How to start and operate a real estate brokerage in California

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Schneeweiss Properties, San Diego, CA

Broker/President/General Counsel

2017 & 2018 Recognition of Excellence, Silver award winner. Awarded by the

Greater San Diego Association of Realtors in conjunction with the San Diego Union Tribune (based upon sales production).

2008 - 2019, Award Winner, San Diego, Magazine, “Best in Client Satisfaction”.

Residential and commercial real estate brokerage firm with a specialty in short sales,

condominium conversions, PUDs, management, leasing, commercial and industrial properties throughout San Diego and Riverside Counties. (Less than 45 agents have received the award every year of the survey).

2013 - Finalist for “San Diego Broker of the Year,” peer award through the San Diego Association of Realtors.

2011 - Present, Expert Real Estate Witness and litigation consultant.

2011-Present: Instructor at the Greater San Diego Association of Realtors & North County Association of Realtors on risk management, legal compliance and permitting issues.

2013 - Present: Attorney Mediator, The San Diego Real Estate Mediation Center (part of the San Diego Association of Realtors)(Continuing Legal Education Speaker for SD REMC on Ethics in Mediation 2013, 2014).

2017/2018: Chair of the Real Estate Mediation Committee for the San Diego County Association of Realtors. 2015/2016 - Vice-Chair of the Real Estate Mediation Committee for the San Diego County Association of Realtors.

The Law Offices of Jonathan Schneeweiss, San Diego, CA (2003 – Present)

Partner

Advise clients on legal issues associated with real estate development, entitlements, and land use related matters. Serve as liaison between developers and government entities, including federal, state and local agencies. Consult on litigation matters involving real estate and land use. Teach continuing legal education classes at the San Diego County Bar Association and San Diego Association of Realtors on real estate and land use matters.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, San Diego, CA (2003 - 2008):

Broker Sales Associate

Manage all aspects of real estate sales business, including marketing, sales and client

development.

2008: Voted in San Diego Magazine as “Best in Client Satisfaction”.

2007: Ranked in the Top 50 of all San Diego Region Sales Associates (over 1,000 agents);

Top 3% for Coldwell Banker International (116,800 agents).

2004 – 2006: International Award Winning agent (ranking consistently in top 10% of

all CB agents).

2004: “Rookie of the Year” for all of Coldwell Banker San Diego Region. Ranked in

the top 4% for Coldwell Banker Internationally (over 110,000 agents).

Office of County Counsel, San Diego CA (2001 – 2003)

Senior Deputy County Counsel

Primarily handled high profile advisory and litigation matters involving land use and environmental matters. Also handled various government contracting issues and litigation involving environmental and land use related matters, including, but not limited to, County and Municipal Codes, air pollution, storm water, drafting legislation and prosecuting land use compliance matters.

Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps, LLP, San Diego, CA (1999 – 2001)

Associate Attorney

Handled complex business litigation matters, including environmental and land use

matters, government contract/bidding disputes and oversight of private contractor

environmental remediation throughout the State of California.

United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps, San Diego, CA (1996-1999)

Lieutenant

Trial Attorney, both prosecution and criminal defense. Selected as special counsel to

Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet overseeing environmental/land use matters with White House interest Base Realignment and Closure case. Directly responsible for oversight of government contractors servicing in litigation support capacity. (In one tour, twice Awarded Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal for outstanding performance). Qualified expert marksman, SCUBA Certified.

United States Senate, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,

Washington, D.C. (1995-1996)

Assistant Counsel

Research attorney directly advising Senators on oversight and investigations of the Executive Branch. Assisted with 1995 budget crisis and recognized in the Congressional Record for Committee.

EDUCATION:

George Washington University, National Law Center, Washington, D.C.

LL.M., (1996) Environmental law (with focus on land use planning)

Dean’s list, Research Assistant, Environmental Crimes

Published two law review articles

Syracuse University College of Law, Syracuse, NY

J.D., (1994), Editor-in-Chief, Environmental Impact, Dean’s List, Moot Court

Board & National Environmental Law Moot Court Team, National Lawyer’s Guild

Hofstra University (New College), Hempstead, NY

B.A. (1991), Provost Scholar, Dean’s list, Crew Team, Swimming Instructor and

Lifeguard, Intern, United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Voting

Section

Oxford University, St. Anne’s College, Oxford, England

Overseas study (1990), St. Anne’s College Crew Team

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC ACTIVITIES

Instructor/course author, San Diego Association of Realtors: How to Start and Operate a Real Estate Brokerage in California, and Understanding Permits and Code Enforcement in San Diego County (2008 to 2018).

Speaker/course author, San Diego Real Estate Mediation Center, Continuing Legal

Education, Ethics in Mediation (April, September & November 2014)(approved

by California Bar)

Speaker, Tom Homann LGBT Law Association and Thomas Jefferson Law School,

Understanding Short Sales for Lawyers, Ca. Continuing Legal

Education (approved by the California Bar)

2007-2009, President of the Tom Homann Law Association (www.THLA.org)(Board Member 2005-2015).

Past Member, San Diego County Bar Association

1998 - 2000, Chair of the Environmental Law and Land Use Section for the San Diego County Bar Association.

2008-2009, Commissioner, City of San Diego Citizens’ Equal Opportunity Commission (appointment by Mayor Sanders)

California Department of Real Estate (Lic. No. 01378508)

The State Bar of California (1999, Lic. No. 200885)

The State Bar of New York (1994, inactive)

District of Columbia (inactive)

United States Military Court of Appeals

Instructor, UCSD Extension, Environmental and Land Use Law (1999-2001)

1999 - Present, Mentor for Volunteers In Parole (in conjunction with the State Bar of

California)

PUBLICATIONS

Blog at www.SDHomePro.com

Watershed Protection Strategies: A Case Study of the New York City Watershed in Light of the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act,” Villanova Environmental Law Journal, 1997.

Putting Packaging Waste in Its Place: The Case for Federal Legislation,” Virginia

Environmental Law Journal, Spring, 1996.

“Hazardous Statements: Environmental Disclosure May Be at Odds with Trade-Secret

Protection,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, September 8, 2000.

“Reasons to Evaluate Environmental Compliance Programs,” San Diego Business

Journal, March 20, 2000.

“Disposal Dynamics: Issues Involved with Interstate Transportation of Hazardous

Waste,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, March 10, 2000.

Drilling for Oil or Preserving Nature’s Wildlife: The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Environmental Impact, 1993.