About Us
Our Mission
- To match our clients with real estate experts who are the very best at what they do.
- To be known as the go-to place for expertise in all matters touching real estate, whether they involve bricks & mortar, financial, transactional, landlord-tenant, operational, environmental or regulatory matters.
- To set the bar for best practices in real estate business and forensic consulting.
Our Differentiators
To the best of our knowledge, Opine Experts stands alone.
- Full-service talent agency focused on real estate expertise
- California-based
- Outgrowth of founders’ expertise in law, developing and managing real estate, and forensic consulting
- Committed to enabling collegial and collaborative interaction among its experts
- Committed to the rigorous pursuit of excellence
- Committed to operational transparency
Our Genesis
Bill and Merrie Lightner met studying for the Bar Exam in 1980 and married in 1983. By 1984, they had formed Lightner Property Group, a San Francisco-based real estate investment and management firm.
Over three decades, Lightner Property Group has formed successful investment partnerships • renovated and managed commercial properties • operated rent-controlled apartment buildings • developed for-sale residential projects • served their industry and the community in leadership positions • mediated disputes • educated fellow professionals • contributed to state and local legislation • and published articles for the real estate industry.
When we began consulting lawyers and providing expert witness services, Lightner Group’s tight-knit staff found it easy to adapt their people-centric administrative systems to litigation support.
As word spread, lawyers’ requests for our real estate expertise revealed a starling fact: There was no one firm focused on providing highly-qualified real estate experts. Yes, there were directories, even search firms, but no full-service providers with our focus. This situation made it difficult for lawyers and real estate experts to hook-up. This revelation was the genesis of Opine Experts.
Since its formation, Opine has been building a roster of truly exceptional real estate experts to satisfy the needs of both lawyers and real estate investors. The group is impressive and growing.
Principal
Merrie Turner Lightner, Esq.
Ms. Lightner is an attorney who’s managed both commercial and rent-controlled residential income properties since 1984. She served as a Rent Board Commissioner in San Francisco for twelve years. Her unique qualifications have been sharpened by fifteen years' experience in deposition and trial. She shares her unique perspective with Opine's other experts by providing skills training and case consultations.
Principal and Director of Expert Search Services
William Lightner, Esq.
Mr. Lightner is an attorney and real estate entrepreneur with wide-ranging experience. He consults on fair business practices involving the treatment of real estate investors by their investment sponsors. He manages Opine, recruits experts and tracks down experts in the most arcane aspects of California real estate.
Administrative Director
Cathleen Higgins
Ms. Higgins is Opine's organizational backbone. As she puts it, "My job is about maintaining order with a personal touch." That's just what she does for Opine's experts and their clients.