Fred Pfister is a partner of White and Bright and represents clients in real estate/business litigation and transactional real estate and business matters.
Mr. Pfister’s legal practice focuses on litigation, primarily involving commercial and residential real estate matters, such as disputes concerning real estate sales and ownership, partnership disputes, breach of lease, title issues, purchase/sale transaction disputes, agent and broker defense, easement disputes, encroachments, boundary disputes, commercial unlawful detainer, breach of contract, indemnity issues, and other commercial disputes.
Mr. Pfister also represents numerous business entities and individuals in transactional matters, including entity formation, real estate and business transactions, commercial leases, and general counsel representation.
Mr. Pfister also devotes substantial time advising clients in pre-litigation matters to resolve potential disputes and help avoid the cost and uncertainty of litigation. Mr. Pfister’s business experience and multifaceted practice is a substantial benefit to position his clients to achieve the best business solution for them. Litigation is expensive, time consuming, and often comes with significant lost opportunity costs incurred while an individual or business is focused on litigation, rather their core business. Whether he is representing individuals or business, Mr. Pfister focuses on his client’s needs and future success.
Prior to White and Bright, Mr. Pfister was an associate with a boutique San Diego law firm, where his practice focused on commercial litigation, with an emphasis on real estate and insurance matters. Mr. Pfister started his legal career focused on business reorganizations through the chapter 11 bankruptcy process, and in business litigation.
Prior to entering law school, Mr. Pfister was an information technology consultant and project manager for internet and software companies. Mr. Pfister holds a Computer Information Systems degree from Indiana University.
Education
- J.D., University of San Diego School of Law, 2008
- B.S., Indiana University – Kelley School of Business, 2001
Admitted to Practice
- California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Professional Associations
- Fiorenzo V. Lopardo American Inn of Court
- Urban Land Institute, San Diego & Tijuana
- Small Scale Infill Development Council – Urban Land Institute
- Building Industry Association – San Diego
- North County Bar Association
- State Bar of California
Recognition
- Super Lawyers - Rising Stars, 2016, 2017, 2018
- Friend of the Industry Award, 2017 - North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
Representative Cases
Litigation
- Successfully prosecuted and defended actions brought in arbitration and court by the owners of businesses against one another, ranging from real estate development companies to automobile dealers, land owners and closely held companies
- Defended a limited liability company and defeated dissolution claims from a member of the LLC.
- Represented a real estate developer in a breach of an indemnity agreement lawsuit.
- Defended numerous real estate brokers and agents in non-disclosure, negligence, and fraud claims.
- Represented a private school in the defense of a boundary and easement lawsuit with a neighboring real property owner.
- Represented a commercial property owner in a dispute over shopping center restrictions during the leasing of the property to a national retailer.
- Represented a startup company in defense of lawsuit from a national timeshare company for fraud and breach of contract, resulting in a favorable settlement.
- Represent clients in insurance issues, including coverage disputes and insurance policy review.
Transactions
- Represented real estate developers in private loan transactions, construction contract negotiation, easement issues, commercial leasing, and purchases of real property.
- Represented land owners in the drafting of easements and related documentation.
- Represented commercial landlords and tenants in commercial and industrial lease transactions.
- Represented controlling and minority shareholders in the sale of companies to private equity firms.
- Outside general counsel to several businesses, including a construction company, real estate developers, and real estate brokerages.
Publications & Speaking Engagements
- Residential Purchase Agreement, 2024 Updates - July 2024 - Webinar for North San Diego County REALTORS®
- Red Flags and Non-Disclosure Lawsuits – June 2024 - Presentation for the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS®
- Deposit Disputes and Liquidated Damages - April 2024 - Presentation for the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS®
- Avoiding Litigation and Deposit Disputes - October 2023 - Presentation for local real estate brokerage
- Residential Purchase Agreement - October 2023 - Webinar for North San Diego County REALTORS®
- Avoiding Litigation - September 2023 - Presentation for local real estate brokerage
- Conflict Resolution - Deposit Disputes and Liquidated Damages - September 2023 - Presentation for the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS®
- Broker Forum Event - Standard Forms Revisions - July 2023 - Webinar for North San Diego County REALTORS®
- Litigation Avoidance (Part 1) - March 2023 - Presentation for the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS®
- Broker Exclusive Event - February 2023 - Presentation for North San Diego County REALTORS®
- Top Three Issues That Get You Sued - October 2022 - Presentation for local real estate brokerage
- My Home is Now in a Fire Zone... What Do I Need to Know? - August 2022 - Presentation for North San Diego County REALTORS®
- Ancillary Forms to the Purchase Agreement - March 2022 – Webinar for North San Diego County REALTORS®
- New Residential Purchase Agreement - January 2022 - Presentation at the Julian Real Estate Association
- Residential Purchase Agreement Q&A - January 2022 – Webinar for North San Diego County REALTORS®
- Residential Purchase Agreement (Part 2) - December 2021 – Webinar for North San Diego County REALTORS®
- Residential Purchase Agreement (Part 1) - December 2021 – Webinar for North San Diego County REALTORS®
- Red Flags and Non-Disclosure in Real Estate Transactions – August 2021 – Presentation for local real estate brokerage
- Real Estate Market Update for 2021 - July 2021 - Presentation and Webinar at the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS®
- Financial Elder Abuse in Real Estate – March 2021 – Webinar for North San Diego County REALTORS®
- Red Flags and Non-Disclosure – March 2021 – Webinar for local real estate brokerage
- Commercial Real Estate Purchase Agreements – March 2021 – Webinar for North San Diego County REALTORS®
- Selected Topics in Commercial Leasing – February 2021 – Webinar for North San Diego County REALTORS®
- Real Estate Disclosures – February 2021 – Webinar for North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- Red Flags and Non-Disclosure – January 2021 – Webinar for the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS®
- The Purchase Agreement and Buyer Letters – January 2021 – Webinar for North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- Contracts Express, December Form Release – January 2021 - Webinar for North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- Commercial Contracts - September 2020 - Webinar for North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- Essential Contracts in a Real Estate Transaction and Open House Updates (Part II) - September 2020 - Webinar for North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- Essential Contracts in a Real Estate Transaction and Open House Updates (Part I) - August 2020 - Webinar for North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- Litigation Avoidance - August 2020 – Webinar for Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS®
- Selling Real Estate Virtually – April 2020 – Webinar for Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS®
- Legal Update for COVID-19 – April 2020 – Webinar for North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- Red Flags in Real Estate Transactions – January 2020 – Presentation at the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS®
- Title and Ownership Disputes – July 2019 – Presentation at the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS®
- How a Litigator is Going to Sue You! – May 2019 – Presentation at the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS®
- Broker Risk Management – April 2019 – Presentation for the Risk Management Committee of the North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- Managing Your Transaction from A to Z – October 2018 – Presentation at the North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- Legal Update 2018 – May 2018 – Presentation at the North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- Red Flags in Real Estate Transactions – March 2017 – Presentation at the North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- Will Solar Panels Have an Impact on Your Real Estate Transaction? – February 2017 – Presentation at the North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- The End of Dual Agency? – December 2016 – Presentation at the North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- Red Flags in Real Estate Transactions – October 2016 – Presentation at the North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- Red Flags in a Transaction Are Not Always Visible – May 2016 – Presentation at the North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- Will Solar Panels Have an Impact on Your Real Estate Transaction? – January 2016 – Presentation at the North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®
- Net Neutrality: An International Policy for the United States, 9 San Diego International Law Journal 167 (2007).
White and Bright News & Blog
April 2nd, 2020
On April 14, 2020, attorney Fred Pfister will present a legal seminar for the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS®. This virtual seminar is targeted to real estate agents and brokers to update them on recent developments surrounding the Corona…
Read More March 4th, 2020
Cellular (“cell”) site leasing has become popular in San Diego County with the proliferation and increasing demand for cell phone and wireless bandwidth. This demand has created new opportunities for landowners in areas such as San Marcos, Oceans…
Read More May 29th, 2018
On May 18, 2018, attorneys David Bright and Fred Pfister presented a Legal Update 2018 at the North San Diego County Association of REALTORS®. This seminar was targeted to real estate agents and brokers to update them on recent developments in the i…
Read More March 30th, 2018
White and Bright announced today that two of its attorneys were named 2018 San Diego “Rising Stars” by Super Lawyers – Fred Pfister and Melissa Engle. This is the third consecutive year that Mr. Pfister and Ms. Engle have been recognized with t…
Read More March 31st, 2017
On March 30, 2017, attorneys Fred Pfister and David Bright, partners of White and Bright, LLP, conducted a presentation titled “Red Flags in a Transaction are Not Always Visible” for the North San Diego County Association of Realtors (NSDCAR). Th…
Read More
