Sunderland | McCutchan, LLP
Real Estate, Transactional, Construction & Estate Planning Attorneys

About

Passion. Experience. Diligence.

History

Attorneys Robert J. Sunderland and Edward McCutchan worked throughout the State of California for several years prior to teaming up with their previous firm of Ginder, Sunderland & Carlson, LLP.  With a desire to focus on the specific needs of their esteemed clientele, Sunderland | McCutchan, LLP was formed in 2004.  Since then, they have represented in excess of 10,000 Real Estate Brokers and Agents as well as numerous other professionals throughout California. The Firm is well-respected for its work ethic, creative problem solving and deep commitment to clients.  

Attorneys

Partner

Robert J. Sunderland

BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE
Mr. Sunderland was admitted to the California Bar in 1997. He is admitted and qualified to practice in California courts and the U.S. District Court, Central and Southern Districts of California. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Sunderland enjoyed a successful career as a General Contractor responsible for the construction of custom residential homes. He has been a licensed General Contractor since 1990. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Sunderland worked for Trans Pacific Geothermal Corporation as an Executive Vice President and subsequently General Counsel. Mr. Sunderland was responsible for negotiating power sales contracts with foreign governments and overseeing of numerous U.S. Dept. of Energy projects. In 1998, Mr. Sunderland founded Ginder & Sunderland focusing on the defense of Real Estate Brokers, Agents and General Contractors throughout California. The Firm quickly grew with offices in Los Angeles and Santa Rosa becoming Ginder, Sunderland & Carlson, LLP. In 2005, Mr. Sunderland formed Sunderland | McCutchan, LLP with Edward McCutchan, where he continues to focus on the defense of real estate professionals, contractors and business professionals. Mr. Sunderland has qualified as an Expert Witness in court rendering Construction Defect opinions and is actively engaged as a Mediator on a private basis as well as through professional organizations. 

PRACTICE AREAS
Civil litigation emphasizing in defense of Real Estate, Mortgage, Escrow and Appraisal professionals as well as General Contractors and Subcontractors in all phases of dispute resolution including Mediation, Arbitration and Trial..

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Mr. Sunderland obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pepperdine University and his Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law. Mr. Sunderland is a member Real Property and Litigation sections of the California State Bar and is also a member of the California Association of Realtor's Legal Forum. Mr. Sunderland is actively involved with multiple Associations of Realtors® in Southern California.  Mr. Sunderland acts as the Firm's Managing Partner. 

Partner

B. Edward McCutchan, Jr.

BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE
Edward McCutchan graduated from the University of California at Davis with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1982 and graduated from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California with a Juris Doctor in 1985. He graduated from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California with an L.L.M. in Business and Taxation in 1985. Mr. McCutchan is a member of the California State Bar and the Sonoma County Bar Association.  Mr. McCutchan has been a partner with Sunderland | McCutchan, LLP since 2005 and previously was a partner with Ginder, Sunderland & Carlson, LLP from 2003-2005. He was a partner with the Law Offices of DeMeo & DeMeo in Santa Rosa, California from 1996-2003, an associate with Rifkind & Fuerch in Hayward, California from 1989-1996, an associate with Wagner-Kirkman in Sacramento, California from 1986-1989, and a Sonoma County Deputy District Attorney from 1985-1986.   In addition, Mr. McCutchan is a former director of the Russian River Property Owners Association and former director of Lion, Inc., a publicly traded corporation. Further, he is an adjunct professor at Empire College of Law in Santa Rosa, California, teaching Wine Law.  Mr. McCutchan is an experienced Mediator and Arbitrator handling private matters as well as State Bar fee disputes. He has served as a court appointed Judge Pro Tem, Arbitrator and Settlement Commissioner in Alameda and Sonoma Counties. He has served as an Expert Witness advising in attorney standard of care issues and real estate agent standard of care issues as well as agricultural matters in the viticulture field. Mr. McCutchan manages the Firm's Santa Rosa office.

PRACTICE AREAS
Civil litigation with an emphasis in defending professionals and businesses in Real Estate, Mortgage Brokering, Construction and Banking industries and all phases of dispute resolution through Trial and Appeal. Emphasis also in Agricultural Law (viticulture/wineries), Trusts and Estates, Probate, Real Estate Transactions, and Business Law.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Mr. McCutchan was admitted to the Bar in 1985 and is admitted and qualified to practice in all California courts and the U.S. District Court, Eastern and Northern Districts of California as well as the United States Tax Court.