An innovative provider of sophisticated legal services in over 45 practice areas.

Louis A. Gonzalez, Jr.

Shareholder

Sacramento

916.558.6105

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Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • California

Court Admissions

  • All State and Federal District Courts in California
  • Ninth Circuit District Court of Appeals

Education

J.D., UC College of the Law, San Francisco, 1991

B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1988

Experience

Louis is a senior shareholder and a senior trial attorney in the Firm’s Litigation practice group, representing clients in a wide array of business and real estate disputes. 

Louis has tried over thirty jury trials to verdict and numerous court trials and binding arbitrations to judgment. Louis began his legal career as a trial deputy with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s office, where he handled several high-profile cases. He joined the Firm in 1993 and has represented clients in a wide array of business and real estate disputes. Louis has been repeatedly elected to the Firm’s Managing Board, where he currently serves, and has also served as the Litigation Group Chair.

Louis represents commercial developers, home builders, landowners, and lenders in a wide range of real estate disputes. He has developed expertise in all areas of real estate litigation, including purchase and sale contracts, due diligence, disclosure, options, partnership, commercial landlord/tenant, and master-planned community disputes. Louis has successfully challenged governmental entities and other interest holders on backbone infrastructure and reimbursement agreements. Louis represents owners in disputes between co-owners and adjacent landowners in partition, easement, boundary, and other proceedings affecting title. He also represents owners in disputes with state, county, and local entities relating to subdivisions, land use, zoning, and environmental issues. Louis regularly speaks at continuing education seminars on topics related to his real estate practice.

Louis also counsels broker, developer, and lender clients in Department of Real Estate (DRE) compliance issues. He represents them in administrative proceedings initiated by the DRE, including negotiating settlements, serving as trial counsel, and handling appeals.

Louis was selected for inclusion in Northern California Super Lawyers for 2004, 2007, 2009-2021, the Top 25 Sacramento Super Lawyers List for 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, Top 100 Northern California Super Lawyers in 2018, and The Best Lawyers of America® 2013-2021.

Community Involvement

Committed to the legal community, Louis has been an active member of the Sacramento County Bar Association. He has served on the Bar Council and as president of the Barrister’s Club. He served on the Sacramento County Judicial Evaluation Committee from 1998 through 2005 and as a delegate for the Sacramento County Bar to the State Bar of California’s Conference of Delegates. He is also a court-appointed mediator for the El Dorado County Superior Court and serves on the Hillel Board for Davis and Sacramento.

Louis and his wife enjoy Sacramento’s outdoor activities with their two children. They especially enjoy running, cycling, hiking, and skiing. Louis and his wife regularly participate in endurance events with Team-In-Training and raise funds for The Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Louis recently completed his first triathlon.

 REPRESENTATIVE CASES

  • Successfully defended Ramona Chace LLC’s ownership of real and personal property development assets acquired from the Lender following foreclosure—originally pledged by TCN Properties as collateral for a $10.5 million loan—by securing judgments against TCN, its principal, and the City of Lathrop confirming Ramona Chace’s exclusive rights to the Mossdale project entitlements, fee credits for backbone infrastructure, and related interests. 
  • Successfully defended Evergreen Management Company and its principals against tortious interference claims brought by University Capital Management, ultimately securing a pre-trial dismissal without payment after demonstrating that Evergreen had merely been retained to review UCM’s billing practices for entities owned by Roger Dreyer and did not cause UCM’s alleged damages. 
  • Successfully defended AKT Development Corporation in a rescission action brought by a public entity alleging misrepresentation of land value during the peak of the real estate market. After establishing that no misrepresentations were made and the entity assumed the known risks, secured payment of AKT’s attorneys’ fees for a dismissal of AKT’s cross-complaint.
  • Successfully represented Triad Communities in a high-stakes breach of contract dispute against Standard Pacific Corporation involving a nearly 700-acre Bay Area mixed-use development, securing a resolution after StanPac wrongfully terminated the assignment agreement and refused to convey the parcels despite Triad’s satisfaction of all closing conditions under a $25+ million purchase arrangement. 
  • Represented the Real Estate Owned (REO) division of Wells Fargo Bank during the Great Recession, successfully guiding the bank through post-default leasing issues to facilitate the sale of formerly distressed commercial and investment properties. 
  • Successfully defended a commercial tenant in Roseville against the landlord’s attempt to terminate a 99-year ground lease on a prime 25-acre property near the Galleria. After a 3-week trial, Louis’ client prevailed and was awarded damages and over $300,000 in attorney’s fees, securing reformation and consolidation of the leases based on Subdivision Map Act violations, and obtaining an order imposing ongoing environmental obligations on the landlord.
  • Successfully secured prescriptive and encroachment easements for Cal Neva Resort & Casino following a three-week trial, obtaining access rights over neighboring property for business related activities and confirming easements for multiple encroaching structures and improvements. The judgment was upheld on appeal. 
  • Represented Shea Homes, as successor to UDC Homes, in litigation arising out of the Villages Development in San Jose, securing a favorable ruling in a bifurcated trial that the developer had the authority to record and amend the Declaration of Annexation without homeowner or association consent—dramatically reducing plaintiffs’ $4+ million claims and leading to a mutually acceptable settlement of the remaining issues. 
  • Represented members of the Davis family, longtime owners of the Davis Ranches in Colusa, in a complex partition action involving more than 9,500 acres of prime agricultural property, structuring the division of ranch lands and related water, mineral, and federal subsidy interests through the formation of new entities, ensuring compliance with subdivision and parcel map laws, and establishing necessary access and utility easements to facilitate the orderly separation of ownership while preserving the value of ongoing ranching operations. 
  • Acting as general counsel to large community associations, Louis has over 20 years of experience advising general managers and board members on corporate governance, compliance, CC&R enforcement, and operational and liability matters, as well as regularly prosecuting and defending litigation on behalf of associations. 

Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law and Real Property Sections
Member

North State Building Industry Association
Member

Urban Land Institute
Member

Anthony M. Kennedy Chapter of the Inn of Court
Member (1998-present)

Barristers Club of Sacramento
Former President

Meritas, Sacramento
Member

California Lawyers Association Real Property Law Section, Litigation Practice Area Committee, Vice Chair

Awards

Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” 2021 Sacramento for Litigation – Real Estate

Best Lawyers in America®, 2013-2021, 2023-2026 (Litigation – Real Estate)

Sactown Magazine’s Top Lawyers List, 2015-2024 – Business Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Real Estate

Sacramento Business Journal’s Best of the Bar, 2014-2019

AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell® since 2003

Top 25 Sacramento Super Lawyers, 2013 – 2015, 2017 – 2023

Top 100 Northern California Super Lawyers, 2017-2018, 2025

Northern California Super Lawyers, 2004, 2007, 2009-2025

Webinar – Don’t Get Nailed: Tips to Help Builders Avoid Lawsuits

On August 4, Weintraub Tobin lawyers Shauna Correia and Louis Gonzalez provided an overview of the most common types of lawsuits faced by builders and contractors – as well as possible new claims due to the COVID-19 health crisis – relating to employment, workplace safety, and construction contract disputes. This…

  • When: Aug 4, 2020
  • Where: Webinar

Weintraub Tobin Hosts Firm-Wide Mock Trial

Weintraub Tobin hosted its internal mock trial on June 27, 2025. Designed to help associates refine their courtroom skills while under the expert supervision of more senior attorneys, the mock trial included key elements of real litigation. Over 30 participants joined from across all offices and ranks, including shareholders, associates,…

34 Weintraub Attorneys Named to Sactown Magazine’s Top Lawyers 2024

Weintraub Tobin is honored to announce that 34 of its attorneys have been selected to the inaugural Sactown Magazine Top Lawyers 2024 list. Attorneys from Weintraub Tobin are recognized in over a dozen practice areas on this year’s list, including Real Estate, Employment & Labor, Business Litigation, and Estate Planning…

Diversity at Weintraub Tobin Highlighted in Hispanic Heritage Month

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Weintraub Tobin celebrates diversity in the Firm’s leadership, workforce, community, and client base.  “Weintraub is proud to serve some of the most diverse regions in California, and it is important to us that our Firm reflect our communities,” said Managing Shareholder Gary Bradus. “Our diversity of experiences and…

35 Weintraub Attorneys Named to 2021 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists; Firm Retains Highest Percentage of Sacramento Top 25 List

Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that 38 of its attorneys have been included on the 2021 Super Lawyers and Rising Star lists for outstanding attorneys in Northern California.  In addition, 4 Weintraub Tobin attorneys received special recognition on Northern California and Sacramento “Top” lists. Weintraub attorneys represent 16 percent…

33 Weintraub Tobin Attorneys Named to 2020 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists; Retain Highest Percentage of Sacramento Top 25 List

Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that 33 Weintraub Tobin attorneys have been included on the 2020 Super Lawyers and Rising Star lists for outstanding attorneys in Northern California.  In addition, 5 Weintraub Tobin attorneys received special recognition on Northern California and Sacramento “Top” lists. Weintraub attorneys represent 20 percent of…

14 Weintraub Tobin Attorneys Named to Best of the Bar 2019

SACRAMENTO, California  – Weintraub Tobin congratulates its 14 attorneys who have been included in Sacramento Business Journal’s Best of the Bar 2019. Attorneys selected to the 2019 Best of the Bar list include Gary L. Bradus, Kay U. Brooks ,Dale C. Campbell,  Christopher Chediak, Janet Z. Chediak, Jim Clarke,Edward J.…

37 Weintraub Tobin Attorneys Named Among 2018 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Super Lawyers has released its Northern California, Southern California and San Diego lists of outstanding attorneys for 2018, on which 37 Weintraub Tobin attorneys have been included. Five Weintraub Tobin attorneys received special recognition as a Top 25 Sacramento Super Lawyer. Weintraub Tobin attorneys named to the 2018 Southern California…

24 Weintraub Tobin Attorneys Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®

SACRAMENTO, CA (August 7, 2017) – Weintraub Tobin, a leading California full-service law firm, is pleased to announce that 24 Weintraub Tobin attorneys are Martindale-Hubbell rated. Out of the 24 attorneys, 21 have received the AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, while three attorneys have been given the Distinguished rating. AV…

36 Weintraub Tobin Attorneys Named Among 2017 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Super Lawyers has released its Northern California, Southern California, and San Diego lists of outstanding attorneys for 2017, on which 36 Weintraub Tobin attorneys have been included. Six Weintraub Tobin attorneys received special recognition as a Top 25 Sacramento Super Lawyer. Weintraub Tobin attorneys named to the 2017 Southern California…

Eight Shareholders Named 2014 Best Lawyers in America®

Weintraub Tobin Chediak Coleman Grodin, a business law and litigation firm, is pleased to announce that eight of its partners were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2014 edition of Best Lawyers in America®. The honored attorney are: Chris Chediak, Corporate David Adams, Leveraged Buyouts and Private…

Local Law Firm Struggle to Recruit and Retain Minorities

Law: A White Man’s WorldMinorities Scarce as Firms Fail to Reflect Region’s Diverse Population Sacramento Business JournalSeptember 28, 2007By Kathy Robertson, Staff Writer Shareholder Louis Gonzalez, Jr. comments in this article that the perception about law firms by minority candidates is part of the problem. In this article he states,…