Three Procopio legal practices—commercial litigation, corporate/M&A, and real estate—have been named to Legal 500’s top tier in San Diego in their new 2026 City Elite recognitions. Legal 500 also recognized eight Procopio Partners: Paul Tyrell, Michael Kiesling, Elaine Harwell and Jeff Hood for Commercial Disputes; Dennis Doucette, Bill Eigner and John Miles for Corporate/M&A; and Robert Brown for Real Estate. Tyrell, Doucette, Eigner and Brown earned rare top tier recognitions.

Legal 500 has been benchmarking excellence in the law since 1987. They take a data-driven approach, conducting extensive research on legal markets, firms, and attorneys. Research includes interviews with leaders in the legal profession to identify attorneys and firms worthy of consideration, then the collection of details on legal matters and further interviews with prospective honorees. This information is benchmarked against leading law firms and attorneys around the world.

Learn about our recognized legal practices

Corporate and Commercial Litigation: Procopio’s Commercial Litigation team draws on decades of experience representing companies in complex disputes in California and across the U.S., from fast-growing startups to robust mid-market enterprises. Our commercial litigators are known for delivering results when the stakes are high, whether through decisive courtroom victories or strategic resolutions that protect business objectives. We represent businesses in California state and federal courts, arbitrations, mediations and administrative proceedings, bringing clarity and discipline to every phase of litigation. Clients work directly with seasoned advocates who understand the demands of commercial litigation and approach each matter with focus, efficiency and resolve.

Corporate Law: Procopio’s Corporate Law attorneys counsel startups from inception on corporate and securities law, capital financing, securing intellectual property portfolios, important customer and vendor contracts and more, with distinct practices in Emerging Company and Venture Capital, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Capital Markets and Securities. As our clients grow, we ensure continued capital flow complying with state and federal regulations as well as any cross-border challenges, whether they stay private or go public. When they’ve positioned as an industry player, we work to develop strategic next steps, including acquisition, strategic partnership, or exit.

Real Estate: Procopio’s Real Estate attorneys provide a full range of value-added services to real estate owners, investors, lenders, developers, property managers and real estate professionals, including services such as acquisitions and dispositions, land use entitlements and project management, landlord and tenant lease representation, rural and urban development projects, real estate finance, and environmental law compliance. Our Real Estate Equity Investments and Joint Ventures attorneys guide clients through every phase of the process, from the initial stages of strategic planning and negotiation to the formation of partnerships, ongoing management, and, ultimately, successful exits.

Meet our eight Legal 500 Partners (in alphabetical order)

Robert Brown (real estate): Robert’s practice focuses on tax structuring and deal-making over a broad range of transactions, with an emphasis on sophisticated and complex multifamily investment real estate. He brings clients a rare combination of sophistication and pragmatism in complex tax, real estate, joint venture, private placement, and finance transactions. Robert has served as lead counsel for approximately $10 billion in real estate transactions over the last two years.

Dennis Doucette (corporate/M&A): Dennis helps companies get formed, funded and sold. He focuses on buyers, sellers and investors in mergers, stock and asset purchases, management buyouts, reorganizations and related transactions. He has extensive experience with formations, corporate stock issuances, recapitalizations and reorganizations, stock restriction agreements, officers and directors advice, equity incentives/compensation, securities compliance, higher education law, and corporate governance. Dennis has participated in more than 500 corporate finance transactions, including corporate, securities, mergers and acquisitions and venture financing. He serves as the firm’s Managing Partner.

Bill Eigner (corporate/M&A): Bill counsels clients in the areas of mergers & acquisitions (M&A), venture capital, angel financing, seed capital and financing, governing, operating, buying, selling and merging of growing technology, life sciences, defense, and other businesses. His practice focuses on corporate and business transactions, including matters relating to life sciences, defense, software, telecommunications, e-commerce, cybersecurity, energy, clean technology, corporate governance, franchising, employment and independent contractor issues. Bill also has extensive experience in intellectual property protection, competitive business practices, securities and business structuring and financing, as well as mergers and acquisitions, contractual and political issues involving telecommunications and independent power producers.

Elaine Harwell (commercial disputes): Elaine focuses on representing clients in privacy and data security matters, including litigating claims involving privacy issues, helping clients manage emerging risks and conduct privacy risk assessments, and advising on regulatory and compliance issues. She has been involved in numerous trials, as well as arbitration proceedings, related to contract and general business disputes, trade secret matters, complex unfair competition and business practice claims, and professional liability. Elaine has earned the ANSI-accredited Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) and the Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) credentials through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), and is the leader of Procopio’s Privacy and Cybersecurity practice and the firm’s Privacy Officer.

Jeffrey Hood (commercial disputes): Jeff focuses on the prosecution and defense of claims arising out of public and private construction projects. He represents owners, general contractors and subcontractors in claims involving construction and material defects, improper or non-conforming work, extra work, changed conditions, warranty, delay, disruption, acceleration, contract interpretation, mechanic’s liens, stop notice and payment/performance bonds. Jeff also handles all aspects of business and commercial litigation, including drug and medical device products liability, claims involving commercial and residential real estate, federal tax refunds, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and professional liability. He has extensive experience serving as lead counsel in both jury and bench trials, binding arbitrations and mediations.

Michael Kiesling (commercial disputes): Michael counsels and assists businesses and business owners, property owners, developers, and contractors in developing cost-effective solutions to complex business, real estate, and construction disputes. He has extensive experience litigating – and favorably resolving – disputes involving commercial contracts, business and corporate matters, commercial landlord-tenant issues, title to property and easements, construction claims, delays and liens, claims of nondisclosure and fraud, and eminent domain and condemnation.

John Miles (corporate/M&A): John serves clients through domestic business and tax planning. He assists in the development of business transactions including general matters; financing structures; mergers and acquisitions (including matters related to the development of real estate); and strategic joint ventures, with significant experience working in regulated industries such as healthcare and accounting firm transactions. John also has extensive experience planning tax-free reorganizations, advising on the choice of entity, and on the effectiveness of S corporation elections. He previously was a licensed stockbroker at a financial firm in Point Loma.

Paul Tyrell (commercial disputes): Paul represents clients in high-stakes business disputes and complex litigation involving corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, partnerships and other fiduciary relationships, contracts, unfair competition, trade secrets, intellectual property, real estate and health care. Paul works with Procopio’s transactional attorneys in multiple practice areas to best advise clients on legal and strategic matters and is the leader of Procopio’s Litigation Team, overseeing a diverse group of attorneys and staff that drive the firm’s litigation practice.

The full list of Legal 500 honorees is online for Commercial Disputes, Corporate/M&A, and Real Estate.

Procopio attorneys and practice groups are routinely named to various legal rankings lists, including Chambers and Partners®, Best Lawyers®, Best Law Firms®, Super Lawyers®, and Martindale-Hubbell®.