Darren L. Hereford
Darren attended Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and received a doctoral degree in Jurisprudence (J.D.) in 1993. While at Loyola Law School, he served with distinction as Managing Editor of the Loyola International and Comparative Law Journal and worked as a staff intern with the Western Law Center for Disability Rights. Prior to graduating from Loyola Law School, he attended a summer study abroad program in Hong Kong through a joint-program between the University of Hong Kong and Santa Clara Law School. He successfully passed the bar exam on the first attempt and was admitted as a member of the California State Bar in 1993.
Darren started his law career as a litigation attorney with the national law firm of Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, where he represented national insurance companies and their insureds. He crossed-over to transactional law in 1996 when he joined the respected Orange County law firm Jackson, DeMarco, Tidus & Peckenpaugh. Darren worked closely with Jackson DeMarco's top partner, Scott Jackson, and structured and drafted contracts and documentation for master-planned communities in Southern California on behalf of well-known national and regional residential homebuilders. In 1998 Darren joined the Santa Monica boutique law firm Stern, Neubauer, Greenwald & Pauly (now Greenwald, Pauly, Foster & Miller), where he further expanded his expertise to include acquisitions, development, finance and leasing for office and industrial real estate developers and investors, as well as corporate startup ventures in new technologies. In 2000, Darren joined the prestigious 70 lawyer downtown Los Angeles based law firm of Weston, Benshoof, Rochefort, Rubalcava & MacCuish (now Alston + Bird), where he helped establish and grow the firm's corporate and real estate transactions group and made partner in 2006. While at Weston Benshoof, Darren represented a wide variety of corporations and real estate developers, investors and lenders, including some of the largest and most recognized companies in the U.S.
In 2008, Darren realized that the global economic downturn was forcing companies of all sizes to control and reduce costs, but that the business model of "big law" was not necessarily well-suited to furthering the business objectives of clients who were facing significant economic challenges and pressures. Motivated by his desire to provide more efficient and cost effective legal services for his clients, Darren decided to make the jump from a "big law" practice to a "small law" practice. Darren successfully made the transition to a smaller solo practice and continues to represent a diverse group of clients, including business owners, entrepreneurs, and commercial real estate developers and investors.
Darren previously served as a board member and President of the Southern California Development Forum. He also served as co-chair of the Men's Guild of Southern California 2008 Charity Poker Tournament for Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and contributes to several charities, including Smile Train, Real Medicine Foundation, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Darren lives in Santa Monica, California with his wife and daughter.
Darren started his law career as a litigation attorney with the national law firm of Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, where he represented national insurance companies and their insureds. He crossed-over to transactional law in 1996 when he joined the respected Orange County law firm Jackson, DeMarco, Tidus & Peckenpaugh. Darren worked closely with Jackson DeMarco's top partner, Scott Jackson, and structured and drafted contracts and documentation for master-planned communities in Southern California on behalf of well-known national and regional residential homebuilders. In 1998 Darren joined the Santa Monica boutique law firm Stern, Neubauer, Greenwald & Pauly (now Greenwald, Pauly, Foster & Miller), where he further expanded his expertise to include acquisitions, development, finance and leasing for office and industrial real estate developers and investors, as well as corporate startup ventures in new technologies. In 2000, Darren joined the prestigious 70 lawyer downtown Los Angeles based law firm of Weston, Benshoof, Rochefort, Rubalcava & MacCuish (now Alston + Bird), where he helped establish and grow the firm's corporate and real estate transactions group and made partner in 2006. While at Weston Benshoof, Darren represented a wide variety of corporations and real estate developers, investors and lenders, including some of the largest and most recognized companies in the U.S.
In 2008, Darren realized that the global economic downturn was forcing companies of all sizes to control and reduce costs, but that the business model of "big law" was not necessarily well-suited to furthering the business objectives of clients who were facing significant economic challenges and pressures. Motivated by his desire to provide more efficient and cost effective legal services for his clients, Darren decided to make the jump from a "big law" practice to a "small law" practice. Darren successfully made the transition to a smaller solo practice and continues to represent a diverse group of clients, including business owners, entrepreneurs, and commercial real estate developers and investors.
Darren previously served as a board member and President of the Southern California Development Forum. He also served as co-chair of the Men's Guild of Southern California 2008 Charity Poker Tournament for Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and contributes to several charities, including Smile Train, Real Medicine Foundation, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Darren lives in Santa Monica, California with his wife and daughter.
