Valley Center Business Lawyers

I am an Associate in the Firm’s Litigation Group. I earned my J.D. from USC Gould School of Law and my B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. My practice encompasses business litigation, white collar defense, and real estate litigation.

I am an Associate in the Firm's Litigation Department, where my practice spans commercial and intellectual property litigation, white collar defense and investigations, and land use and environmental litigation, with a focus on natural resources and mining litigation. During my time in law school, I served as both a student attorney and student director at the Family Justice Litigation Clinic. In my role as a student attorney, I represented clients in multiple court hearings concerning complex family law issues, earning the Jacob Burns Community Legal Clinics Outstanding Advocate Award for my efforts. Additionally, I was honored with the Pro Bono Service Award...

I serve as Of Counsel in the Taxation, Trusts & Estates department at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP, where I focus on devising creative and practical solutions to complex tax issues. In my practice, I regularly advise both individuals and business entities on a broad array of tax-related matters. These include M&A transactions, financing, internal corporate restructurings, Section 1031 exchanges, and deferred compensation. Additionally, I design and implement strategies for tax-efficient estate planning, wealth transfer, and business succession that cater to the needs of individuals, families, and executives across the wealth spectrum. Originally from Iowa, I now enjoy the California lifestyle,...

I am an associate in the Labor & Employment Department at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP. My role involves representing employers in a variety of labor and employment issues such as wage-and-hour disputes, wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, workplace privacy, unionization, and collective bargaining. Additionally, I assist with litigation at all stages, including discovery, motion practice, and trial preparation. I pride myself on being a responsive and detail-oriented advocate, dedicated to understanding my clients' objectives and providing timely, practical guidance that is tailored to their specific needs. Previously, I served as a legal intern at the Public Contracting Institute in Washington, DC....

Lara Leitner handles legal matters involving CEQA, NEPA, RLUIPA, environmental law, and litigation.

Prior to joining JMBM, Lara was an associate at a municipal law firm where she represented numerous cities and special districts in complex litigation matters, including real estate, eminent domain, breach of contract, environmental, water, and employment cases in both state and federal court.

Lara received her J.D. from the UCLA School of Law. She served as the Comments Editor for the UCLA Journal of Environmental Law & Policy. During law school, Lara developed her land use and environmental law experience as a legal research...

I am an associate in the Corporate Department at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (JMBM), where my practice is centered around representing financial institutions, sponsors, institutional investors, and private companies in various debt financing transactions. These transactions range from senior-secured, asset-based, and syndicated financings to cash-flow, cross-border, working capital, commercial solar, and acquisition financings, as well as those secured by real property. My responsibilities include drafting and negotiating intricate loan documentation such as loan agreements, guaranties, subordination and security agreements, perfection certificates, closing certificates, and other related ancillary documents. I also conduct thorough due diligence, which involves reviewing UCC and...

I am an associate in Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP's Taxation, Trusts & Estates Department, where I focus my practice on estate planning. During my time in law school, I had the privilege of serving as a judicial extern for the Hon. Kim M. Wardlaw on the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and for the Hon. Rozella A. Oliver of the Central District of California. I was actively involved in academic publishing as a staff editor for the UCI Law Journal of International, Transnational, and Comparative Law. Additionally, I held the position of Vice President of Outlaw,...

I am an associate in the Global Hospitality Group and Real Estate Group at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (JMBM), where I represent real estate developers, owners and operators, private equity investors, borrowers and lenders, and commercial landlords and tenants in a broad spectrum of real estate and hospitality transactions. I am known for my personalized attention and care, and I deliver tailored legal solutions with a focus on results. I am highly skilled in analyzing title, survey, and zoning reports and regularly lead negotiations involving commercial leases, financings, and real estate acquisitions and dispositions. I coordinate directly with clients...

Kelli G. Hawley is the managing partner of McCathern’s Los Angeles office. Mrs. Hawley concentrates her practice in construction law, with additional expertise in litigation of real estate disclosure, business, contracts, products liability, construction injury, and subrogation disputes.

Mrs. Hawley regularly handles high-exposure defense of developers and general contractors under Owner Controlled Insurance Programs (“OCIP”) and Contractor Controlled Insurance Programs (“CCIP”), better known as wrap-up insurance policies. She has an established track record of early and economic resolution of pre-litigation claims both under SB800 and Calderon statutes. Mrs. Hawley has practiced law since 1985, with both jury and bench trial experience....

D. Joshua Staub's practice emphasizes general civil litigation with experience resolving disputes for plaintiffs and defendants through arbitration, trial, and mediation involving the following areas of law: automobile accidents, breach of contract, commercial collections, consumer claims (including class actions) fraud, harassment, judgment enforcement, and nonpayment of wages (wage & hour).

Charles Brown, Partner Charles Brown is a veteran trial lawyer with an exceptional track record of success. A former deputy federal defender, he has tried nearly 60 federal cases and has resolved thousands of wide-ranging federal criminal issues. These include cases presenting a wide array of complex federal criminal issues such as white collar tax and fraud offenses, international commerce clause offenses, complex multi-defendant cases, computer/internet offenses, death penalty litigation, and immigration offenses. His hard-earned victories have produced deep insights into the complexities of a federal criminal case. He has superior wisdom and knowledge that only comes with experience. He is...

I was a Professor of Law for over thirty years. I taught contracts, remedies and sales. I have been practicing law for over 43 years. I have been an arbitrator and mediator for Loa Angeles Superior Court and the San Bernardino County Superior Court.

Adam Shea is a talented, successful, and nationally recognized personal injury attorney with Panish Shea & Boyle LLP. He has successfully handle injury and mass tort cases with multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements and prides himself on his high ethical and professional standards. Adam and the PSB team represent negligently injured individuals in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Orange County as well as across the whole of Southern California.

Attorney Mark C. Hargan has 37 years of legal experience with major emphasis on Construction Law representing Owners, General Contractors, Subcontractors and Material Suppliers in all aspects of Public and Private Construction Projects. Mr. Hargan has successfully represented construction clients in regard to Bid Protests, Preparation and Negotiation of Claims, Construction Disputes, Mechanic's Liens, Stop Notices, Extra Work and Delay Claims, Construction Defects and Surety Bond Claims in Mediations, Arbitrations and Trials. Mr. Hargan is also highly experience in the areas of Business, Real Estate and Personal Injury Law. Mr. Hargan...

Paul Lee is engaged in the relentless pursuit of justice for victims of serious injuries. He has successfully handled hundreds of major personal injury matters, including those involving vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, products liability, toxic torts and premises liability, including severe spinal cord injuries, brain damage, fractures, amputations, third degree burns, severe lung damage, leukemia and other injuries. In the area of defective and dangerous products, Paul has successfully settled cases involving automobiles, heavy machinery and equipment, consumer products, chemicals and pharmaceutical products. Before founding Kaplan Lee LLP, Paul was a litigation partner at Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLP, one of...

Ghassan O. Hasan began his legal career in 2003 as a civil litigation attorney with McCune & Harber in Los Angeles, representing public agencies in a wide variety of tort related disputes. He continued to build upon his experience as a trial attorney during his tenure as a litigation attorney with Richardson & Harman in Pasadena, where he specialized in real estate, business and homeowner association law. In 2008, Mr. Hasan moved to Orange County and established the Law Office of Ghassan O. Hasan. Since that time, the firm has built a reputation for providing effective and...

I am an associate in the Taxation, Trusts & Estates Department at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (JMBM). My practice is centered around estate planning, trust and estate administration, and probate matters. I provide guidance to clients on advanced estate planning strategies aimed at reducing estate and gift tax liabilities and facilitating the seamless transfer of wealth across generations. I develop comprehensive estate plans for a diverse range of clients, from those with modest estates to high-net-worth individuals, including those requiring special planning considerations. Additionally, I represent professional fiduciaries and beneficiaries in trust administration and have experience in managing both...

I am an associate in the Corporate department at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP. My role involves managing transactional matters, which include mergers & acquisitions as well as corporate and private equity financings. In this capacity, I handle various stages of ongoing deals from their inception to their close. Specifically, I conduct due diligence, assist in negotiating operative and ancillary transaction documents, prepare consents, and draft a range of agreements. I earned my law degree from USC Gould School of Law, where I was honored with a Gould Merit Scholarship in recognition of my academic, professional, and personal achievements. During...

All Aspects of Construction, Litigation and Commercial Law

Mr. Helm, a Phillips ADR neutral, has mediated disputes up to ten figures in securities, class actions, shareholder disputes, corporate transactions, mass torts, professional liability, land use, sexual misconduct, ERISA, and intellectual property. He serves on the PG&E bankruptcy mediator panel and studied mediation at the Straus Institute. Previously, he was on the U.S. District Court, Central District of California ADR panel. A panelist on the American Arbitration Association roster and Institute for Transnational Arbitration advisory board, Mr. Helm has arbitrated business and consumer disputes and advocated in complex arbitrations involving asset management, trade secrets, and international investments. Before Phillips ADR, Mr....

Melissa Fox, Founder and Senior Attorney of The Melissa Fox Law Firm, is an experienced civil litigator who has practiced law in Orange County for 20 years. A graduate of Brandeis University and Tulane University School of Law, Melissa is a member of the Bars of the State of California and the United States Tax Court. She also holds a California Real Estate Broker License. Equally adept at transactional advice, negotiation, litigation, and the enforcement of judgments, Melissa has earned a reputation as a leader in the legal profession.

Melissa is also a dedicated community leader. Melissa currently serves on the...

David D. Murray has retired from the practice of law as of January 1, 2023. Mr. Murray practiced law for 45 successful years and thanks his former clients and associates with whom he worked on many legal matters over the years. With offices located in Orange County, California, just south of Los Angeles, the Law Offices of David D. Murray concentrated in the areas of U.S. & International Business Transactions, Employment and Labor Law, U.S. Immigration Law, Negotiation and Drafting of Contracts, Formation of Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, Joint Ventures, Business Buyouts, and Litigation & Dispute Resolution. The Law...

Jonathan A. Goldstein is the founder of the Law Offices of Jonathan A. Goldstein, Esq. (JAG Law Offices). He is an attorney, mediator, and arbitrator with over seventeen years of experience in representing public and private sector clients while serving the public interest for the last eleven years in various pro bono and voluntary roles. Mr. Goldstein is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors in Political Science and a minor in Women’s Studies. He also received a Juris Doctorate with Honors from The George Washington University School...

Todd Gallinger is the founder and principal of Gallinger Law. He is licensed to practice law in California, New York, and all Federal District Courts in California. Mr. Gallinger’s practice focuses on the needs of small businesses and their owners, as well as non-profit law. For his education, Mr. Gallinger attended the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree cum laude in Religious Studies, and the George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC, where he earned his Juris Doctorate cum laude. Mr. Gallinger writes frequently on numerous legal and political topics, including acting as a regular...

Mr. Palacios represents entrepreneurs, startups and early stage businesses, corporations, physicians and healthcare businesses, and individuals in the areas of business and commercial transactions, business planning, corporate law, business law, healthcare business law, business financing, private placements, including acquisitions and sales of businesses, intellectual property portfolio management, commercial real estate, employment, and bankruptcy law. Mr. Palacios is also an entrepreneur.

The Law Offices of Eric Michael Papp is a boutique law firm located in the heart of the Inland Empire's economic engine.

The Law Offices of Eric Michael Papp practice in the areas of Personal Injury; Business and Corporate Law; Real Estate; Wills & Trusts; Employment & Labor Law; Bankruptcy; Landlord & Tenant; and Asset Protection. Licensed to practice law in the State and Federal Courts of California and Nevada. Licensed Real Estate Broker.

Whether providing asset protection strategies, recovering damages or defending clients, the firm's philosophy remains the same: giving exceptional representation to all its clients through teamwork and communication.

If you...

Craig Sanders is the founding partner of the Sanders Law Group and a senior trial attorney. During the course of his more than thirty-year professional career, Mr. Sanders has handled complex civil litigation matters throughout the nations Federal Courts. Focusing his career on intellectual property (copyright and trademark infringement litigation), consumer protection, litigation and employment matters, Mr. Sanders oversees the Firm’s Intellectual Property Department and Trial Department. In addition to his IP experience, Mr. Sanders is also well-versed in commercial litigation having represented businesses in contract disputes, partnership dissolutions, shareholder disputes and derivative actions, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud...

Chris M. Kiernan is the Managing Attorney of the Orange County office of Talkov Law in Irvine, California with a focus on bankruptcy, real estate, and business litigation and disputes. Prior to joining Talkov Law, Chris worked alongside Scott Talkov at Reid & Hellyer,  an Inland Empire law firm dating back to 1897. Chris also has experience at a Southern California-based law firm practicing commercial and bankruptcy litigation serving clients of regional and national prominence.

Chris obtained his law degree from Emory University School of Law in 2017, and his undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina...

Nearly 30 years of litigation experience in state and federal courts. Specialize in representing small and mid-size businesses in variety of commercial disputes.

John Michael Montevideo became a trial attorney to help people. He dedicates his practice to sharing his clients’ stories and bringing them justice for the wrongs committed against them. He is Founder and Senior Trial Attorney of Montevideo Law, PC.

After earning his degree in Business Management and Marketing from Loyola Marymount University, John Michael dedicated a year of service to the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) in Houston, TX. He served full-time with Vita Living, Inc., a non-profit working with those with mental and physical developmental disabilities. It was during this time of service that he became inspired to pursue his...

Emahn Counts, Esq. is recognized for his practical approach to problem solving, client counseling, and improving quality of life for his clients.

He is a distinguished graduate of Loyola Marymount University, and he obtained his J.D. Degree from Loyola Law School in 2003. While at Loyola Law School, he was selected to the Law Review for outstanding legal writing and analysis.

Mr. Counts has been practicing law for over fifteen (15) years in Los Angeles County courts.

His clients cases typically involve business, family, real estate, or other contractual disputes. He has personally handled over 1000...

Oscar Garza co-founded Garza & Garza LLP (The Garza Firm) in January 2022 after retiring from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (December 2021). Recognized for decades as one of the nation's premier insolvency and restructuring lawyers, Mr. Garza intends to take his experience of working on some of the most significant and hotly contested matters and use those skills to obtain the exceptional results that clients of The Garza Firm deserve.

Sean S. Varner, Managing Partner of Varner & Brandt, is a corporate and transactional attorney focusing his practice on corporate and business law, real estate, transactional law, contracts and mergers & acquisitions. With over 20 years of legal and business experience Sean takes time to know his clients and their goals and objectives. He handles numerous critical issues, including complicated transactions, facing many different industries and clients including the technology sector, retail/food & beverage industry, real estate developers, restaurants, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, officers and directors of corporations, and a variety of family-owned businesses.

Partner for Corporate, Insolvency and Commerical Law Matters at Cummins & White, LLP

Mr. Kerekes is an experienced real estate and business attorney with over 30 years of experience. He began his career as assistant general counsel for a real estate development company and related brokerage company, negotiating and drafting construction agreements, financing agreements, and the purchase and sale of real property, as well as defending on construction claims. He also structured and organized entities to hold title and helped obtain financing. Thereafter, he went into private practice. He is also a veteran trial attorney who has also prosecuted and defended major cases involving construction defects, breach of contract, partnership disputes and...

Represented industries include accounting, aerospace and defense, construction, disaster response and engineering, cosmetics, food, beverage and alcohol, healthcare, hospitality and leisure, logistics and trucking, media, entertainment and video game, natural resources, real estate, and technology. Represent both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of high-stakes litigation. Advise clients on real estate acquisition, disposition, leasing, financing, construction, and development transactions. Handle a spectrum of negotiated situations, such as asset sales and purchases, corporate governance advice, general corporate counseling, and stock sales and purchases. Represent commercial landlords and other creditors in chapter 7 and 11 cases and non-bankruptcy workouts.