Your Legal Partner for Business, Real Estate and Mortgage Banking for the Western United States

undefinedNicholas G. Hood

Partner

California
(949) 477-5050


Nicholas G. Hood is a Partner in Wright, Finlay & Zak’s Transactional Division, and a California attorney with over 20 years of experience advising clients on real estate, business, and finance-related matters. Mr. Hood is known for his attention to detail, clear communication, and business-minded approach to problem solving. He helps clients structure and document transactions with an emphasis on practical risk allocation, enforceability, and efficient execution—bringing a seasoned dispute-avoidance perspective to every deal.

Mr. Hood joined Wright, Finlay & Zak in 2008 and was elevated to litigation Partner in 2012. In 2016, he transitioned to a large construction company to serve as Vice President and In-House Counsel. This role provided him with hands-on experience in the business and operational realities of development and project delivery. Upon returning to Wright, Finlay & Zak in 2018, he refocused his practice on transactions, leveraging his litigation and in-house background to provide pragmatic, commercially grounded advice.

Mr. Hood’s practice centers on sophisticated commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, commercial leasing, and lending-related matters. He represents clients across a broad range of asset types—industrial, retail, shopping center, and office—and routinely handles complex title and real property issues, due diligence management, escrow and closing mechanics, and post-closing obligations. In leasing, he negotiates and drafts market-tested provisions addressing operating expenses/CAM, repairs and maintenance, insurance and indemnity, default and remedies, assignment and subletting, and renewal/expansion options—tailored to the property, the business plan, and the client’s objectives. Mr. Hood also advises clients on business transactions and entity structuring that support ownership and operations, including corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and joint ventures, with a focus on governance, liability management, and alignment with financing and exit strategies. His broader business practice includes contract drafting and negotiation, ongoing counseling, and risk management in areas that frequently intersect with real estate and operations, including compliance and exposure issues under statutes such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and related consumer-protection frameworks.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Hood has represented clients in matters totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate and business assets. He is a published author in industry and trade journals and speaks on real estate and business topics. Outside of practice, he enjoys raising his two sons with his wife, mountain biking, snowboarding, hiking, and golfing, and he is an advocate for organ donation.

Education

  • University of Southern California (B.S., Business Administration, magna cum laude, 2002)
  • Loyola Law School (J.D., 2005)

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