Top State Lawyers Near Me in Costa Mesa Area

State Bar of California, Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law since 2001.  Earned a Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M.) in 2001.

Sheereen Javadizadeh focuses her practice on eminent domain, inverse condemnation, and other complex business and real estate litigation.  Her work includes cases concerning total and partial takings, loss of business goodwill, severance damages, CEQA challenges, and other real property and business torts.  Ms. Javadizadeh represents private landowners, business owners, and public agencies in various phases of eminent domain litigation.. Prior to joining Murphy & Evertz, Ms. Javadizadeh clerked with the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office and the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, where she drafted motions, writs, and memoranda on an array of legal issues.. Ms. Javadizadeh earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Irvine and her law degree from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.  During law school, Ms. Javadizadeh served as the Administrative Vice Chair of the Hale Moot Court Honors Program and competed on the USC National Moot Court Team.

Shadi completed her B.A. in Political Science at the beautiful University of Santa Barbara California.  She continued her studies abroad where she lived in Spain for a year while completing her M.A. in Law & Society and completed her J.D. degree in San Diego, California in 2001.. Shadi has had a variety of work experience from managing a designer boutique, being a bank teller, holding a variety of sales positions, to owning her own mortgage company.  Along with a vast work history, she has been blessed to travel to distant places from Europe to Israel, to living in the Baltics; her ability to connect and interact with individuals across many borders, faith, and socioeconomic levels adds to her practice as an attorney.. Shadi represented the underserved in San Diego at the Employee Rights Center.  Thereafter, she joined the Landau Law Group where she defended numerous injury, premises liability, and general civil litigation cases representing clients such as The Hyatt Regency and The Radisson Hotel to name a few.  Two years later having established herself as an attorney, she created her own practice and has since joined forces with Patrick P. Phancao in an effort to build a proud and distinguished law practice.. Currently, the firm receives business primarily through referrals which shows the committed and quality representation the two partners provide to their clients and strive to build upon in their firm.. Attorney Shaffer focuses on Estate Planning, Trusts, Probate, Trust Administration which has proven tremendously successful in its early stages of growth. Her firm also practices in the areas of Medical Planning and Asset Protection.

Omar Sandoval has substantial experience and expertise in the field of local government law and land use regulation.  Mr. Sandoval serves as City Attorney to the Cities of Hawaiian Gardens and San Juan Capistrano, and has served in the capacity of Assistant, Deputy, and Planning Commission counsel in various other cities.

Ms. Frasco specializes in commercial real estate and corporate finance, with an emphasis on purchase and sale transactions, development, leasing, and secured financing. Ms. Frasco has experience representing both landlords and tenants in office, industrial, and retail leasing transactions. In addition, Ms. Frasco has experience representing property owners, developers, and investors in purchase and sale transactions involving commercial, industrial, and retail buildings and multi-family residential projects, including analysis of complex title, survey and due diligence issues. Ms. Frasco also has experience representing lenders and borrowers in secured financing matters, including acquisition, construction, and permanent financing of development and investment properties.

Ms. Agajanian specializes in real estate law with an emphasis on financing, leasing, purchase and sale transactions and development. She is also a certified mediator, having trained with Orange County’s CSP (Community Service Programs) Dispute Resolution Services Program.. Ms. Agajanian represents lenders and borrowers in the origination, restructuring and participation of acquisition, construction and permanent financing secured by various types of real property, including office buildings, retail centers, hotels, and mixed-use and multi-family properties. Ms. Agajanian has experience representing both landlords and tenants in all aspects of office, retail and industrial leasing. In addition, Ms. Agajanian has extensive experience drafting and negotiating a broad range of commercial contracts.. Before joining Rutan & Tucker, LLP, she was previously with Garrett DeFrenza Stiepel Ryder LLP and served as in-house counsel to Placentia Recycling Inc. Prior to her experience at Placentia Recycling, Ms. Agajanian  was an associate with Schulte Roth & Zabel in New York, where her practice focused on complex financing transactions, commercial leasing, and acquisitions and dispositions of real property. Ms. Agajanian is admitted to practice in both New York and California.

Ms. Lee is a co-founding partner of DeFrenza Lee LLP. Her practice includes all aspects of real estate transactions, with an emphasis on acquisitions, dispositions, development, construction, financing and leasing. Ms. Lee has experience representing property owners, developers, and investors in purchase and sale transactions involving commercial, industrial, and retail buildings and multi-family residential projects. Ms. Lee has also represented institutional lenders, second lien lenders and borrowers in a broad range of finance transactions including real estate secured loans (construction, permanent and mezzanine loans).

Ms. Holcomb specializes in commercial real estate law, with an emphasis on leasing, purchase and sale transactions, development and financing.. Ms. Holcomb has extensive experience representing both landlords and tenants in all aspects of retail, office, medical and industrial leasing. In addition, Ms. Holcomb has significant experience representing property owners and developers in purchase and sale transactions involving commercial, industrial and retail buildings, raw land, and multi-family residential projects, including analysis of complex title, survey and due diligence issues. Ms. Holcomb also handles secured financing matters on behalf of lenders and borrowers in connection with acquisition, construction, and permanent financing of development and investment properties.. Before joining Garrett DeFrenza Stiepel Ryder LLP in March 2007, Ms. Holcomb was a real estate associate with Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt, P.C., one of the Northwest’s leading law firms, whose real estate group is one of the top-ranked practices in Oregon according to Chambers USA. Ms. Holcomb is admitted to practice in both Oregon and California.

Mr. Weiss specializes in commercial real estate law and has experience with all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, financing and development of all property types.. Before joining Garrett Stiepel Ryder LLP, Brent was a real estate associate with Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in Orange County.

Mr. Mullen specializes in real estate law, with a particular emphasis on property acquisition and development, commercial and industrial leasing, construction law, and real estate finance.. Mr. Mullen represents developers, investors, and property owners in purchase and sale transactions of unimproved land and development sites, residential subdivision properties and master-planned communities, and office, commercial, and industrial buildings. He has experience in preparing CC&Rs and access and easement agreements for development properties and commercial and industrial condominium projects. Mr. Mullen also advises both lenders and borrowers in secured financing matters, including negotiating and documenting acquisition and development loans, mezzanine loans, construction loans, revolving lines of credit, and permanent financing.. Mr. Mullen has broad experience representing landlords and tenants in office, retail, and industrial leasing transactions. This experience includes negotiating and documenting leases for all types of clients, from small retail tenants to office landlords and tenants and owners and users of large industrial warehouse and distribution facilities. In addition, Mr. Mullen advises landlords and tenants in connection with lease disputes and a wide array of lender financing and subordination issues.. Mr. Mullen also has substantial expertise in counseling clients on documenting and managing construction projects, from tenant improvements to the construction and rehabilitation of large industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities.. Before joining Garrett DeFrenza Stiepel Ryder LLP, Mr. Mullen was an associate with DLA Piper LLP in San Diego, California.

Mr. De Frenza specializes in real property law with an emphasis on commercial leasing, purchase and sale transactions, construction law, and financing. Mr. De Frenza’s experience includes drafting and negotiating ground leases and leases for office, retail, restaurant, medical use and industrial space. He handles purchase and sale agreements for unimproved land and for office, research and development, retail, apartment, industrial, restaurant and hotel properties. Mr. De Frenza also prepares reciprocal easement agreements, property management agreements, covenants, conditions and restrictions, and various development-related agreements with public entities and between landowners. Mr. De Frenza’s representation includes major insurance companies, real estate investment companies, real estate development companies, national and regional quick service and casual dining restaurant chains, national tenant representation of a real estate financial services firm, a wireless telecommunications company, property management companies and individuals. Mr. De Frenza has provided real estate expertise in complex litigation matters involving real property. Prior to co-founding DeFrenza Lee LLP, Mr. De Frenza was a founding partner of Garrett DeFrenza Stiepel Ryder LLP and was previously the supervising partner of the Business Group of the Orange County office of Pillsbury Winthrop LLP. Mr. De Frenza has been a speaker on due diligence in real estate transactions, premises liability issues, wireless communication site leases and recent developments in real property law.

Mr. Bowerbank offers superior, creative, and efficient legal services involving real estate and commerical disputes.  Mr. Bowerbank offers big firm services without the big firm rates.

Katherine Meleski is a senior associate at Murphy & Evertz.  Her practice focuses on eminent domain and other real property litigation. Ms. Meleski represents private landowners, business owners, commercial landlords, tenants and public agencies in various phases of eminent domain litigation, including real property appraisal and valuation issues, inverse condemnation, pre-condemnation delay and loss of business goodwill.

Judy Y. Chiang obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley. She majored in Economics and minored in Music. Ms. Chiang obtained her law degree from Whittier Law School. Prior to being admitted to practice law in California in the year 2000, she clerked for the Honorable James Barr of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Central District, worked for the State Bar of California, and worked for firms that specialized in civil litigation.Ms. Chiang is admitted to practice in California State Courts as well as the following Federal Courts: U.S. District Court (Central, Southern, Eastern, and Northern Districts of California) and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.Prior to establishing the Law Office of Judy Y. Chiang, Ms. Chiang practiced at Berger Kahn, ALC and Musick, Peeler & Garrett, LLP. Ms. Chiang has over 12 years of civil litigation experience in areas of law, including, but not limited to, business, real estate, collection, bankruptcy/creditors' rights, tenant/landlord disputes, employment law, trademark law, personal injury, insurance coverage, toxic mold litigation, construction defect, eminent domain, and lemon law. Because of her diverse background in civil litigation, in 2006, Ms. Chiang taught a C.E.B. class on the topic “Civil Litigation Before Trial” at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Irvine, California.Ms. Chiang is also a licensed real estate broker. Her familiarity of real estate documents and transactions compliments her business and real estate litigation practice.Ms. Chiang speaks four languages, which include: English, Mandarin, Taiwanese, and Hakkanese. Her multilingual skills have proven to be very useful in our current expanding global web.

Joseph Ursic was born and raised in Southern California. Joseph completed his undergraduate degree at the University of San Francisco. During law school, Joseph was a competing member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution team, a Judicial Law Clerk for the Long Beach Superior Court, and completed a two-year externship with a national complex litigation firm. Joseph graduated from Whittier Law with a concentration in Intellectual Property and was admitted to the California Bar in 2014. He represents clients in all aspects of Business Law and Real Estate.. Joseph enjoys traveling, cars, and live music. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Whittier Law School Alumni Association and serves on several committees for the Orange County Bar Association.

John Murphy focuses his practice on eminent domain, inverse condemnation and other complex real estate trials. He represents a wide variety of public agencies, corporations, and landowners.. Mr. Murphy and his firm have earned its clients over $275 Million in eminent domain awards over the past six years. His firm has won arguably the highest condemnation awards in the State in each of the past four years. Its 2017 judgment against the County of San Bernardino totals $48 Million.. He has been chosen repeatedly for inclusion in the definitive legal directory, Best Lawyers in America - - most recently for 2017 - - in two practice areas: eminent domain law and real estate law.  From 2006 – 2017, the Los Angeles Times has featured Mr. Murphy in its articles, “Southern California’s Best Lawyers.”  Los Angeles magazine has listed him repeatedly in Southern California Super Lawyers. Orange Coast magazine named him in its September, 2007 – 2015 features, “Top Attorneys in Orange County.”. Best Lawyers in America, the nation’s oldest and most respected legal peer-review publication, honored Mr. Murphy in 2012 as its “Orange County Litigation – Real Estate Lawyer of The Year.”  Mr. Murphy was also named one of the “Top 50 in Orange County” lawyers for 2012 by Southern California’s Super Lawyers magazine.. Mr. Murphy has served as lead trial counsel in numerous significant, successful jury trials. He speaks regularly on eminent domain issues and his cases have garnered significant press coverage. He has been the subject of three Los Angeles Daily Journal profiles and has been featured on the cover of both Verdicts and Settlements and the Daily Journal. John also won one of the largest jury verdicts ($14.6 million) ever obtained in Marin County Superior Court.. In 2006, Mr. Murphy was elected a Fellow of the American Bar Association.  He has been consistently accorded an “AV-Preeminent” rating by Martindale Hubbell.. In 2017, the State Bar of California’s Real Property Section awarded Mr. Murphy a seat on its executive committee.. Mr. Murphy has managed, or played a lead role in, several major public agency acquisition projects. These agencies include:. Mr. Murphy spoke on trial tactics in eminent domain at the American Law Institute – Continuing Legal Education (ALI-CLE) 34th Annual Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation Conference in San Diego in 2017.  He has also spoken at the January, 2006 23rd Annual ALI-ABA National Eminent Domain Conference in San Diego; the 2009, 26th ALI-ABA National Eminent Domain Conference in Miami, Florida; the 2012, 29th ALI-ABA Eminent Domain Conference in San Diego; and the 2015, 32nd Annual National Eminent Domain Conference in San Francisco.. He serves as Co-Chairman of the annual CLE International Southern California seminar on eminent domain. He has spoken frequently at Appraisal Institute seminars, and authored an article for the Appraisal Journal.. Over the past ten years, Mr. Murphy has spoken at over 15 International Right of Way Association seminars and programs. Most recently, he spoke at the IRWA’s 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Annual International Education Conferences in Indianapolis, Calgary, Atlanta, Seattle, West Virginia, and Hartford, Connecticut.. Mr. Murphy has authored a chapter on condemnation for the California Continuing Education of the Bar; treatise, “Ground Lease Practice,” and he also authored a chapter of the American Bar Association text book on expert witnesses, “Litigators on Experts.”. Mr. Murphy is the former president of Chapter 67 of the International Right of Way Association (2000) and former member of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Bar Foundation. He is a past President of the Warren J. Ferguson Chapter of the American Inns of Court and has served on the Board of Visitors of the Chapman University Law School. He is also a member of Lambda Alpha, and an affiliate member of the Appraisal Institute.. Mr. Murphy received his J.D. from the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law in 1980; and his B.A., with honors, from the University of California, Riverside in 1976.

Jennifer Wood Dienhart’s practice focuses on eminent domain, inverse condemnation and other complex business disputes. Ms. Dienhart has represented clients in disputes concerning condemnation of real property, inverse condemnation, breach of lease agreements, breach of purchase and sale agreements, and adjustment of rental rates, among others. Her eminent domain experience includes cases concerning total and partial takings, loss of business goodwill, precondemnation damages, and severance damages. She has advised clients regarding pre-condemnation activity and relocation benefits.. Ms. Dienhart recently spoke at the International Right of Way Chapter 57's Education Seminar regarding Resolutions of Necessity .  She has also co-authored articles regarding the United States Supreme Court eminent domain decision in Kelo v. City of New London and appropriate dates of value.

Jennifer McClure’s practice focuses on eminent domain, inverse condemnation matters, and other complex business disputes.  Ms. McClure has represented clients in disputes concerning condemnation of real property, inverse condemnation, breach of lease agreements, and adjustment of rental rates, among others. Her eminent domain experience includes cases concerning total and partial takings, loss of business goodwill, precondemnation damages, and severance damages. She advises clients regarding pre-condemnation activity and relocation benefits.. Ms. McClure also represents and advises clients in land use litigation matters, water rights and environmental disputes. Her litigation experience includes representation of developers in variety of construction defect litigations and national insurers in numerous environmental coverage actions.

James K. Ulwelling is the principal of Ulwelling Law, APC. His practice focuses on real estate, community association law, and business litigation. Previously, Jim was one of the founding partners of Ulwelling | Siddiqui LLP and a partner at Morris Polich & Purdy, LLP (now merged with Clark Hill). Jim has been lead trial counsel in numerous lawsuits and arbitrations over the years, where he has exhibited skills in courtroom strategy, critical analysis and sophisticated advocacy. Jim is frequently engaged by other attorneys, and has served as a testifying expert witness in legal malpractice actions.. Jim is actively engaged with professional groups serving the real estate, community association and business communities. He is a member of the Real Property Section of the State Bar of California and the Community Associations Institute, Orange County Chapter. He is a featured speaker for groups such as the Community Associations Institute, Chapman University School of Law, the Employer Advisory Council of Orange County, and the Orange County Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Orange County Bar Association, and numerous commercial and residential real estate brokerages. He has served on the Publications Committee and the Mediation Committee for the Community Associations Institute. Jim has been published in periodicals and trade journals such as California Law Business, The Law Journal and OC View.. Jim received an undergraduate degree in Political Science from UCLA, where he received recognition on the Dean's List.  In 1994, he earned his J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law, where he served as Associate Editor of the Santa Clara Law Review.  He subsequently completed additional training as a mediator through the Santa Clara County Office of Human Relations and actively served as a community volunteer mediator.. Jim has resided in Orange County since 1998.  He lives in Irvine.  He enjoys camping and traveling with his family, as well as swimming, hiking, gardening, fishing and UCLA sports.

I was born and raised in Orange County, California. I grew up oil painting and always thought that I would pursue a career in art. I ultimately earned a degree in fine art at California State University Long Beach but it was during my studies there that I discovered my interest in the law. So after graduating I changed direction and attended Western State University Law School in Fullerton. Today I am so glad I made that choice because I love practicing law and enjoy putting my strengths to good use in estate planning for small to mid-size estates.. After finishing law school I worked in the litigation department of a national insurance company in Orange where I handled a variety of complex matters. My focus was construction defect litigation but I also represented a variety of defendants in personal injury cases. During that time I was lucky enough to participate in many arbitrations and mediations which gave me the most useful and important skill I use today: I know how to listen carefully and take time to understand what people truly want.. I currently live in Costa Mesa with my husband and three active young boys. I share the same concerns as many other parents of young children, such as who will we name as guardian of our minor children and how do we want their inheritance distributed? I love meeting new clients to explain their options and work through a plan together. I understand firsthand the needs of growing families and I want you to rest easy knowing that your estate is in order.. I still enjoy oil painting and see many parallels with working in the legal field: each discipline requires logical thinking and problem solving. And ultimately there is a final product on which I am proud to put my name. Let's have a conversation about your plans for your family and how I can help you implement them.

I received the California State Bar specialist designation in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate law in 2010 and the California State Bar specialist designation in Taxation law in 2012.  I am currently one of less than 100 attorneys in the state with both designations.  I am also licensed in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, South Dakota, and soon to be Hawaii.  My practice focuses on estate planning for high net worth individuals by implementing a team approach to planning with the client's CPA, financial advisor, and insurance advisor.. In addition to my legal work, I provide pro bono help to Churches and religious ministries (also on the formation of those organizations).  I am also active in my church, Berean Bible Church of Hilo, Hawaii.

I am a founder and the managing partner of Hytrek Tursts. I handle estate planning matters.. Before starting Hytrek Trusts, I worked as an insurance defense attorney for reputable nationwide firms where I learned transferrable litigation skills and tactics. I now uses those legal strategies and tactics to the advantage of our clients.. I earned my Juris Doctorate from Whittier Law School and graduated magna cum laude. While in law school, I was Editor in Chief of Whittier Law Review and acted as a member of the Board of Whittier Moot Court. I earned a CALI award in Arbitration and was also published in the Whittier Law Review for his article, “Property Rights in Current Space Law: A Hindrance to Space Exploration.”. I was born and raised in Nebraska, where I attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

I am a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel () and a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law (by the California State Bar's Board of Legal Specialization). I concentrate on trust and estate matters with emphasis on trust and probate administration, including probate court representation. I also serve as a private fiduciary.

Henry R. Stiepel represents owners, investors, asset managers, and corporate users in industrial and commercial real property sales, acquisitions, financing, development, and leasing. Mr. Stiepel has more than 28 years of extensive experience in actively negotiating the acquisition, disposition, financing and leasing of office, industrial, R&D and retail projects.. Mr. Stiepel’s experience includes the negotiation preparation and review of purchase contracts, leases, ground leases, construction documents, financing documents, easement agreements, management contracts, agreements with counties and municipalities and related development agreements.. Since 2005, Mr. Stiepel has been named one of “The Best Lawyers in America”, Real Estate Law. He has also received an A-V Peer rating from Martindale-Hubbel, the highest legal ability rating available. Mr. Stiepel has served on the Board of Directors of the U.C. Irvine Athletic Association and on the U.C. Irvine Dean’s Advisory Council for the School of the Arts, and the Executive Board of the Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America.. Representative Transactions

Emily Madueno focuses her practice on eminent domain and inverse condemnation matters. She is experienced in advising both landowner and public agency clients in all aspects of an eminent domain matter. Ms. Madueno also represents and advises clients in land use litigation matters, including environmental disputes.