Justin A. Goodman began practicing real estate law in San Francisco in 2011, embracing a connection between his real estate projects and his love of exploring the City. In his early days, he formed strong relationships with industry elders, learning whatever he could about what came before – honing strategies, ethics and knowledge that set his mentors apart. He became a historian of the practice area, chronicling the changes in law (and the politics behind those changes) in his blog at Costa-Hawkins.com.
In 2014, he joined the law firm Zacks & Freedman, PC. He formed his own practice group shortly after, with a particular focus on landlord-tenant law, including the Ellis Act, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act and other intersections between state and local housing law. He elevated Zacks & Freedman as a shareholder from 2021 forward, until moving his practice to the Wiegel Law Group in 2026.
Justin is a board member and legal advisor at the Professional Property Management Association of San Francisco, a legal advisor to the Coalition of Better Housing, a board member and legal advisor at the Small Property Owners of San Francisco Institute, a familiar face in legal panels, classes and publications by the San Francisco Apartment Associations, and co-chair of a monthly meeting of San Francisco’s landlord attorneys.
A denizen of Lower Haight, Justin enjoys training in Brazilian jiu jitsu, riding his motorcycle in adventures throughout the City, and tirelessly maintaining his innumerous houseplants, most of which have actually survived over the years.