Professional Experience:

1992 - Present:

Substantial Brokerage Aspects including sales, financings, and other dispositions of real estate & sales of loans in California as well as to Japanese Nationals and corporations, including residential, commercial and developmental properties. Active loan brokerage practice. Representation of 100s of brokers/agents--both in residential and commercial transactions; lease and sublease transactions; involvement in hundreds of transactions as principal, broker, and lawyer (including acting as arbitrator and mediator). Have arbitrated and mediated over 100s of real estate cases ranging from commission disputes, disclosure issues, fiduciary duty, inspections, option clauses, complex contract interpretations.

Prior trial testimony regarding Brokers Standard of Care; Duty to inspect; Brokers use of Non-compete Clause; Integration clause impact in Contracts, Agency issues, Options issues, and many other complex areas of real property transactions.

Have been involved in hundreds of real estate transactions as broker, agent, lawyer, and principal. Further, have represented Real Property General Partnerships as counsel, agent, and principal in numerous transactions.

Private practice including all aspects real estate law, numerous residential transactions, commercial leasing, financing issues, guarantees, disclosure, mediation, and civil litigation. Represent Oakland Association of Realtors as well as dozens of brokers statewide. Additional practice of law generally involving real estate transactions as well as securities issues, e.g., drafting prospectuses for syndications, limited partnerships. Conducted in excess 14 trials--including a 6-month jury trial re defective condominium project. Additionally, conducted hundreds of \ arbitrations & mediations for California Superior Courts, the AAA & NYSE & PSE.

1988 - 1991:

Principal of International Private Investment Banking Firm:
Genesis Group was primarily involved in sales and development of USA real estate and other business transactions between the USA and Japan. Genesis Group had closed in excess of $10,000,000 in real property transactions. Genesis Group also was heavily involved in the resolution of comlex real property issues arising between the 2 continents.

1981 - 1988:

General counsel and Chief Financial Officer for Fayette Manufacturing Corp., and the limited Partnerships known as Wind Energy Technology Associates I & II & III. Fayette achieved over $150,000,000 in sales over a four year period. Responsibilities included litigation, negotiation, drafting, development, structuring, and legal analysis of all aspects of multi-million dollar transactions, including land leases and utility easements.

These aspects include real estate, land leases, financings, and civil & business litigation, drafting of financing agreements, commercial loans, and the drafting of investment prospectuses for syndication and limited partnership agreements. Also included was the importation of over $5,000,000 in Danish equipment to The USA.

1977 - 1981:

Associate with the Law Firm of Touhey & Prosse, Santa Ana, California. Practice consisted exclusively of litigation and general business law. Largest trial involved dispute concerning 170 condominiums and consisted of over 130 plaintiffs, 30 depositions, 2000 exhibits, and all aspects of real property issues and practice of a protracted litigation.

John S. Preston
1060 Clarendon Crescent
Oakland, California 94610
Tel. 510-763-9131
E-mail: johnprestonmediation@gmail.com