Stoel Rives Grows Southern California Real Estate Practice with Addition of Partner Kirsten Worley

Stoel Rives, an AmLaw 200 law firm, announced the addition of Kirsten Worley, a construction and real estate partner, in the firm’s Real Estate and Construction group in San Diego, California. Worley provides a full range of construction services, including complex litigation, and brings more than 20 years of experience in real estate and construction law to the firm.

“Kirsten joins our group at a pivotal time, as many of our clients seek to expand their operations and business in California. Her depth of knowledge in California real estate and construction law will bolster our capabilities in California and deepen our national bench,” said Chris Criglow, chair of Stoel Rives’ Real Estate and Construction practice group. “She has represented clients in all aspects and all sides of the real estate development and construction industry and will be a great asset to our clients operating in California; we’re happy to have her on board.”

Worley handles construction disputes and litigation for both public and private projects, as well as pre-litigation counseling, contract drafting and negotiation, and general advice. She represents clients in a range of disputes and claims ranging from breach of contract litigation to mechanics’ liens, stop notices, and bond claims. She has experience handling both large litigation with hundreds of thousands of complex discovery documents as well as smaller disputes. Her clients include owners, developers, investors, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, lenders and businesses of all sizes, from large corporations to local small businesses and business owners.

Worley also handles transactional matters such as purchase and sale agreements for real estate and businesses, construction contract drafting, construction licensing, and corporate formation and governance matters. She has served as outside general counsel for select clients to assist with routine and special corporate compliance needs and contract matters. She also handles creditors’ rights and commercial law issues related to the real estate and construction industry.

“San Diego’s explosive growth has created numerous real estate and construction challenges for clients, including the increased need for water access and other adjacent infrastructures as well as vertical growth,” said Worley. “I was drawn to Stoel Rives’ national platform and its strong reputation for high-quality work, sophisticated clients and collegial culture. I look forward to collaborating with my Stoel colleagues and expanding the firm’s real estate and construction litigation practice in California.  My clients will also benefit from Stoel Rives’ deep bench and resources in real estate, construction, land use, environmental law, and adjacent practices.”

Worley joins Stoel Rives from San Diego law firm Higgs, Fletcher & Mack, where she was the chair of the firm’s construction litigation practice. She was previously a partner at a national construction litigation boutique firm, and also founded and managed her own firm. She has been recognized by Best Lawyer® in San Diego for 2025 (Commercial Litigation and Litigation-Real Estate) and by Super Lawyers® in the San Diego region since 2020. Worley was honored by the San Diego Business Journal as a “Leader in the Law” in 2022 and among its “Women of Influence in Construction” in 2023 and “Women of Influence in Law” in 2023 and 2024.

Worley earned her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and graduated with a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles summa cum laude.

“Kirsten joins the firm with ambitious plans at a time of economic expansion in the region; we look forward to a bright future with her on our team,” said Bryan Hawkins, managing partner of Stoel Rives’ California offices.