Steve Seto practices real estate and title-related litigation with an emphasis on representation of property owners, lenders, title insurance companies and escrow companies in state and federal court, bankruptcy court and arbitration. Mr. Seto advises clients on various types of real estate disputes including title insurance and escrow claims, boundary and easement disputes, lien priority determinations, partition actions, purchase and sale disputes, and quiet title actions. He also has extensive experience representing lenders and individual property owners who have been victimized by real estate fraud and identity theft. In addition, Mr. Seto represents individuals and companies in partnership dissolution actions, shareholder disputes, agency/lack of authority litigation and employment matters.
REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS
- Fidelity National Title Insurance Company
- First American Title Insurance Company
REPRESENTATIVE WORK
- Obtained a $1 million judgment in an arbitration concerning a lack of authority claim
- Obtained a directed verdict for a property owner in a quiet title action
- Successfully defended commercial developers in a construction defect dispute in a multi-day trial
- Obtained a $1.7 million attachment lien for a commercial landlord
- Defended a construction supply company in a $200 million false claims action brought by the California Attorney General, resulting in a favorable settlement for the client
- Defended a manufacturer in a two-week jury trial
- Represented a general contractor in a lien priority dispute, resulting in a $600,000 payment to the client
- Successfully defended an investor in a judgment on appeal to the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel
- Obtained a judgment for a lender in a $350,000 quiet title action
- Successfully defended insured commercial lenders in a subordination action in a two-day trial
- Successfully appealed a judgment against an attorney to the California Court of Appeal
- Successfully defended a debtor in a non-dischargeability action in a trial in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court
PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS
- “Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Law and Procedure,” Program Co-Chair, National Business Institute
- “Landlord Claims in Bankruptcy,” Program Co-Chair, Contra Costa County Bar CLE
- “Landlords Beware: Security Deposits in Bankruptcy,” BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association) International Magazine
- “Solvent Tenant Used Bankruptcy Primarily to Reduce Landlord’s Damage Claim,” San Francisco Daily Journal
- “Bailor, Consignor and Trustee Rights under California Uniform Commercial Code § 2326,” California Bankruptcy Journal
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Seto Wood & Schweickert LLP, Walnut Creek, CA (2019-Present) (Partner)
- Bergquist, Wood, McIntosh & Seto, LLP, Walnut Creek, CA (2012-2019) (Partner)
- Shapiro Buchman Provine LLP, Walnut Creek, CA (2005-2012) (Partner 2010-2012)
- Miller Starr & Regalia, Walnut Creek, CA (2000-2005) (Associate)
- Sulmeyer, Kupetz, Baumann & Rothman, Los Angeles, CA (1995-2000) (Associate)
- S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California, Santa Ana, CA (1994-1995) (Law Clerk to the Honorable John E. Ryan)
EDUCATION
- University of Southern California School of Law, J.D. 1994
- Colgate University, B.A. 1988
