Attorneys

Vahishta is an experienced real estate litigator for nearly two decades but now enjoys the transactional aspect of her practice.  By drawing on her experience litigating contract disputes, Vahishta handles all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including commercial office, retail and industrial leasing, and commercial purchase and sale.  Vahishta’s commercial practice ranges from small scale individualized and large scale commercial sites.

Vahishta handles other aspects of real estate law such as residential sales, easements and boundary disputes, tenants-in-common disputes, partitions and more, and her clients include individuals, fiduciaries, and corporate entities.

Vahishta’s real estate practice is complemented by her corporate practice where she advises clients on general corporate and limited liability company matters, including formation and governance.

Vahishta practices a commonsense approach, and believes in high-quality, cost-effective, and successful representation.

During her legal career, Vahishta’s clients have included both individual and institutional clients in matters involving real estate, complex toxic tort liability, premises liability, construction defect, and insurance defense.

Since 2018, Vahishta has served as one of the update authors to the CEB – University of California Education of the Bar publication titled “Office Leasing: Drafting and Negotiating the Lease”.

Vahishta is Of Counsel to Richardson Law Firm,  Morrill Law, and Watson, Hoffe & Hass.  She provides her knowledge and expertise in real estate law to these firms.

Vahishta is also an Adjunct Professor at Chabot College teaching paralegal students Contract Law and Computer Application and E-Discovery.  Her students enjoy her straightforward teaching style along with real-world examples of the cases she has litigated over the years.

For many years, she volunteered her time teaching the Pro Per Clinic at the Contra Costa County Bar Association. She now volunteers her time serving on the Board of the Congress of Neutrals, a non-profit organization providing free mediation services in Contra Costa County Superior Court.

Vahishta earned her B.A. in Philosophy and Politics from Saint Mary’s College of California, and her law degree from the University of San Francisco, School of Law.

Vahishta is licensed to practice law in the State of California and is admitted to the Northern District of California and the Eastern District of California. She is also a licensed real estate broker since 2005.

Vahishta enjoys skiing with her husband and two children at Heavenly, South Lake Tahoe.  She also enjoys mountain biking and hiking in the terrains of Tahoe, and has a passion for gardening and the outdoors.  She has explored over 30 countries, and has lived in several countries including Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Update Author, “Office Leasing: Drafting and Negotiating the Lease”   (CEB – University of California Education of the Bar), 2018 – Present

Author, “How to Avoid Discovery Sanctions” (Contra Costa Lawyer, March 2016.)

Author, “Commercial Tenants Who File Bankruptcy” (Contra Costa Lawyer, October 2014.)

Author, “Balancing the Cost of an Expert with Obtaining the Necessary Information,” (Contra Costa Lawyer, July 2008.)

Why are you so emotional? How to Respond to Gender Bias and High Conflict Situations, Contra Costa Bar Association’s MCLE Spectacular, 2021

Discovery, East Bay Trusts and Estates Lawyers “EBTEL” Probate Boot Camp, 2018

Board Member, Congress of Neutrals

Member, American Bar Association, Real Estate Section

Member, Contra Costa County Bar Association

Recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer 

Recognized as a Northern California Rising Star by Super Lawyers

Robert W. Richardson’s practice emphasizes real estate, construction and business law, and litigation. He represents commercial property owners and managers in a broad range of transactions involving shopping centers and commercial and industrial buildings. He handles commercial lease matters, including lease negotiation and dispute resolution for both landlords and tenants. He also represents parties in litigation and arbitration of commercial and residential real estate matters, including environmental and toxic litigation.Mr. Richardson has served on the Real Estate Advisory Committee of the American Arbitration Association and has served on the Board of Directors of the Real Estate Section of the Contra Costa County Bar Association and is a past President. He is also a member of the Real Property Sections of the California and American Bar Associations and past Chair of the Subcommittee on Arbitrator Qualifications, Standards and Ethics.

Mr. Richardson obtained his law degree in 1980 from Golden Gate University School of Law. He has been an Update author for the two-volume California Commercial Leasing series, Office Leasing: Drafting and Negotiating the Lease, and a consultant on the two-volume California Commercial Leasing series, “Retail Leasing: Drafting and Negotiating the Lease“, publications of the University of California Continuing Education of the Bar.