Meet The Team – smcdslaw

Our Attorneys

Gerald (Jerry) I. Solomon

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 for six years. In 1991, Gerald joined Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith where he practiced as a partner until 1998. From there, 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. In 1999, he returned to the practice of law and 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 in 1985 graduating magna cum laude.

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

David S. Minton

David joined Solomon Minton Cardinal Doyle & Smith LLP as a founding Partner in early 2005. Previously, he was a Shareholder for nine years in the prestigious law firm of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek and practiced at that firm for a total of 15 years. David specializes in business, corporate, and real estate representation. Clients include entrepreneurs, investors, software and technology companies, manufacturers, real estate developers, and retail businesses. David advises and counsels clients as to general business issues and strategic planning including:

Entity formation and governance
Mergers, acquisitions, sales and reorganizations
Technology licensing
Trade secrets and protection of intellectual property
Real estate acquisitions and leasing
Financing
Employment matters
Contract preparation and negotiation

Originally from New York, David graduated cum laude, with a B.A. from Vassar College and earned his J.D. at Georgetown University Law Center in 1989 graduating cum laude.

Direct Line: (619) 237-4915
Facsimile: (619) 237-8092
dminton@smcdslaw.com

Michelle N. Cardinal

Michelle N. Cardinal joined Jerry Solomon in 2004 before they founded Solomon Minton Cardinal Doyle & Smith LLP in early 2005. 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 purchase and sale, leasing, and financing.

Michelle is a San Diego native. She graduated with a degree in Business from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and with a J.D. from UC Hastings School of Law in 1998.

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

Todd E. Doyle

Todd joined Solomon Minton Cardinal Doyle & Smith LLP in 2007 after an extensive career as in-house counsel for public and private companies. Todd is a Partner with over 15 years of experience as the General Counsel and Senior Vice President of national companies in the professional services, management consulting, retail, and restaurant industries. He has extensive hands-on experience in handling business transactions, mergers & acquisitions, licensing, real estate transactions, employment matters, financings, trademarks, and corporate governance. Todd began his legal career at the San Diego law firm Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek where he practiced in the litigation and corporate/business groups for six years. Todd’s legal representation, including General Counsel services, include:

Entity formations and governance
Mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations
Licensing and trademarks
Real estate leasing and sales
Employment matters
Service and vendor agreements
Contract preparation and negotiation

Todd graduated cum laude from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and earned his J.D. at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

Direct Line: (619) 237-8822
Facsimile: (619) 237-8092
tdoyle@smcdslaw.com

Miguel A. Smith

Miguel joined Solomon Minton Cardinal Doyle & Smith LLP as a partner in March of 2010. Previously he was a partner at Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith, LLP for over 15 years, where he began his legal career in 1987. 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, option agreements, project financing

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 in 1987, graduating cum laude.

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

Rafael Castellanos

Rafael joined Solomon Minton Cardinal Doyle & Smith LLP as a Partner in mid 2010. Rafael began his legal career in 2002 at Loeb & Loeb LLP in Los Angeles. In 2006, Rafael moved to San Diego and joined Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith LLP, where he specialized in real estate and business transactional law. Rafael continues to specialize in these areas and his practice focuses primarily on advising large and medium-sized local and regional companies and entrepreneurs in all transactional aspects of their businesses, with an emphasis on commercial real estate matters. Representative matters include:

Real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and leasing
Entity formation and corporate governance
Purchase and sale of business entities and assets
Acquisition, development, and construction financing transactions
Development of a 96-unit senior housing project, involving tax credits and bond, construction, and redevelopment agency financing
Workout and restructuring of debt secured by mixed collateral
Negotiation and settlement of pre-litigation business disputes

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, in 2002.

Rafael’s professional affiliations include serving on the Board of Directors of MANA de San Diego and the Board of Directors of the San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association. He is also a member of the California State Bar Association, the San Diego County Bar Association, and the Mexican American Business and Professional Association. Rafael was named one of the San Diego Daily Transcript’s Top Young Attorneys in 2008, and in 2011 was named one of San Diego Metro Magazine’s 20 Men Who Impact San Diego.

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

Kristin M. Guilbert

Kristin joined Solomon Minton Cardinal Doyle & Smith LLP in October of 2015. Kristin’s practice focuses primarily on advising companies and entrepreneurs in all aspects of their businesses. Representative matters include:

Real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and leasing
Financing transactions involving real estate
Agreements governing use, development, and redevelopment of real estate
Entity formation and corporate governance
Purchase and sale of business entities and assets
Negotiation and settlement of business disputes and
Bankruptcy, workout and restructuring of debt

Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Kristin earned her B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, and she earned her J.D. at Suffolk University Law School in 1997, graduating cum laude.

Kristin is a member of the California State Bar Association, the San Diego County Bar Association, California Women Lawyers and the Lawyers Club of San Diego. In Boston, Kristin was a partner with the law firm of Riemer & Braunstein LLP. Kristin is admitted to practice in California and Massachusetts, and before the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the United States Courts of Appeals for the First and Third Circuits. While in Boston, she was a member of the Boston Bar Association where she was a Co-Chair of the Bankruptcy Section’s Communications Committee. She has lectured and authored articles and program materials for various associations. Kristin is a recipient of The Denis Maguire Pro Bono Award from the Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) of the Boston Bar Association for her representation of VLP clients and has been named a New England Super Lawyers ‘Rising Star’ by Law and Politics and Boston Magazine.

Direct Line: (619) 270-2087
Facsimile: (619) 237-8092

kguilbert@smcdslaw.com

Kyle Hook

Kyle joined Solomon Minton Cardinal Doyle & Smith LLP in January 2020, returning to law
practice after working in hotel development and strategic planning. Kyle began his law career
with the international law firm of Latham & Watkins LLP in 2000, and was subsequently an
associate with the San Diego-based law firm of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek and the
Washington, DC-based law firm of Arent Fox LLP.
Kyle’s experience spans both real estate and corporate practice areas, and includes the
following representative types of transactions:

Real estate acquisitions, dispositions and development
Debt and equity financing of real estate
Hotel management agreements
Mergers & acquisitions, asset and stock purchases / sales
Contract preparation and negotiation
Entity formation and corporate governance

Kyle graduated cum laude from Georgetown University, received his J.D. from the University of
Virginia School of Law, and earned an M.B.A. from IE Business School (Madrid). Kyle is
admitted to practice law in California and New York.

Direct Line: (619) 737-1160
Facsimile: (619) 237-8092
khook@smcdslaw.com

Julia S. Zold

Julia joined Solomon Minton Cardinal Doyle & Smith in January of 2020. Julia’s practice focuses on real
estate and business transactional law, including acquisition and disposition of real estate, entity
formation and governance, contract drafting, and employment matters.
Julia earned her B.S. from Oregon Tech before moving to San Diego where she earned her J.D. from
California Western School of Law. Julia is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association and the
Lawyers Club of San Diego.

Direct Line: (619) 737-1159
Facsimile: (619) 237-8092
jzold@smcdslaw.com

Our Paralegals

Melinda DeCuir

Melinda joined Solomon Minton Cardinal Doyle & Smith LLP shortly after its formation in 2005, having previously worked at Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek and, prior to that, the construction defect litigation firm of Viviano & Bradley. Melinda received her Bachelor’s Degree from San Diego State University, majoring in Eastern European Studies. She assists the attorneys at SMCDS in the areas of transactional and entity work, including annual corporate maintenance.