805.934.4600
Attorney
Alex Simas
Alex Simas is the senior principal attorney at Kirk & Simas. Recognized as an AV Preeminent (5.0 out of 5.0) rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, Alex is known across the region as “the guy to go to” for prompt, creative and focused solutions to challenging problems. He has more than 45 years of experience representing the business, real estate and land use needs of the Central Coast’s preeminent business enterprises, real estate brokerage and development firms, financial institutions, agribusiness ventures, and the estate and succession planning needs of the families behind them.
Alex also has extensive experience in the areas of Municipal and Public Agency Law, having presided as city attorney for the City of Guadalupe, district counsel for the Oceano Community Services District, and special counsel to the cities of Santa Maria and Lompoc, the Santa Maria Cemetery District, and Allan Hancock College.
Practice Areas
- Business
- Real Estate
- Trusts & Estates
- Public Agency Law
- Agriculture Law
Education & Licensing
- BS, History, Santa Clara University (cum laude), 1972.
- JD, Santa Clara University School of Law (magna cum laude), 1976.
- State Bar of California, 1976-present.
Civic Activities
- Board of Directors, Hacienda National Bank / Heritage Oaks Bank (1998-2017)
- Board of Directors, Northern Santa Barbara County Bar Association (2008-2018)
- Board of Directors, Santa Maria Valley Boys and Girls Club Foundation (1993-present)
- Board of Directors, Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce (1988-2006)
- Board of Directors, Allan Hancock College Foundation (2003-2008)
- Board of Directors, Marian Medical Center Foundation (1994-1998)
- Board of Advisors, St. Joseph’s High School (1988-1992)
Representative Work
- Represented multiple extended family members and others to wind up and dissolve a set of family owned holding companies involving approximately $40MM of commercial real estate spread across three states. Managed liquidation of some assets and distributed the balance in kind to multiple newly formed asset-holding entities.
- Negotiated and managed a multi-phased disposition of approximately $35MM in agricultural real estate to a regional housing developer by a set of family owned holding companies. Arranged and facilitated exchange of sale proceeds into multiple agricultural and commercial properties located in two states as part of a multi-year plan to minimize the senior generation owner’s potential estate tax liability.
- Negotiated development agreements between Allan Hancock College and the City of Lompoc for the College’s Lompoc Valley Center campus.
- Developed a comprehensive estate and business succession plan for the owner of multiple agricultural and commercial land holding and operating companies valued in excess of $20MM.
- Negotiated and documented a $25MM credit facility restructuring involving six borrower entities and three lenders.
- Successfully negotiated and resolved an intrafamily dispute over interpretation of a trust declaration involving nine family members, a family business and ten commercial and residential parcels valued at approximately $5MM
- Successfully negotiated and closed a $21MM sale to a private equity firm of a manufacturing business in the healthcare field.
Alex Simas
