Overview

PRACTICE AREAS:
Real Estate
International Business Transactions
Bankruptcy and Insolvency

John Lim is a senior partner in the transactions group and specializes in real estate development and financing, representing developers, financial institutions and investment entities.

As counsel for developers, Mr. Lim has handled all facets of commercial real property transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, financing, entitlements, subdivisions, leasing, and negotiating and drafting complex purchase and sale agreements, debt and/or equity financing documents, development agreements, CC&Rs, reciprocal easement agreements, DDAs, ground leases and commercial leases, and other substantive real estate agreements. The projects handled by Mr. Lim as lead counsel include notable innovative ­­­developments such as Plaza Mexico (a nationally acclaimed life-style center in Lynwood, California), San Pedro Wholesale Mart (the largest commercial condominium project in Los Angeles, California) and Aroma Sports & Spa (a state-of-the-art mixed-use retail and spa complex in Los Angeles, California).

As counsel for lenders, Mr. Lim has worked on various types of loans, including construction, permanent, bridge, equity participation, mezzanine, and other variations or hybrids of them. The credit facilities were extended for major shopping centers, office buildings, hospitals and medical centers, hotels and resorts, industrial and distribution centers, corporate and R&D facilities, and other innovative projects. As an expert on anti-deficiency rules and related subject matters, Mr. Lim represents lenders in complex loan restructuring and workouts.

As counsel for investors, Mr. Lim has led due diligence teams to investigate all aspects of acquisitions and financing for major projects. In his representation of investors, Mr. Lim regularly counsels on formation of investment entities, strategic alliances, and related debt/equity financing matters.

Mr. Lim is a frequent speaker at symposia covering subjects such as anti-deficiency rules, loan workouts, insolvency, debt/equity financing, and topics of current interest addressing bankers, accountants, lawyers and other professionals.

Grounded in his firm conviction to further equality and justice in our society, Mr. Lim serves on numerous boards of nonprofit organizations, including Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC).

Education

• University of California, San Francisco, Hastings College of the Law (J.D., 1982)
• California State University, Northridge (B.S., Accounting, 1979)

Admissions

• California, 1982

Awards

• Southern California Super Lawyer, 2006-2009
• Wiley W. Manual Award for Pro Bono Legal Services, presented by the State Bar of California, 1993
• Legal Impact Award, presented by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, 1992

Memberships

• Korean American Bar Association of Southern California, President, 1992
• Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles, California, First Vice Chair
• Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association
• Los Angeles County Bar Association
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
• International Association of Korean Lawyers
• American Bar Association

Languages

• Korean