Elizabeth A. England

    Partner
    San Francisco
    Direct: 415.984.8503
    Main: 415.984.8500

    Practice Focus:

    • Main Biography
    • Real Estate Law
    • Construction Law
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Professional Liability

    Betsy is a partner in the San Francisco office. She is past Chairman of the Litigation Section of the California State Bar (2010-2011), and served on its Executive Committee as a member and officer for six years. Betsy was also past Co-Chairman of the Real Property Section of the California State Bar (1999-2001) and a member of the Real Property Section Executive Committee (1996-2001). Betsy concentrates her practice on civil litigation matters with an emphasis in real estate. She has successfully prosecuted and defended cases relating to all aspects of real estate, including: purchase and sale, title insurance and escrow problems; commercial real estate broker defense, broker commission disputes, seller and/or broker misrepresentation; condominium and cooperative disputes; commercial and residential construction disputes; premises liability; boundary disputes, mechanic’s lien claims; protection of secured creditors, unlawful detainer/eviction; rent control disputes; and interpretation of real estate contracts. She also provides advice regarding Department of Real Estate rules and regulations. Betsy is a frequent speaker on all aspects of real estate.

    Betsy arranges and plans transactions involving the acquisition and sale of commercial and residential properties. She counsels developers, contractors, architects, owners, buyers and sellers regarding construction defect litigation. Betsy works closely with expert consultants to identify and isolate such defects, as well as to determine early avenues for settlement. She has successfully handled multiparty, complex litigation concerning flaws in structural, electrical, engineering, landscape design; roofing and framing defects; as well as soil, foundation and grading problems.

    Education

    • J.D., University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 1978
    • Member, Hastings Law Journal
    • B.A., Boston University, 1969

    Court Admissions

    • California State Courts
    • United States District Court for the Northern District of California

    Bar Admissions

    • California, 1978

    Professional Memberships and Activities

    • State Bar of California 
      - Litigation Section: Section Advisor (2011-2012); Section Chair (2010-2011); Section Vice Chair (2009-2010); Section Treasurer (2008-2009); Section Secretary (2007-2008); Section Member (2004-present) 
      - Real Property Law Section: Section Vice Chair and Advisor (1999-2001); Section Member of Executive Committee (1996-2001)
    • Chair, Northern California Real Estate Litigation Subsection (1993-1995)
    • Member, Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW)
    • Member, ECHO, The Executive Council of Homeowners

    Distinctions

    • Extern to California Appellate Court Judge John Racanelli
    • Member, Hastings Law Journal
    • Winner, Moot Court brief writing competition
    • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubbell 
    • 2011 Northern California Super Lawyer
    • Selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition (May/June 2010) in the area of Real Estate Law
    • 2010 Northern California Super Lawyer
    • 2009 Northern California Super Lawyer
    • 2008 Northern California Super Lawyer
    • 2007 Northern California Super Lawyer
    • 2006 Northern California Super Lawyer
    • 2005 Northern California Super Lawyer

    Other Information

    • Olympic Club
    • University Club (Former Member of Board of Directors)
    • California Tennis Club
    • Committee Member, Muscular Dystrophy Association (2003-2004)
    • Maritime Association, Co-Chair for Gala (2004)

    Speeches and Publications

    • Lecturer, Bar Association of San Francisco Presentation, "Survey of Significant 2011 Real Estate Cases" (2012)
    • Author, "Thirty Years in Litigation: Time for a Book?" California Litigation, the Journal of the Litigation Section (publication of The California State Bar), Vol 24, No. 1 (2011)
    • Author, "Then and Now: Meeting the Challenges," California Litigation, the Journal of the Litigation Section (publication of The California State Bar), Vol. 23, No. 3 (2010)
    • Panelist, "Alternative Dispute Resolution/Mediation Options," discussion presented by Hastings Alumni Association (July 2007)
    • Lecturer, State Bar of California Real Property Section Retreat, "Recent Developments in Arbitration, Reference and Jury Waivers" (2007)
    • Lecturer, State Bar of California Litigation Section Educational Program, "Proactive Case Management: How to Create a Litigation Plan and Budget" (2007)
    • Lecturer, CLE International, "Negotiating Leases Conference" (Lecture on ADR) (2005)
    • Lecturer, Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of California, "The Road To Success: A Mock Trial" (2005)
    • Lecturer, Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of California, "A Mock Real Estate Trial" (2002)
    • Guest Lecturer, San Francisco Real Estate Roundtable "Commercial Eviction, The Litigator's Rocket Track" (2000)
    • Lecturer, Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of California, "Easement and Other Boundary Disputes: Is Your Land My Land?" (2000)
    • Lecturer, The Arbitration Committee of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the Bar Association of San Francisco; "Heartbreak Arbitration Clauses in Real Estate Contracts" (2000)
    • Lecturer, Law Education Institute, Inc., "Making Choices: Mediation or Arbitration" (2000)
    • Author, "Steiny v. Citicorp Real Estate," California Real Property Journal (publication of The California State Bar), Vol. 17, No. 3 (Summer 1999)
    • Lecturer, Educational Institute of The State Bar of California (1997), and Real Property Retreat (1998), "Soup to Nuts – A Real Property Jury Trial"
    • Lecturer, San Francisco Board of Realtors (1997)
    • Co-Author, A Commissure for Real Estate Commissions: The Juncture Where Written Agreements Meet the Implied Covenant of Good Faith, California Real Property Journal (publication of the California State Bar), Vol. 15, No. 3 (1997)
    • Lecturer and Moderator, Educational Institute of the State Bar of California, (1996), and the Real Property Law Retreat (1997), "Running With the Ball – A Mock Mediation and Arbitration"
    • Lecturer and Moderator, Real Property Law Retreat for The State Bar of California "Expert Witnesses—Love ‘Em or Leave ‘Em: How and When to Use Experts in Real Property Litigation" (1995)
    • Lecturer, Real Property Law Retreat, "Real Estate Arbitration" (1994)
    • Guest Lecturer, The State Bar of California Annual Meetings (1993 and 1994)
    • Chapter co-author, Department of Real Estate, Real Estate Brokers and Agents, California Public Agency Practice (Matthew Bender & Company) (1988)
    • Newsperson's Privilege in California, Hastings Law Journal (1978)
    • Guest Lecturer, San Francisco and Alameda Trial Lawyers Association and the Alameda County Bar Association
    • Guest Lecturer, Rotary Club and the Women’s Council of Realtors