmons specialized in real estate at Hastings College of Law, San Francisco, taking all courses that were offered. He practiced real estate law and other areas of law from 1965 to 1970, when he left the law for other careers (in which he was a state and national leader). He returned to real estate law in 1985, when he opened up a real estate brokerage. He built the brokerage from scratch into the 10th largest residential real estate company in San Diego. He sold that company in 2003 and returned to law practice in January 2004, in La Jolla, representing contractors, buyers, sellers and real estate brokers. He also mediates real estate and commercial disputes (see below).

During his years as a broker Simmons was involved in legal matters not only for his company but also for the San Diego Association of Realtors, and the California Association of Realtors. At the San Diego Association he was the founding chair of a legal committee dealing with broker liability and how to reduce it. At the California Association he co-authored guidelines that help arbitrators decide commission disputes. These guidelines are now a model nation wide.

Simmons has been called upon many times to appear as an expert witness in residential real estate cases, for both buyers and sellers, and in support of and against real estate brokers.

Simmons understands that litigation is unacceptably costly and very demanding on a litigants' money, time and emotions. He strives for early resolution of cases, before formal litigation commences.

CONSTRUCTION LAW:

In the early years, Simmons worked for a law firm that represented a major contractor in the San Francisco Bay Area. He returned to that field in January 2004, representing a local contractor. Before law school Simmons was employed on major construction projects in Alaska and San Francisco. He has also supervised many tenant improvements and the remodeling of three office buildings. He understands the construction business.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR):

In 1987 Simmons began acting as an arbitrator of real estate commission disputes.

In 1995, after lengthy training, he added mediation to his arbitrator skills. Since then he has focused on mediation as a way for buyers, sellers and brokers to avoid litigation. In 1998 Simmons became a member of the San Diego Superior Court's mediation panel, and he continues to serve the Court as mediator in real estate, commercial and environmental law cases.