t: 415-409-7611
f: 415-463-2349
San Francisco Office
507 Polk St.
Suite 310
San Francisco, CA 94102
Oakland Office
482 W MacArthur Blvd,
Oakland, CA 94609
Daniel M. Bornstein, Esq.
Principal
For over 26 years, rental housing providers have relied on Daniel Bornstein to cauterize risk, realize the full potential of their investment property, and power through unique challenges inherent with owning and operating a real estate business.
The boutique firm of Bornstein Law exemplifies the personal qualities of its founder and the decisive voice for rental property owners and operators, Daniel Bornstein. One of the most thankless and trying but necessary duties of a landlord is transitioning tenants out of rental units, but Daniel is the Bay Area’s authority in the carefully choreographed steps of unlawful detainer actions.
With deep knowledge in the complex laws governing landlord-tenant relationships, core practice areas include navigating thorny regulations in rent-controlled jurisdictions and effectuating vacancies through creative legal vehicles, with exceptional skill in crafting and executing proper and enforceable tenant buyout agreements, as well as assisting owners or close relatives recover a tenant-occupied rental unit for their own use.
Using wide-ranging litigation experience, Daniel is adept in the courtroom advocating for landlords and property managers in jury and bench trials, and this aggressive representation extends to regular appearances in front of local Rent Boards tasked with adjudicating rent increases and all manner of other landlord-tenant disputes. His approach is direct and sensible, taking into account the bigger picture while skillfully managing the details of unforgiving timelines and specialized documentation like notices, complaints, motions, and petitions.
However successful Daniel has been in the courtroom, he is just as accomplished in negotiating settlements and likes to say that litigation is not like a sporting event when one side wins and the other side loses - his goal is not to elongate a dispute, but to lower the temperature and secure a successful resolution taking into account risk, time and attorneys’ fees.
More than a litigator, Daniel has been called upon as an expert witness by dozens of third-party litigants and their counsel to testify in cases involving landlord-tenant, property management, leasing, and liability issues, leveraging his expertise on the stand to gain a powerful advantage.
Daniel is renowned for his educational workshops on ever-changing regulations and other subjects germane to the rental housing industry and while his events at the Fort Mason Center have been a mecca for sold-out crowds, he is just as affable speaking to close-knit groups. For many in attendance, it is the first time they gain an understanding of local rent control ordinances and other rules.
Although many institutional clients call upon Daniel for informed advice, there is a special place in his heart for “mom-and-pop” landlords who are especially susceptible to making missteps in a complicated regulatory regime.
When he is not representing clients in his day job, Daniel wears another hat as the founder and managing Broker of Bay Property Group, a full-service property management company and real estate brokerage focused on developing and maintaining successful rentals, and the recipient of the East Bay Rental Housing Association's 2013 Property Management Company of the Year award.
After graduating with honors at the University of Michigan and earning a Master of Arts at Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy in 1992, Daniel earned his J.D. at The University of California, Berkeley School of Law. He is an avid lecturer for the Preliminary Multistate Bar Review, discussing complex subjects in front of large groups preparing for the national multistate bar examination.
Among other academic highlights, Daniel quite literally gained a global perspective as a Visiting Professor of Law at Donetsk State University in Ukraine, where he lectured on real estate, municipal, and business law, was instrumental in implementing academic reform and conducted meaningful research in the Ukrainian privatization of state property.
EDUCATION
University California, Berkeley School of Law – Boalt Hall
Juris Doctor, 1992
- Recipient of the S. K. Yee Academic Excellence Scholarship
- International Tax & Business Lawyer Journal
Staff editor
State University of New York, Albany
Master of Arts, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy, 1997
- Presidential Scholar
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, 1988
- Phi Beta Kappa – Honor Society
- James B. Angell Academic Excellence Scholar
Daniel recognized as the "ultimate advocate."
At an East Bay Rental Housing Association ceremony, it was said while landlords in the Bay Area have been stigmatized for having a vested, important stake in the community, there is no greater ally of owners than Daniel Bornstein.
EBRHA President Wayne Rowland pays tribute to Daniel for a rare combination of advocacy both in the courtroom and at educational events. Earlier in the event, Bay Property Group was crowned the "Property Management Company of the Year," of which Daniel is the President and Managing Broker.
IN THE MEDIA
Daniel Bornstein raises the voice of rental housing providers
RECENT FROM THE NEWSROOM
In an era when political rhetoric falls squarely on the side of tenants, Daniel offers a unique perspective through the lens of underrepresented property owners and as an outspoken advocate, always welcomes the opportunity to tell their story.
Foreclosure sales continue in Bay Area during coronavirus crisis →
Coronavirus Conundrum: Do Landlords Have a Right to Know If Tenants Have COVID-19? →
The next COVID-19 crisis: The coming tidal wave of evictions →
Small San Francisco Landlords Say Legalizing ADU’s Is A Catch 22 →
Oakland apartment tenants on strike, refuse to pay rent until landlord sells property to them →
Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. This honor is not a given, even for highly competent attorneys. Super Lawyers recognizes the top 5 percent of the lawyers in the state. Independent research and peer evaluations single out the cream of the crop in more than 70 practice areas.
Recent webinars Daniel hosted
Never letting the grass grow from underneath is feet, Daniel is engaged in new technology to present the information rental property owners need to survive and thrive in a challenging regulatory regime.
Renowned for educational events
Whether in front of hundreds of visitors to the Fort Mason Center or talks with close-knit groups, Daniel has made it a mission to share information with owners and real estate practitioners on how to navigate a labyrinth of rules and optimize their business.
Some of our memorable events, at a glance:
Managing the Owner Move-In Process: East Bay Edition
2017 Oakland Rent Control Changes: Understanding the New Rules
San Francisco Landlord/Tenant Key Issues for Real Estate Professionals
New Legal Developments in San Francisco for 2018: What you Need to Know
San Francisco Landlord/Tenant Key Issues for Real Estate Professionals
San Francisco Landlord/Tenant Key Issues for Keller Williams' Agents
San Francisco Rent Control- For Investors
Bay Area: Landlord/Tenant Investment Climate-A Legal View
Oakland: Landlord/Tenant- OMI, Buy-Ous & Rent Control
San Francisco Landlord/ Tenant Key Issues for Real Estate Professionals
Key Issues for San Francisco Landlords
SF Rent Control- Knowledge is Power
Ins and Outs of Owner Move Ins (Oakland)
Oakland Rent Control Update
Keller William Presentation
San Francisco Rent Control Knowledge is Power
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Propostion 10: Economic Effects
Protect Your Assets: Navigating Costa Hawkins
San Francisco Landlord Summit
Propostion 10/Propsition 5 Post-Election
Post Elections Effects on Real Estate for Alain Pinel Realtors
TNDC
TNDC VAWA
Rent Control Expo
SF Real Estae Update-Keller Williams
Ins and Outs of Real Estate Investing and Networking
Ins and Outs of Real Estate Investing and Networking
Client Event Update: What's on the Horizon
BPOA Landlord/ Owner Event
COPA Legislation 101
Oakland Rent Control Update
COPA Legislation 101
Review of California New Laws
SFAR Real Estate Expo- Landlord/ Tenant Issues
PPMA New State Rent Control "Just Cause" Evictions
NARPM New State Rent Control "Just Cause" Evictions
Mercy Housing New State Rent Control "Just Cause" Evictions
Alain Pinel New State Rent Control "Just Cause" Evictions
Trinity Management New State Rent Control "Just Cause" Evictions
NARPM New State Rent Control "Just Cause" Evictions
New State Rent Control
Mynd Co. New State Rent Control "Just Cause" Evictions
Landlording in a New Era
COMPASS March 3rd 2020
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ACBA MCLE March 12th 2020
Mercy Housing Emergency Update
SFAR March 19th 2020
State/Local Rental Law Review
COVID19 Crisis Landlord-Tenant Considerations & Hoarding- How to Handle?
COVID19 Crisis Landlord-Tenant Considerations (Berkeley)
COVID 19 Crisis Landlord-Tenant Considerations (NARPM)
Professional Associations
As an ambassador for rental property owners and the professionals who serve them, Daniel is proud to join a network of like-minded people.
- Member – CAA: Legal, Liability, Judicial Procedures & the Courts Policy Subcommittee, 2013- present
- Director – Rental Housing Association of Northern Alameda County, 2009-2012
- Member – San Francisco Association of Realtors
- Member – National Association of Residential Property Managers
- Affiliate Member – Professional Property Management Association of San Francisco
- Contributing Writer and Affiliate Member – San Francisco Apartment Association
- Affiliate Member – Tri-County Apartment Association
- Affiliate Member – California Apartment Association
- Member – Real Property Law Section, State Bar of California Bar
- Member – Bar Association of San Francisco