Drawing on years of experience and a diverse base of legal and business knowledge, Jim Traber advises school districts on an array of complex issues that arise in school facilities, real property, finance and other matters. Jim strategically drafts and persuasively negotiates the best contract terms possible in construction, solar, joint use, joint occupancy and joint funding transactions, among others. He also co-chairs the firm’s Business & Facilities Practice Group and leads the firm in understanding emerging legal issues. Jim also has extensive experience assisting schools with conflict-of-interest, Public Records Act and Brown Act compliance.

An accomplished litigator, Jim represents clients as the lead attorney in trial and appellate matters. These often involve contract disputes, developer fees, real property disputes, construction, inverse condemnation and eminent domain. Jim sees each case as a chess board where there is always an optimal move to be made – aggressive or otherwise – to strategically advance his client’s interest toward the desired outcome. Clients also say they appreciate that he comes to every meeting or court appearance fully prepared to make an impact.

Jim employs a calm and candid approach to establish realistic expectations about the outcomes of all the matters he handles.