Frequently Asked Questions

Our office is at 12121 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 300, in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles. We represent clients throughout Los Angeles County and Orange County, including Irvine, and appear in state and federal courts across Southern California, including the Central District of California.

It depends on the complexity of the dispute, the amount at stake, and how far the other side wants to take it. What we can promise is transparency: before we begin, we discuss the fee structure, give you a realistic picture of the likely cost, and flag decisions along the way that materially change the economics of your case. In some matters, fee-shifting provisions in your contract may allow you to recover attorney's fees if you prevail.

Most business cases in Los Angeles County Superior Court take between one and two years to reach trial, and complex matters can take longer. That said, most cases never reach trial. Many resolve through motions, negotiation, or mediation within months. Early strategy matters: a well-aimed motion or a strong opening settlement position often shortens the case by a year or more.

You can resolve some disputes yourself, and when that is true, we will tell you. But the early stage of a dispute is where cases are won and lost. Statements you make in emails and letters become evidence. Deadlines to preserve claims pass quietly. If the amount in dispute matters to your business, have an attorney look at it before you respond to the other side.

Litigation is a lawsuit in the public court system, decided by a judge or jury. Arbitration is a private process where a neutral arbitrator issues a binding decision, often required by a contract clause. Mediation is a negotiation guided by a neutral who helps both sides reach a voluntary settlement. Our attorneys handle all three and also serve as arbitrators and mediators, so we can advise you on which forum genuinely favors your position.

Preserve everything: emails, texts, financial records, and operating agreements. Do not sign anything or accept any buyout figure before you understand what your interest is worth and what rights your agreements and the California Corporations Code give you. Partnership and shareholder disputes move quickly, and the partner who prepares first usually controls the outcome.

Note the date you were served, because your deadline to respond in California is generally 30 days. Do not contact the opposing party, and do not delete emails or documents related to the dispute, even ones you think look bad. Then call an attorney. Early responses can include motions that narrow or end the case before discovery begins, but those options expire fast.

Sometimes. California follows the rule that each side pays its own fees unless a contract or statute says otherwise. Many business contracts and commercial leases include fee-shifting clauses, and certain claims carry statutory fee awards. This is one of the first things we check, because it changes the settlement leverage in your case. Our own attorneys have secured fee awards exceeding $3 million.

The attorneys you see on this website. We are deliberately a small firm, so your case is handled by a partner-level litigator, not passed to a rotation of junior associates. You will know who is responsible for your matter and how to reach them.

Call (310) 478-7788, email [email protected], or use the consultation form on our contact page. Tell us what happened, what you have been asked to sign or pay, and any deadlines you know about. We will tell you where you stand.