Somos Law Group

We provide preeminent legal advocacy and support. 

Somos Law Group is a multi-faceted, results-driven legal firm that offers a diverse range of real estate, land use, and environmental legal services. We represent builders, developers, investors, lenders, owners, landowners, nonprofits and local agencies across California.

Our team is deeply experienced with land use, environmental, leasing and licensing, acquisitions and dispositions, P3s, complex ground leases, property development, use agreements, easements, title, tax-exempt financing, regulatory compliance, construction, and corporate matters.

Representing clients who are at the forefront of innovation and forward-thinking solutions.

Meet Our Attorneys

Alfred Fraijo Jr.

  • Alfred Fraijo Jr. has honed his expertise on cutting-edge real estate transactions for public, private and nonprofit developers and multi-national corporations in the U.S. and abroad.

    Alfred has significant experience in obtaining and negotiating land-use entitlements for complex housing and mixed-use development projects throughout California, including advising clients with innovative, urban renewal projects in the inner-city and other sectors with emerging markets. His expertise encompasses complex project permitting and financing of affordable housing projects and mixed-income housing developments. His real estate and land-use expertise inlcudes master-planning projects, development of green energy facilities development and permitting campuses for educational institutions and universities.

    Alfred advises public- and private-sector clients on state and federal land use and environmental laws, including the Subdivision Map Act, California Community Redevelopment Law (including associated dissolution legislation and successor statutes), California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, CERCLA, RCRA, California Superfund Law and the Polanco Redevelopment Act. He also has significant experience in working closely with clients and consultants on due diligence review of land-use issues, which includes local zoning ordinances, general plans, redevelopment agency plans and related land use restrictions.

    Alfred has a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a J.D. from Loyola Law School.

Kira T. Conlon

  • Kira T. Conlon is an partner in Somos Law Group LLP’s Los Angeles office. She represents public and private sector clients in real estate development through all phases of the due diligence, acquisition, design, planning, permitting, and environmental compliance process. She has led complicated projects across varying sectors, flexing her expert ability and strategic approach to managing multiple consultants and stakeholders in a dynamic setting. Kira has advised clients on local, state, and federal land use and environmental laws, including the California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Policy Act, California Subdivision Map Act, and California Housing Accountability Act. Her work includes some of the most transformative planning and research projects in urban communities spanning the commercial, residential, hospitality, and healthcare sectors. Kira also represents developers and management in traditional labor law issues, including union negotiations.

    Her experience includes advising lenders, prospective buyers, and owners on development opportunities, risks, and value-based strategies through due-diligence investigations; negotiating and obtaining complex land use entitlements such as General Plan Amendments, Zone Changes, Development Agreements, Vesting Tentative Tract Maps, and Conditional Use Permits; and appearing before governmental agencies, commissions, and legislative bodies.

    Kira has been an engaged leader in the Japanese American community for over a decade. In 2018, she was honored with the inaugural Bob Williams Award while at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, which recognizes Sheppard Mullin associates who provide exceptional service for the betterment of the firm and the community. Among her notable community work, Kira serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Little Tokyo Service Center and the Board of Governors of the Japanese American Bar Association, serving as President in 2021.

    She has been recognized as a Southern California Rising Star in 2020 through 2022 by the publishers of Super Lawyers. In 2023, Kira was named “Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch” by U.S. News and Best Lawyers.

    Kira has a bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego and a J.D. degree from Southwestern Law School.

George Fatheree

George Fatheree

  • George Fatheree advises clients in large and complex real estate transactions. He also advises professional sports teams, artists, museums, and other arts and cultural institutions across a range of issues and transactions. His clients value his commercial approach, pragmatic advice, market perspective, collaborative style, creative problem solving, and ability to execute time-sensitive transactions. George has experience in a broad range of commercial real estate transactions, including joint ventures, fund formations, financings, acquisitions and dispositions, leasing and real estate M&A with a focus on hospitality, industrial, multifamily, entertainment venues, sports arenas, casinos, and energy deals.

    George led a team of lawyers in securing the return of Bruce’s Beach to the descendants of Willa and Charles Bruce, in a precedent-setting case that saw land returned to a Black family nearly a century after it had been taken by the city of Manhattan Beach as a result of racial animus. George developed and implemented a strategy that involved advising on statewide legislation to enable the transfer, conducting genealogical research, determining the proper appraisal methodology, helping defend litigation brought to stop the return of the property, analyzing federal tax treatment and, ultimately, negotiating the terms of the return of the property and the lease back to the county. His leadership of the team led to Sidley winning the award for “Innovation in Equity and Racial Justice” at the 2022 Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards North America. George was also named to the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion list in the 2022 Los Angeles Times in recognition of his work on behalf of the Bruce family, as well as for his representation of the Black Owned and Operated Community Land Trust, in its acquisition of a retail complex in Leimert Park, fighting gentrification in the historically Black neighborhood in Los Angeles.

    The Los Angeles Business Journal included George on the 2022 “Thriving in Their 40s,” list recognizing exceptional business leaders in Southern California. The Daily Journal also named George to their 2022 “Top 100” list of lawyers whose legal work has changed the law, an industry, or society.

    He received the 2020 “California Lawyer Attorney of the Year” award from the Daily Journal in recognition of his representation of the J. Paul Getty Trust in acquiring the photography archives of Ebony and Jet magazines. George has been selected for inclusion in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the California Real Estate category (2018–2022). He was named one of Real Estate Forum’s “Top 50 Real Estate Professionals Under 40” (2015) and an “Outstanding Young Lawyer” by the Los Angeles County Bar Association (2017).

    Prior to his legal career, George was the chief operating officer of the California Charter Schools Association, an education reform nonprofit. He also developed substantial business experience as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company and Booz Allen Hamilton, and co-founded the internet company govWorks.com, for which he was named one of Silicon Alley’s “Top 25 Minority Entrepreneurs” (1999).

    George earned his J.D., cum laude, from Loyola Law School and is a Fritz B. Burns Scholar and a member of Alpha Sigma Nu. He received an A.B., cum laude, from Harvard University where he studied government and religion.

    Experience

    Amherst Residential in multiple joint ventures, financings, and sales involving portfolios of single-family homes.

    Ares Management in its financing and development of the Makena Golf and Beach Club.

    Black Owned and Operated Community Land Trust in connection with the acquisition of a commercial building in the rapidly gentrifying historically Black community of Leimert Park.

    Caruso Affiliated in various financing and loan modification transactions.

    CIM in various commercial mortgage loans across all asset types, including condominium construction and development of production studios.

    Fortress Investment Group in financing the Las Ventanas al Paraiso resort in Los Cabos, Mexico.

    GI Partners in various acquisition, financing, and leasing transactions involving data center and lab and medical office buildings.

    Iconiq Capital in its construction loan for the development of the Taj Hotel.

    InvenTrust, a publicly traded REIT, in the sale of University House Communities, a portfolio of student housing projects.

    J. Paul Getty Trust in leading a consortium of foundations in the acquisition of the photography archive of Ebony and Jet magazines at a bankruptcy auction. The transaction was publicized by multiple media outlets, including The Art Newspaper, The National Law Journal, and Bloomberg Law.

    Los Angeles Clippers in multiple sponsorship engagements, including negotiating a stadium agreement for its development league team.

    Panasonic Avionics Corporation in negotiation of its new headquarters lease.

    Standard Real Estate Investment in multiple joint ventures for new development and construction projects.

    Stockdale Capital Partners in multiple engagements, including its acquisition and financing of the Horton Plaza shopping center in San Diego and its acquisition of the hClub in Hollywood.

    Pro Bono

    George has dedicated thousands of hours to pro bono work, including:

    Representing the descendants of Willa and Charles Bruce in the historic return of the Bruce’s Beach property which was wrongfully taken from the family over 100 years ago.

    Representing Black Lives Matter Los Angeles in its acquisition of a U.S. headquarters.

    Securing reparations for survivors of the Holocaust.

    Authoring a successful amicus curiae brief to California’s Supreme Court on behalf of public school students with diabetes.

    Representing the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in its acquisition and development of a state of the art performing arts academy.

    Advising The Underground Museum and the Museum of African American Art in Los Angeles.

    Representing charter schools in acquiring, leasing, and financing school facilities.

    Advising school districts on education reform issues.

    Helping students with special needs to access educational services.

    Membership and Activities

    Board Member, Destination Crenshaw

    Board Member, Loyola Marymount University

    Board Member, National Portrait Gallery

    Adjunct Professor, Loyola Law School

    Credentials

    ADMISSIONS & CERTIFICATIONS

    California

    Education

    Loyola Law School, J.D., 2007 (cum laude)

    Harvard University, A.B., 1997 (cum laude)

    Clerkships

    F. F. Fernandez, U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit (2007 - 2008)

Derek Galey

  • Derek Galey is a senior associate in the Real Estate, Land Use and Environmental Practice Group in the firm's Los Angeles office.

    Derek focuses his practice on land use, environmental, and real estate development matters. He helps clients obtain land use entitlements, comply with all manner of local, state, and national planning and environmental laws, and develop properties – from initial conception through construction and operation. Derek has extensive experience with development projects throughout California, including high-profile residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities. He also deploys his wide-ranging transactional and regulatory knowledge as a trusted advisor to multi-national corporations and public agencies.

    Prior to joining Somos, Derek practiced at Latham & Watkins, Armbruster, Goldsmith & Delvac, and Sheppard Mullin. He began his legal career as a fellow at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and as Land Use Deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. He received joint degrees from Harvard Law School (cum laude) and the Graduate School of Design, and he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study sustainable development. Derek currently serves as Chair of the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council Planning and Land Use Management Committee.

    Derek has a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Pomona College, a master’s Degree in Urban Planning from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, and a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School.

Tetlo Emmen

  • Tetlo Emmen is Managing Counsel at Somos Law Group. He specializes in advising clients on a broad range of commercial real estate transactions and operational matters. Tetlo provides practical, creative and deal oriented advice to help his clients execute complex and time sensitive real estate transactions.

    Tetlo has significant experience negotiating a range of real estate transactions including acquisitions and dispositions, disposition and development agreements, joint ventures and exclusive negotiation agreements. He has helped his clients successfully execute complex transactions for affordable and mixed income housing developments, mixed-use, and urban infill projects.

    Tetlo has extensive experience with all types of commercial leases including retail, office and industrial leases, ground leases, master and sub-leases and sale-leaseback transactions. His expertise extends to all matters relating to commercial leases, including work and construction letters, SNDAs, estoppels, brokerage agreements and lease-related disputes.

    Prior to joining Somos, Tetlo worked as in-house counsel managing an extensive real estate portfolio for a national retailer and as an associate in the land use and real estate department at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP.

    Tetlo has a bachelor's degree from UC Santa Barbara and a J.D. degree from UCLA School of Law.

    Representative Experience

    Negotiated all real estate transactions and work letters, managed disputes and oversaw construction and property management matters for national retailer with a real estate portfolio containing over 430 stores, distribution centers, warehouses and corporate offices.

    Represented growing Los Angeles restaurant chain in all leasing and real estate matters.

    Represented nonprofit organization in negotiating joint venture, option agreements and ground lease for mixed-use commercial and affordable housing project.

    Represented entertainment venue in negotiating long-term lease and acquisition of new location in California.

    Represented publicly traded REIT in purchase and sale and commercial leasing transactions.

    Represented Bay Area public utility to plan and execute strategy for disposition of excess property portfolio.

Sara Atsbaha

  • Sara Atsbaha is an associate in the Real Estate, Land Use and Environmental Practice Group in the firm's Los Angeles office.

    Sara represents public, private, and non-profit organizations through all stages of the development process, including land use and environmental due diligence, negotiating entitlement strategies with local agencies, managing complex entitlement and approval processes, and compliance with the California’s environmental and procedural requirements.

    Sara has significant experience advising clients regarding public infrastructure projects, charter school development, mixed-use and affordable housing projects, and transit-oriented projects, as well as regional development and housing policies.

    Sara has a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a J.D. degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Jonathan Zuniga

  • Jonathan A. Zuniga is an Associate in the Real Estate, Land Use and Environmental Practice Group in the firm's Los Angeles office.

    Jonathan assists the firm’s attorneys in matters related to development projects involving both private and public sector clients. These projects vary from residential, commercial, industrial, hotel, and mixed-use development. Prior to joining our firm, Jonathan worked for the Los Angeles City Council where he helped foster and create relationships with community stakeholders, leaders, and elected officials. He also worked closely with Labor Unions and assisted the Planning Department with development projects throughout the entire City of Los Angeles with projects pending entitlements, zone changes, and general plan amendments. Jonathan has worked with developers, investors, owners, consultants and lobbyist and helped with an array of matters pertaining to land use.

    Jonathan graduated from UC Irvine in 2016 with a double major in Political Science and Criminology, Law, and Society. Jonathan also received his J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles in 2022 and is awaiting bar results. While attending law school, he clerked at a civil litigation firm where he supervised the firm’s personal injury department. Jonathan has experience in all phases of litigation, from pre-litigation and pleadings to trial preparation. Additionally, while attending Loyola, he served as the Vice President of La Raza de Loyola and was the Faculty Chair for the Evening Student Bar Association. He is a member of the Mexican American Bar Association

    Jonathan has a bachelor’s degree from UC Irvine and a J.D. degree from Loyola Law School.

Jade Tolar