Kent Burton devotes his entire legal practice to real estate and business transactional work. He has practiced as a lawyer in the state of California since 1975.

Mr. Burton’s extensive experience in real estate and business matters has given him the expertise to represent a wide variety of clients, from public corporations to small business owners and individual investors. He currently focuses on a smaller group of clients, which allows him to develop an in-depth knowledge of their businesses and build valuable personal relationships.

Kent graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Southern California in 1972 after working his way through school playing poker. After attending the University of California at Los Angeles Law School, he and Brad Baker organized Baker and Burton in 1976. After fifteen years of handling a wide variety of matters, including extensive litigation experience, Kent began to limit his practice to transactional work. Since 1995, he has concentrated entirely on business and real estate matters and in included in the Super Lawyer 2022 list for his work in these areas.

Kent’s litigation background has given him a unique understanding of the needs of his business and real estate clients and he focuses on limiting liability and avoiding litigation. Intent on precise drafting, Kent (a former English major) nonetheless believes that the legal process should be user-friendly. Mr. Burton believes that there is a real need for lawyers to not only deal with each other in a productive, good faith manner, but also to de-mystify the law for their clients. We should be solving problems not causing them. As a transactional attorney, Kent’s principal job description is as follows:

1. Explain in understandable terms the principal legal issues involved in the transaction, allowing the client to make informed decisions;
2. Figure out what can go wrong and how to cover it with careful negotiation and precise drafting;
3. Avoid litigation; and,
4. Whenever it can be reasonably accomplished, close the deal.

A long time Hermosa and Manhattan Beach resident, Kent continually searches for spare time to spend with family, friends and beach volleyball.

• California, 1975
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9^th Circuit, 1981
• U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 1980

• University of California, Los Angeles School of Law
• • J.D., 1975
• University of Southern California
  • B.A. English, 1972
  • Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa

• California Bar Association, Member
• Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member