Eric J. Rans

Partner
Irvine
+1 714-557-7990
[email protected]
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Eric J. Rans

Partner
“The real test of a construction project is how challenges are managed after the build—disputes, delays, and liens demand strategy, not just litigation.”

Eric Rans helps clients nationwide protect and recover business-critical assets across construction, real estate, financial services and business operations. He represents developers, contractors, financial institutions, title insurers, leasing companies and a broad base of other businesses in matters that span commercial litigation, secured transactions, and distressed property scenarios.

The firm’s Construction, Design & Real Estate Disputes Chair, Eric’s construction practice includes advising on development agreements, contract disputes, mechanics’ liens, stop notices, performance bond claims, and litigation tied to delays and post-completion defects. In the real estate space, he counsels developers on acquisitions, transactional risk, and enforcement of property rights.

Banks and lenders rely on Eric to pursue loan recovery actions, often involving receiverships over substantial real and personal property. His understanding of financial instruments and regulatory considerations enables him to act decisively in preserving client interests—especially when commercial relationships begin to unravel.

From complex lien enforcement to asset preservation, Eric delivers litigation strategies built around  business goals, working to resolve disputes efficiently and reinforce long-term stability.

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Associated Industries

Construction

Associated Practice Areas

Commercial & Business Litigation

Representative Matters

  • Breach of Guaranty: Sought recovery of money owed to one of California’s leading banks for breach of promissory note and breach of guaranty. The opposing side pursued relief from these claims pursuant to various legal theories that would bar the lender’s relief, including a defense that the guaranty was a sham. Successfully represented the lender in overcoming and demonstrating the invalidity of each defense and prevailed on behalf of our client, obtaining an award in the amount of $23 million.
  • Construction Litigation: Regularly handles construction cases in state and federal courts on issues involving contract disputes, delays, and change order disputes, as well as matters dealing with mechanics liens, stop notices, bond claims and contractors state license board challenges. For multiple clients, defended and managed numerous cases with a total exposure over $40 million.
  • Debt Recovery: First-chaired two substantial binding arbitrations, resulting in high-dollar judgments. Worked closely with lender clients to develop a litigation plan to best limit exposure and litigation costs, while still proceeding in an aggressive and successful fashion to earn substantial judgments. These respective judgments included a $13 million and $17 million award.
  • Easement and Property Line Defense: Defended a claim of easement made by an adjacent property owner that would have terminated an approved 400+ home development for an international home developer. Litigating the matter through trial, successfully received a full defense verdict. Also successfully defended an appeal and received over $500,000 in attorneys’ fees for clients (which were collected within three months).
  • Injunctive Relief: Defeated an ex parte application and subsequent motion for preliminary injunction filed against the largest supplier of forklift batteries and chargers on the West Coast. The moving party unsuccessfully sought to enjoin client from helping its customers apply for credits under California’s Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Program (providing incentives to fuel supply engine owners to reduce greenhouse emissions).
  • Purchases, Transfers of Real Property, Loan Workouts: Represented both lenders and private investors in negotiating purchases, transfers of real property and loan workouts on commercial properties that have been seized and sold by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Credentials

Bar & Court Admissions
  • California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California
Professional Affiliations
  • Orange County Bar Association
Community Involvement
  • Share Ourselves
  • Project Hope Alliance
Education
  • Whittier Law School, J.D.
  • University of California at Irvine, B.A.

Eric J. Rans

Partner
Irvine
+1 714-557-7990
[email protected]
“The real test of a construction project is how challenges are managed after the build—disputes, delays, and liens demand strategy, not just litigation.”
Overview

Eric Rans helps clients nationwide protect and recover business-critical assets across construction, real estate, financial services and business operations. He represents developers, contractors, financial institutions, title insurers, leasing companies and a broad base of other businesses in matters that span commercial litigation, secured transactions, and distressed property scenarios.

The firm’s Construction, Design & Real Estate Disputes Chair, Eric’s construction practice includes advising on development agreements, contract disputes, mechanics’ liens, stop notices, performance bond claims, and litigation tied to delays and post-completion defects. In the real estate space, he counsels developers on acquisitions, transactional risk, and enforcement of property rights.

Banks and lenders rely on Eric to pursue loan recovery actions, often involving receiverships over substantial real and personal property. His understanding of financial instruments and regulatory considerations enables him to act decisively in preserving client interests—especially when commercial relationships begin to unravel.

From complex lien enforcement to asset preservation, Eric delivers litigation strategies built around  business goals, working to resolve disputes efficiently and reinforce long-term stability.

Practice Area

Construction

Commercial & Business Litigation

Representative Matters

  • Breach of Guaranty: Sought recovery of money owed to one of California’s leading banks for breach of promissory note and breach of guaranty. The opposing side pursued relief from these claims pursuant to various legal theories that would bar the lender’s relief, including a defense that the guaranty was a sham. Successfully represented the lender in overcoming and demonstrating the invalidity of each defense and prevailed on behalf of our client, obtaining an award in the amount of $23 million.
  • Construction Litigation: Regularly handles construction cases in state and federal courts on issues involving contract disputes, delays, and change order disputes, as well as matters dealing with mechanics liens, stop notices, bond claims and contractors state license board challenges. For multiple clients, defended and managed numerous cases with a total exposure over $40 million.
  • Debt Recovery: First-chaired two substantial binding arbitrations, resulting in high-dollar judgments. Worked closely with lender clients to develop a litigation plan to best limit exposure and litigation costs, while still proceeding in an aggressive and successful fashion to earn substantial judgments. These respective judgments included a $13 million and $17 million award.
  • Easement and Property Line Defense: Defended a claim of easement made by an adjacent property owner that would have terminated an approved 400+ home development for an international home developer. Litigating the matter through trial, successfully received a full defense verdict. Also successfully defended an appeal and received over $500,000 in attorneys’ fees for clients (which were collected within three months).
  • Injunctive Relief: Defeated an ex parte application and subsequent motion for preliminary injunction filed against the largest supplier of forklift batteries and chargers on the West Coast. The moving party unsuccessfully sought to enjoin client from helping its customers apply for credits under California’s Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Program (providing incentives to fuel supply engine owners to reduce greenhouse emissions).
  • Purchases, Transfers of Real Property, Loan Workouts: Represented both lenders and private investors in negotiating purchases, transfers of real property and loan workouts on commercial properties that have been seized and sold by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Credentials

Bar & Court Admissions
  • California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California
Professional Affiliations
  • Orange County Bar Association
Community Involvement
  • Share Ourselves
  • Project Hope Alliance
Education
  • Whittier Law School, J.D.
  • University of California at Irvine, B.A.