Top Civil Lawyers Near Me in Westlake Village Area

The mission of CGS Law, is to provide quality legal representation to improve housing and public safety in California. CGS Law aims to provide better quality of life for its clients and the persons whom its clients service, while enhancing the stature of the legal profession. CGS Law was started by Chandra, a former City Prosecutor, to fulfill a desire for helping those less fortunate within the framework of a private law firm.. Chandra Gehri Spencer received her Juris Doctorate, cum laude, in 1996 from Pepperdine University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from California Lutheran University in 1994.  She is admitted to practice law in all California courts, the United States District Court for the Central District of California and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.. Ms. Spencer concentrates her practice on public law, dispute resolution and civil litigation, particularly in the areas of substandard housing, code enforcement, tort liability and police defense.  She was recently named a Rising Star by Southern California Super Lawyer Magazine.. Chandra has extensive experience in civil and criminal litigation.  She has handled numerous pre-trial proceedings, writs of mandate proceedings, civil suits, criminal prosecutions and appeals.  She has prosecuted and defended numerous cases on behalf of public agencies, in federal and state court and at the appellate level.  Ms. Spencer has first and second chaired both bench and jury trials.  In Buena Park Motel Assn. v. City of Buena Park, 109 Cal. App. 4th 302 (2003), she won a published victory in a case pertaining to regulation of motel stays and conditions within the City of Buena Park.. Ms. Spencer also has extensive training and experience in dispute resolution.  Chandra has represented public entities in numerous mediations, negotiations and arbitrations.  She consistently works to resolve disputes at the lowest cost, and on the most favorable terms, to her clients.  At Pepperdine University School of Law, in addition to her Juris Doctorate degree, Ms. Spencer received a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution which required extensive course work and clinical experience in negotiation, mediation and arbitration.. Further, she provides advice and consultation pertaining to police and code enforcement policies and procedures.  Ms. Spencer has handled petitions and responded to requests made under the Public Records Act.  In Axelrad v. Superior Court, 82 Cal. App. 4th 819 (2000), Ms. Spencer successfully upheld the work product privilege and official information privilege for police departments and obtained reversal of a trial court’s broad grant of a public records act request for police manuals and investigation materials.. In law school, Ms. Spencer served as a member of the Pepperdine Law Review and authored “Beware of the Highwayman on the Information Superhighway:  A Balanced Proposal to Protect Copyrights Within the National Information Infrastructure,” 24 Pepperdine Law Review 121 (1996).   She was also an Extern Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard D. Aldrich, State of California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District.

My goal is to provide superior legal services and to surpass my clients' expectations in every case. I believe that when you come to me for legal services that I owe you a substantial debt for putting faith in my firm to help you.  For that reason, I work tirelessly to get my clients the results they need and deserve.. I have been a resident of Ventura County since 1997.  After several years working in defense of large insurance companies in downtown Los Angeles, I opened my own firm in Westlake Village in 2009.  I am passionate about helping my clients and their families.

I help minimize risk by developing employer best practices, protecting the brand and documenting dealings with third parties. I lead clients through problematic terminations, harassment and discrimination claims, wage and hour matters, and complex business/real estate disputes and transactions.

After 30 wonderful years with Chaleff Rehwald Peterson, the time has come for me to step back from full time employment starting in 2025 to focus solely on new client development. The firm has been renamed Rehwald Peterson under the seasoned leadership of Kevin Rehwald and Lauren Peterson, two excellent and successful attorneys in caregiver law. The firm will continue to champion the rights of caregivers as we have for nearly a decade. While the firm name has changed, our commitment to our clients remains steadfast.. This change in role is the continuation of a successful legal career. Growing up in Southern California, I graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1986 and earned my B.A. from UCLA in 1990. I attended Pepperdine University, School of Law, graduating cum laude in 1994.. As a young attorney I joined the firm of Rehwald Rameson Lewis and Glasner and began working on personal injury and employment discrimination cases. As my experience with employment law grew, I developed a keen interest in wage and hour law, recovering unpaid overtime for numerous individuals and groups at all levels of employment in a variety of fields.. I made partner in 2002 and was named a “Rising Star in Labor and Employment Law” by Super Lawyer Magazine, 2005-2007. I became managing partner in 2012. During my tenure, our firm became “The Caregiver Attorneys” recovering millions in unpaid overtime for hundreds of hardworking and oftentimes underappreciated caregivers. My new role as associate of new client development in 2025 will allow me to solely focus on caregivers and fostering new client relationships. I can still be reached at all hours of the day or night to discuss new or existing overtime claims.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Westlake Village and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Westlake Village and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Westlake Village and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Westlake Village and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Westlake Village and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Westlake Village and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Westlake Village and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Westlake Village and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Westlake Village and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Westlake Village and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Westlake Village and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Westlake Village and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Westlake Village and surrounding areas.