Ervin Cohen & Jessup adds Dara Kalish as real estate partner

Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP has hired Dara Kalish as a partner in its Real Estate practice in Los Angeles. The move adds a lawyer with more than two decades of transactional experience and prior in-house leadership at Omninet Capital, where she oversaw a large multistate portfolio.

Why it matters: - Dara Kalish brings both outside counsel experience and senior in-house leadership to Ervin Cohen & Jessup’s Real Estate practice. - The hire strengthens the firm’s ability to advise developers, family offices, property owners and real estate operators on commercial transactions and portfolio management. - Kalish’s background could appeal to clients looking for practical advice tied to business operations, not just legal execution.

What happened: - Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP announced that Dara Kalish has joined the firm as a partner in its Real Estate department. - The firm said Kalish advises on commercial real estate transactions, portfolio operations, management matters and strategic business initiatives. - The announcement was made June 23, 2026, from Los Angeles.

The details: - Kalish most recently served as General Counsel of Omninet Capital. - Omninet Capital is described as a privately held, multi-state real estate investment and property management platform. - The platform oversaw about 9 million square feet of commercial property and 10,000 residential units across nine states. - Kalish has more than 20 years of transactional real estate experience. - Earlier in her career, Kalish practiced at Allen Matkins and Jeffer Mangels & Mitchell. - At those firms, she represented clients in a broad range of commercial real estate transactions. - Her experience includes working alongside business owners, asset managers, property managers and operational teams.

Between the lines: - The hire signals Ervin Cohen & Jessup wants a partner who can translate legal risk into operating decisions for real estate clients. - Kalish’s mix of law firm work and executive in-house experience may differentiate her from lawyers whose practice is limited to deal work. - The firm is adding bench strength in a sector where clients often want counsel who understands both transactions and day-to-day portfolio management.

What's next: - Kalish is expected to advise clients on transactions and operational matters as part of the firm’s Real Estate practice. - Her role may also support strategic business initiatives for clients with complex property portfolios. - The firm did not announce any other personnel changes tied to the hire.

The bottom line: - Ervin Cohen & Jessup is betting that experienced real estate lawyers with operator-level perspective are a competitive advantage.