• Interview with LifeShield Security
• Interview with
  Dow Corning Corporation
• Interview with
  Wermers Companies
• Interview with Parron Hall
• Interview with Evanco
  Realty Advisors, Inc.
• Bavaria International
  Aircraft Leasing
• Sullivan Hill Continues Partnership with Washington Elementary
• Axis-Shield
• Sullivan Hill Continues German Referendars Partnership

Wermers Companies

Celebrating 50 years in San Diego, Wermers Companies provide development and construction services throughout the southwestern United States. The firm has built over 20,000 units valued at more than one billion dollars since 1990. While multi-family housing is the company’s primary focus, it has also been involved in a variety of mixed use, hotel, senior housing and apartment development projects, including most notably City Lights 793 apartments, Aliso Viejo, Shea Properties / Portofino 396 apartments, Mission Valley, H.G. Fenton Company / Kelly Ranch 451 apartments, Carlsbad, Archstone.

An interview with Richard Lemmel, Chief Financial Officer, Wermers Companies...

As CFO of one of southwest’s leading multi-family housing developers, what role do you play in the organization?

As CFO, I am responsible for maintaining and enhancing all of the accounting and financial reporting for the company. From project accounting to corporate accounting, and legal to insurance/risk management issues, I am responsible for all financial analysis for the company.

How has Sullivan Hill Lewin Rez & Engel assisted your company with legal issues that affect your particular industry sector?

Our company and family of companies, has worked with both Tim Earl and Jim Drummond for more than 16 years in two specific legal areas. First, in the area of defense of insurance claims including resolution of coverage issues and second, in the area of general advising and counsel. We also use them to assist with claims arising from subcontractor disputes.

What challenges are you faced with concerning insurance claim issues?

Often, the insurance carrier wants to select the attorney to represent us from their panel. That’s why we do everything we can to get Tim involved in our cases as early as possible, and, do what we can to convey how successful our outcomes have been whenever we have worked with him. Tim is very good at what he does, he is an advocate for us and the results he has obtained have been nothing short of phenomenal.

You mentioned you use the firm for general counseling services. What examples of the type of work the firm has worked on with you can you share?

Jim has been an invaluable legal advisor in many areas for our company over the years, and has assisted on a variety of projects ranging from reviewing general corporate books and records to the formation of new companies. We’ve always received good advice from Jim and he has been an important part of our legal team.

With the housing market and construction market specifically in a down-turn, how important is having the right attorneys working with you?

We know one thing for sure – you need good attorneys in order to hang around town for as long as we have. Recently celebrating 50 years in San Diego has illustrated the importance of having a proactive role concerning risk management and legal issues. Working with Tim and Jim before a problem arises greatly minimizes issues downstream.