Richard M. Watts

Rich attended law school at McGeorge School of Law with an intent to return to real estate development and sales. However, during law school, he developed a passion for the law and how it shapes our world from the birth of a transaction, through its existence, and through any legals that develop from transactions to litigation. Rich’s practice is primary focused on commercial real estate (retail, office, development, and industrial) and business work in both the transaction and litigation arenas. Rich has represented commercial real estate projects from Fresno to Redding. Rich has been involved in numerous trials, appeals, and negotiated hundreds of commercial transactions.

Rich started college at Arizona State University where he played both football and baseball for the Sundevils. Rich decided to focus on baseball and transferred to UC Davis in Fall of 1991. After a two-year career, Rich left UC Davis after his junior year when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 11th round of the Amateur Draft. After two years in the minor leagues, Rich returned to UC Davis to complete his undergraduate degree in Communications. During his time at playing baseball at UC Davis, Rich was a two time all-conference catcher, and was a Second Team All-American in 1994. He was named to the UC Davis Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002 and the UC Davis Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008. Rich remains the career leader in batting average at UC Davis. Rich worked in commercial real estate sales and development prior to entering into law school.

Rich spends his “free” time with his wife Tina, coaching his kids, working out, and playing ice-hockey and golf.

Areas Of Practice

• Real Estate 60%
• Business 30%
• Employment 10%

Bar Admissions

• California, 2002
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 2002
• U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 2002

Education

• McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, Sacramento, California
  • J.D.
  • Honors: Oral Advocacy
  • Honors: Mock Trial Competition
  • Honors: Dean’s List
  • Honors: Order of Barristers
  • Honors: With Honors
• UC Davis, Davis, California
  • B.A. – 1996
  • Honors: Second Team All-American, 1994
  • Major: Rhetoric and Communications
• Arizona State University

Honors and Awards

• Rich was Elected into the U.C. Davis Athletic Hall of Fame
• UC Davis Baseball Hall of Fame

Past Employment Positions

• Rhetoric and Communications, Senior Counsel, 2004 to 2006
• McDonough Holland & Allen, PC, Associate, 2000 to 2004

Fraternities/Sororities

• Theta Chi