Karen Diepenbrock’s practice emphasizes real property, land use and environmental law. She represents both private and public entities in negotiating and drafting agreements for all aspects of real estate development. She has represented numerous developers in drafting agreements for purchase and sale, ground leases, build-to-suit leases, shopping center leases, covenants, conditions and restrictions, brokerage agreements, construction and permanent financing documents, standard form office leases, joint venture agreements, development agreements, and construction contracts.

Karen regularly appears before the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and Zoning Interpretation Committee, Sacramento City Council and Planning Commission, Local Agency Formation Commissions, Placer County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission, and other local boards and commissions on land use matters including rezonings and annexations. Karen also regularly provides advice regarding environmental matters.

She has served as an Arbitrator for the Superior Court of Sacramento since 1988, and currently serves as a Judge Pro Tem.

Karen gives generously of her time and talent to numerous civic and charitable organizations. She serves or has served on the Board of Directors of the following organizations: Mercy Healthcare Sacramento, Citizenship and Law-Related Education Center, Sacramento Theatre Company, Stanford Home for Children, and Sacramento Make-A-Wish Foundation. From 1995 to 1998, she and her husband Jack acted as Co-Chairs of the Mercy Foundation Centennial Campaign, raising over $7.5 million. In 1993, she was recognized as the County Bar Association’s “Humanitarian of the Year.”

Karen has held numerous leadership positions with the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce including membership on the Board of Directors, General Counsel in 1992, Vice President of Governmental Relations in 1997, and Vice President of Community Relations in 1998. In 1996, the Chamber recognized her work with the prestigious “Businesswoman of the Year” award.

She is an author and speaker on real estate and land use issues.

She received her B.A. in French from the University of California, Berkeley, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. She received her M.A. in French from University of California, Berkeley. She earned her J.D. from the University of California, Davis, Martin Luther King School of Law and received the Order of the Coif.