Laguna Beach Business Lawyers

Mr. August has been practicing corporate and transactional law for over 30 years. He began his legal career in Washington, D.C., at the firm of Lane & Edson, where he was part of the team representing Wesray Capital on leveraged buyout transactions, and subsequently associated with the Washington, D.C. office of Dow, Lohnes & Albertson, where he serviced its telecommunications and other clients with corporate fundraising and strategic transactions. In 1990, he moved to California to serve in the Los Angeles office of Graham & James, handling securities, mergers & acquisitions and other transactions for its primarily international...

David T. Bartels is an experienced business attorney, representing businesses, and their officers and directors, in government enforcement actions, class actions and complex commercial litigation, as well as transactional and regulatory issues.

His experience includes securities and government enforcement litigation, complex commercial litigation, and intellectual property litigation. Mr. Bartels advises corporate directors and defended individuals, companies, underwriters, financial institutions and accounting firms in shareholder class action and derivative lawsuits, merger and acquisition disputes and in proceedings before the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”). Mr. Bartels...

Chatow Law is built on a foundation of Mark’s 20 years of business experience as a founder, executive, and CEO of companies across a range of industries including real estate development, technology, wellness, and consumer products.

Mark began his studies at USC Law in 1990, and earned his J.D. in 1993.

1993 – Consumer Products
Between his first and second years of law school, Mark became a founding partner of Roundhouse Products. After graduating from USC, Mark began to work full-time at Roundhouse as VP Sales & Marketing, and helped grow the company from its initial three partners to more than 200 employees,...

After 20 years as an attorney at large law firms and in house with a general contractor, Mr. Julander has the depth and breadth of experience to solve the most complex legal problems, with particular expertise in construction law, appellate practice, insurance coverage and business litigation. From 2008-2021, Mr. Julander served as General Counsel for Advent Companies in San Juan Capistrano, California, a general contractor specializing in the construction of affordable housing. As General Counsel, he was responsible for negotiating and drafting construction and intellectual property contracts, handling the company’s litigation and appeals, and counseling officers on employment issues. Prior...

The Law Offices of Edward S. Wallace is a litigation and estate planning firm located in Laguna Niguel (South Orange County), California providing high quality, cost effective litigation and estate planning services. Practice areas include estate planning, personal injury, wrongful death, automobile and trucking accidents, premises liability and construction industry legal services. Mr. Wallace has successfully prosecuted and defended high value cases and has obtained excellent results to the satisfaction of his clients. Specialties: Estate Planning; Personal Injury; Wrongful Death, Automobile and Trucking Accidents, Premises Liability, Insurance Coverage Disputes, Insurance Defense, Collections and Construction Industry Legal Services.

Eric is a proven problem solver. He represents individuals, businesses, homeowners, landlords, tenants, contractors, brokers, buyers and sellers in mediations, arbitrations and litigation as well as transactions.

Mr. Ibrahim has extensive trial experience in state and federal courts involving construction disputes, such as delay and impact claims, differing site conditions and extra work claims, mechanic’s liens/stop notices and contract claims; guarantee and indemnity agreements; real estate cases, and business disputes including partnership dissolutions and other business and construction matters. He has litigated cases successfully before arbitrators and other tribunals, and has successfully represented clients in mediations and settlement conferences.

Troy Sugg specializes in business law. He has extensive experience in corporate, partnership and LLC transactional matters, including mergers, acquisitions, financings and joint ventures. Mr. Sugg has been involved in transactions in a wide variety of business sectors and industries. Mr. Sugg has represented and worked extensively with companies of all sizes from small privately-held companies to large public companies. Prior to forming his own law firm, Mr. Sugg practiced law at the Orange County office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Mr. Sugg received his B.S. degree in Business from University of Southern California and his J.D. degree...

Manoah S. Marton graduated summa cum laude from Concordia University Irvine with a major in History & Political Thought and a national championship in NPDA parliamentary debate. During college, Manoah worked at Klein & Wilson as a law clerk. He then attended UCLA School of Law, where he served as a Managing Editor of the UCLA Law Review. During law school, Manoah also served as a judicial extern for Judge Charles R. Eskridge III in the Southern District of Texas. After graduating from UCLA, Manoah worked at one of the biggest law firms in the nation in the litigation department where...

Steven I. Hochfelsen is a litigation attorney. A member of the American and the Orange County Bar Associations since 1986, Mr. Hochfelsen has handled business litigation of every description through trial. In recent years, Mr. Hochfelsen has represented major commercial landlords, developers, nationwide manufacturers and distributors of consumer goods, insurance companies and defense contractors in various state and federal court cases. His recent cases involve real property lease disputes, construction litigation, bankruptcy, general commercial contracts, unfair competition and trade secrets, insurance and bad faith issues and commercial fraud claims. Mr. Hochfelsen has extensive experience in Federal and state court representation...

Education J.D., Harvard Law School (1989) LL.M., University of Cambridge (1986) M.A., University of Cambridge (1986) B.A. (Hons.), University of Cambridge (1984) A.B., College of William and Mary, summa cum laude (1982) Phi Beta Kappa Admissions • California • United Kingdom (Barrister, Lincoln’s Inn) Courts • United States Supreme Court • California Supreme Court • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal, First, Second, Sixth, Seventh and Ninth Circuits • U.S. District Court for the Northern, Eastern and Central Districts of California • U.S. District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York

Richard E. Masson focuses his practice in the areas of Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate. Mr. Masson’s specialized knowledge and expertise in family law, estate planning and tax provides an edge for his clients in that he is uniquely able to attack an issue from all angles which creates better opportunities and advantages for those he represents. Moreover, and more importantly, Mr. Masson understands the emotional and complex nature of his clients needs and goals in order to ensure them the best result possible.

Mr. Masson has been duly recognized for his outstanding work and numerous accomplishments as a family...

Lee Meryash

EXPERTISE IN CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION Mari Frank is an attorney, mediator, Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP), author, professor, and radio show host in private practice in California and Florida. She worked in the District Attorney’s Office, practiced insurance defense law, and had a general civil law practice. She has successfully resolved thousands of disputes as a neutral since 1985. Ms. Frank was the founding President of the Orange County Chapter of the Society for Professionals in Dispute Resolution-Orange County, California. She served for three years as founding Chair of the State Bar of California Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee She is a...

Nicholas Myers’ practice focuses on intellectual property, business litigation, and corporate formation and governance. He has represented clients in trademark, copyright, breach of contract, unfair competition, Internet, gaming, and sports and entertainment matters, and has also advised clients on corporate structuring and asset protection issues.

Nicholas has litigated cases in state and federal courts and has represented clients in private arbitration. He routinely prosecutes and defends clients in trademark, copyright and trade secret cases. He has also successfully represented multiple clients in trademark disputes before the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Nicholas is admitted to practice...