Nicholas Ma is a litigation associate in Miller Starr Regalia’s Walnut Creek office. Nicholas has significant experience representing clients in a wide range of litigation, including disputes involving the purchase and sale of commercial property, easement rights, real estate investment and financing, and commercial leases. Nicholas represents clients from a variety of backgrounds and industries, including commercial landlords and tenants, real estate developers, lenders, public entities, tech companies, construction companies, and agricultural landowners. He has obtained favorable results for his clients through mediation, settlement, and multiple motions, including dispositive motions.
Before joining Miller Starr Regalia, Nicholas worked at Weintraub Tobin Chediak Coleman Grodin in San Francisco, and prior to that, at a national law firm, representing clients in a variety of litigation matters, including defending claims in complex construction defect, products liability, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury litigation.
Nicholas was born and raised in Walnut Creek, California. Nicholas attended the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings College of the Law), where he focused on trial and appellate advocacy, securities regulation, and antitrust law. He served as the Executive Articles Editor of the Hastings Business Law Journal and as a regular competitor on the nationally-ranked Hastings Moot Court Team. Nicholas also provided corporate legal services to multiple tech companies in the Bay Area through the Hastings Startup Legal Garage. Nicholas received multiple CALI awards at Hastings, including awards for Appellate Advocacy, Trial Advocacy, and Antitrust & Intellectual Property.
Outside of the office, Nicholas enjoys traveling, performing music, and spending time with his Terripoo, Akela.
J.D., University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings College of the Law) (2015)
B.A., magna cum laude, University of California, Irvine, Political Science and Business Economics (2012)
Successfully opposed Motion for Summary Adjudication challenging enforceability of option to purchase provision in commercial lease.
Successfully defended commercial landlord’s unlawful detainer action from commercial tenant’s Motion to Dismiss (“Demurrer”) in San Francisco County.
Secured default judgment on promissory note following prove-up hearing in Contra Costa County Superior Court.
Negotiated and settled unlawful detainer action on behalf of local restaurant seeking relief from rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Successfully compelled arbitration of easement dispute in Ventura County Superior Court.
Successfully opposed special motion to strike (also known as an anti-SLAPP motion), thereby preserving a tenant’s claims of extortionate conduct against his landlord in San Francisco County.
Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area (AABA)
Contra Costa County Bar Association
Super Lawyers Northern California Rising Star (2022)
California
Miller Starr Regalia (MSR), a preeminent California real estate law firm for more than 50 years, today announced seven attorneys across four practice areas are among the 2022 Northern California Super Lawyers. Four other MSR’s attorneys in three practice groups are among Super Lawyers’ 2022 Rising Stars.
Miller Starr Regalia (MSR), a preeminent California real estate law firm for more than 50 years, announced today that Samantha Chen and Nicholas E. Ma are joining the firm's Walnut Creek headquarters as litigation associates.