Russell O. Wood is admitted to practice by the California Bar (1983) and by the United States District Courts for the Southern District of California (1983) and the Eastern District of California (1984). He began work with the firm in 1984 and became a shareholder in 1988.

Mr. Wood engages in a general business and estate planning practice, with emphasis on real estate transactions. He has extensive experience in commercial sales and financing transactions, formation and operation of business entities, sales of businesses, and estate planning and administration.

Mr. Wood's real estate practice emphasizes complex purchase, sale and financing transactions. His work includes advice, negotiation, and documentation concerning the following types of commercial real estate transactions: (1) real property purchases and sales, frequently (although not exclusively) involving multi-million dollar transactions, including option agreements, tax deferred exchanges, and negotiation of purchase price under threat of condemnation; (2) leases on behalf of landlords and tenants, frequently involving regional and national tenants; (3) joint operation and easement agreements for commercial and office development projects; (4) complex development agreements with city governments, including the use of government grants to fund off-site improvements; (5) agreements resolving hazardous materials contamination problems; (6) construction contracts; (7) representation of borrowers and lenders in commercial and agricultural financing transactions; and (8) receiverships and enforcement of security interests.

Mr. Wood received the degree of Juris Doctor from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), at the University of California, Berkeley (1983) and is a member of the Boalt Hall chapter of the Order of the Coif. He also received the degrees of Master of Business Administration, with an emphasis in accounting, from the Graduate School of Business Administration, University of California, Berkeley (1983), and Bachelor of Arts with Honors, with a major in economics, from California State University, Fresno (1979).

Mr. Wood is a co-author of course textbooks and instructor for attorney's continuing legal education programs: Foreclosure and Repossession in California , National Business Institute, 1985; How to Draft Wills and Trusts in California , National Business Institute, 1997; and Family Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies in California , National Business Institute, 1998.

Mr. Wood serves as Judge Pro Tem, Fresno County Municipal Court, and as a court-appointed arbitrator for mandatory judicial arbitration cases. He has served as chairman of the Business Law Section of the Fresno County Bar Association from 1992 to 1996, and currently serves as a member, Business Law Section Steering Committee.

Mr. Wood is active in numerous community and church activities, including service a member of the Board of Directors and as president of Fresno Storyland.