Meet Our Team

Gerald is a founding member of the firm. Gerald began his legal career at the San Diego-based firm of Seltzer Caplan Wilkins and McMahon where he practiced as an associate and partner. Gerald joined Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith where he practiced as a partner until  he became Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of DDR OliverMcMillan, a national real estate development company specializing in large redevelopment projects in primarily “lifestyle” retail centers. When he returned to the practice of law, he formed The Law Offices of Gerald I. Solomon, Inc. where he remained in practice until the formation of Solomon Minton Cardinal Doyle & Smith LLP.

Mr. Solomon specializes in real estate and business transactional law. His practice primarily focuses on representing large and medium-sized, entrepreneurial real estate companies in most all transactional aspects of their real estate businesses including:

• Real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and leasing
• Financing transactions and equity generation
• Entity formation and governance
• Development and redevelopment of property

Gerald is a native of San Diego. He graduated cum laude, with a B.A. from San Diego State University and earned his J.D. at the University of San Diego School of Law, graduating magna cum laude.

Direct Line: (619) 237-8002
Facsimile: (619) 237-8092
gis@smcdslaw.com 

Michelle N. Cardinal is a founding member of the firm.  Previously she practiced at Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP. Michelle’s practice focuses on representing developers, owners, and investors in all aspects of commercial real estate, including: 

• Acquisitions and dispositions of real estate
• Financing transactions involving real estate
• Real estate leasing
• Agreements governing the use, development, and redevelopment of real estate, including development agreements, construction agreements, reciprocal easement agreements, and option agreements

Michelle is a San Diego native.  She graduated cum laude, with a B.S. from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and earned her J.D. from University of California, San Francisco (formerly Hastings College of the Law), graduating cum laude.

Direct Line: (619) 237-8811
Facsimile: (619) 237-8092
mcardinal@smcdslaw.com

Partner

Miguel is a partner with the firm. Previously he was a partner at Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith LLP. Miguel’s practice is focused on real estate and business transactional matters. Clients include developers, investors in real estate developments, lenders, landlords, tenants, retail businesses, corporations and entrepreneurs with real estate and general business needs. Miguel has extensive experience representing owners and developers of multifamily residential projects. The types of matters he handles include:

• Acquisitions and dispositions of real estate
• Financing transactions involving real estate
• Real estate leasing
• Agreements governing the use, development, and redevelopment of real estate, including development agreements, construction agreements, reciprocal easement agreements, and option agreements

Miguel has lived in San Diego since childhood.  He graduated from University of California, San Diego, and earned his J.D. from the University of San Diego, graduating cum laude. 

Direct Line: (619) 237-8080
Facsimile: (619) 237-8092
msmith@smcdslaw.com

Rafael is a partner with the firm. Rafael began his legal career at Loeb & Loeb LLP in Los Angeles before moving to San Diego and joining Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith LLP. Throughout his career, Rafael has specialized in commercial real estate and business transactional law. Rafael’s practice also includes government law, lobbying, and providing general and strategic counsel to advance private, public, and non-profit interests. His practice focuses primarily on advising regional and national companies. His practice areas include:

• Real estate acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, development, and finance
• Maritime development
• Securing government development approvals and agreements
• Public-private partnerships
• Stakeholder alignment

Rafael earned his B.A. summa cum laude from Arizona State University, and he earned his J.D. at the University of Chicago Law School as a Cornerstone Scholar.

Rafael is fluent in Spanish.

Rafael’s professional affiliations include current service on the Board of Governors of the San Diego Foundation, the Board of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, and the Board of Trustees of the California Ocean Science Trust. He previously served as a member and chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners of the Unified Port of San Diego and the Board of the South County Economic Development Council, among other boards. 

Rafael was named one of the San Diego Daily Transcript’s Top Young Attorneys in 2008, in 2011 was named one of San Diego Metro Magazine’s 20 Men Who Impact San Diego, in 2022 was named one of the region’s Top 50 Latino Leaders of Influence by the San Diego Business Journal and the San Diego Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and in 2025 received the USS Midway Museum’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Outstanding Community Service Award.

Direct Line: (619) 237-4914
Facsimile: (619) 237-8092
rc@smcdslaw.com

Eric is a partner with the firm. Previously, he was a Partner at Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP in San Diego, and Senior Counsel at a national AmLaw 100 firm. Eric is an experienced corporate and commercial real estate lawyer who combines his nationally-recognized tax expertise with practical guidance on a range of transactions. He routinely advises buyers, sellers, investors, and other parties in a variety of corporate and real estate transactions, including mergers & acquisitions, purchases and sales, joint ventures, leasing, and financing. Eric also acts as outside general counsel to companies at every stage of the corporate life cycle. He advises owners and decisionmakers on a range of general corporate matters, including formation, capitalization and funding, shareholder and governance matters, commercial agreements and contracts, tax, and change-of-control scenarios. Eric has served as an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego School of Law, teaching Partnership Tax. Eric was named to the 2022 Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch list for Tax Law.

Eric earned his B.A. from The University of Arizona, his J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law, and his LL.M. in Tax from Golden Gate University School of Law.

Alexia is an associate with the firm. Previously she practiced at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP. Alexia’s practice focuses on real estate and general corporate transactional work, including entity formation, corporate governance matters, real estate acquisitions and leasing, mergers & acquisitions, purchases and sales, and contract preparation.

Alexia graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California, and earned her J.D. from the University of San Diego, graduating magna cum laude.