Arroyo Grande Lawyers

I graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and a Minor in Korean, which I speak fluently. My firm handles all areas of practice related to estate planning, asset protection, real estate & business law. We also help people with tough immigration matters, and business owners with immigration related business matters. Our locations in Nevada, Utah and California help people throughout the Southwest and throughout the US.

Attorney Paula Drake attended UCLA; she graduated cum laude with a BA in Political Science and a Teaching Credential from the Graduate School of Education. Ms. Drake taught school in Orange County for five years and received a Bilingual Cross-cultural Specialist Credential from California State University, Fullerton. She attended law school at Western State University, Fullerton. After receiving numerous honors and awards (including Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, three American Jurisprudence awards, Executive Editor of the Law Review), Ms. Drake graduated with honors and with two published law review articles. She was a certified law clerk for the...

With each individual case, Catherine A. Schwartz brings the knowledge of over twenty years of experience practicing family law and criminal defense in California. Ms. Schwartz's undergraduate studies were in sociology at Philadelphia Christian College. She graduated with a B.S degree in law and a JD at Western State University College of Law, San Diego, in 1991. After passing the California State Bar in 1991, Ms. Schwartz practiced family law, juvenile dependency, and juvenile delinquency law in both San Diego and Riverside, CA. She has been involved in the areas of family law and criminal defense for the past 20...

Scott Talkov is the Founder and Managing Partner of Talkov Law, a firm specializing in real estate partition actions and litigation throughout California. Scott has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine for nine consecutive years from 2013 to 2021. He has been quoted by the Real Deal Los Angeles, is listed in the U.S. News Lawyer Directory powered by Best Lawyers, and is a Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Scott founded the firm after serving as a partner at a California law firm. Scott was twice elected as President of a Barristers' (young attorney) association in California. Scott...

I am an accomplished attorney with extensive experience in Business, Estate Planning, Tax, Probate, Immigration Planning, Charitable Planning, and Entities Law matters. Based in California, I represent multi-national individuals and businesses across the world.

A Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, I provide experienced, knowledgeable and skilled counsel. I am dedicated to personalized service and exceptional advocacy, focused on meeting my clients' legal needs.

Visit my website for more information, or call to set up a consultation and see how I can help you.

As the managing attorney at the Center for Mediated Divorce, Irvine lawyer Judy Williams compassionately helps people resolve their issues in a divorce without having to go to court. Since 1996, she has been practicing as an attorney. Ms. Williams previously served as president and board member of the Orange County Women Lawyers Association. For a number of years, she was a Panel Attorney for the Orange County Juvenile Dependency Court. Attorney Williams presently maintains a 9.4 Superb Avvo Rating. Contact her firm today to arrange for a consultation.

Irvine attorney Nicole Dolle dedicates 100% of her practice to personal injury cases, focusing on catastrophic injury cases like TBI, broken bones, and permanent disfigurement from serious car and truck accidents, premises liability cases, and dog bites, among many others. She has deep roots in our local community, having grown up in North Tustin before attending the University of California, Berkeley for her undergraduate degree, and then returning home to receive her Juris Doctor from Chapman Law. Her success in law school led Nicole to follow her passion and pursue a career as a plaintiff’s trial lawyer. Since then she...

Orange County personal injury lawyer Aria Miran has successfully settled hundreds of personal injury claims since being admitted to the California State Bar in 2012. He focuses his practice on handling serious personal injury matters, including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, dog bites, and slip and fall cases. Attorney Miran also devotes his practice to holding large insurance companies responsible for bad faith insurance claims. Combining personal experience with an in-depth knowledge of the law, Aria is dedicated, aggressive, and caring. He has been recognized by top legal organizations, such as Super Lawyers, for his client service. In addition,...

As a former Certified Law Clerk for the Los Angeles County District Attorney, William Duffy has unique insight into the way the government handles criminal charges. Mr. Duffy is an experienced and accomplished trial lawyer who concentrates his practice on general criminal and DUI defense in felony and misdemeanor cases. He represents a broad array of individuals at the investigative, pre-trial, motion and trial stages. His successes range from outright case dismissals and acquittals, to extremely favorable plea agreements. Mr. Duffy also has extensive jury trial experience in state court. Mr. Duffy is committed to...

Ben Schwefel is a Partner at Murtaugh and is a certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate law by the State Bar of California. Ben’s practice focuses on trusts and estates, including estate planning, trust administration, probate, and fiduciary litigation. Ben represents a broad range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals and families, trustees, beneficiaries (individuals and charities), entrepreneurs, business executives, and professional fiduciaries. He regularly works with his clients on advanced estate planning techniques that minimize income, gift, and estate tax consequences. He also advises clients in connection with the formation and operation of profit and not-for-profit business entities, including...

Colleen is a California partition attorney who assists her clients in ending co-ownership disputes. Colleen is a native Southern Californian who attended Northern Arizona University and went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from California Southern Law School in Riverside, California. She currently handles partition actions throughout the state of California. Since her admission to the State Bar of California in 2016, Colleen has excelled in representing clients in both civil litigation and family law matters. She now devotes the majority of her practice to partition law, where she assists her clients in selling jointly owned property. Colleen effectively advocates for her clients’...

California Attorney David L. Crockett has been providing comprehensive legal representation for over 40 years in the areas of Trust and Estate Litigation, Trust and Probate Administration, and Estate Planning including preparation of Wills and Trusts. As these areas all overlap, his experience with the courts and litigation has given him unique insight in the preparation of wills and trusts. Mr. Crockett is dedicated to the careful preparation of documents to meet the specific needs of his clients.

As a Licensed Certified Public Accountant and Real Estate Broker, Mr. Crockett prepares all types of estate, trust and real estate documents including...

Ms. Charbonneau is a highly regarded Orange County family law practitioner and was a founding partner in one of Orange County’s premier law firms. Ms. Charbonneau is well known for her uncanny ability to get to the heart of a case and get it resolved. While compassionate and understanding, she is tenacious in her resolve to get divorcing couples to focus on common ground to reach a fair and responsible resolution. She is very skilled in dealing with the range of emotions that go with a divorce and is able to relate to the parties like few...

Christopher R. Abernathy provides advice and counsel to clients throughout the state of California. The focus of Mr. Abernathy’s practice is Family Law. Mr. Abernathy is a skilled litigator and negotiator with many years of experience Born and raised in California, Mr. Abernathy attended California State University, Chico, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in 1994. He then was awarded his Juris Doctor in 1998 from Western State College of Law in Irvine. Mr. Abernathy has been in private practice for his entire career, and he is admitted to practice before all California state courts.

Houman Fakhimi, the founding partner of the Criminal Defense Team, has amassed deep expertise in the area of criminal defense law thanks to years of experience. He oversees all litigation carried out by the firm, and he has demonstrated mastery in a variety of relevant legal domains. He's an alumnus of the University of California, Irvine and Whittier Law School. In addition to being an active member of the State Bar of Californias Criminal Section, Mr. Fakhimi also boasts accreditations from he Association of Federal Defense Attorneys, the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, and the California Public Defenders Association.

I am Marc Lazarus, a Russell & Lazarus APC partner, and a recognized personal injury attorney. I have pioneered video technology, custom computer animation, medical education resources, and the insertion of medical films to present my client stories to juries effectively. This innovative approach has led me to win thousands of personal injury cases across Southern California. I focus on cases that involve traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, shoulder injuries, wrist and hand injuries, knee injuries, and ankle injuries. My experience with these types of injuries greatly benefits my personal injury clients. I am dedicated to continually advancing my education to...

Gregory D Carson is a seasoned patent attorney and engineer with a passion for innovation and intellectual property. With a dual background in engineering and law, Gregory brings a unique blend of technical expertise and legal acumen to his role as CEO, Founder, and Patent Attorney at Carson Patents. His career spans decades of experience, providing comprehensive patent and trademark services to inventors, startups, and established businesses. Gregory’s dedication to fostering innovation is evident in his work assisting clients in securing patent protections across various industries. From high-tech inventions to consumer products, Gregory specializes in tailoring patent strategies to align with...

Orange County personal injury attorney Frank Nicholas has been representing clients and assisting them in protecting their legal rights for more than thirty five years. Attorney Nicholas has dedicated his Orange County California law firm to the practice of personal injury law and providing the victims of auto accidents, wrongful death and catastrophic injury with exceptional legal advice and representation. Mr. Nicholas enables his clients to put their lives back in order and receive the compensation they deserve.

Attorney Frank Nicholas is AV Peer Review rated by Martindale-Hubbell - which is the highest rating for professional integrity and excellence awarded to...

Hanlen J. Chang provides legal services in Business Law, Real Estate, Estate Planning, and International Tax matters. He was recognized as a Super Lawyers rising star in 2015. Prior to establishing his own practice Hanlen was a research attorney at the San Mateo County Superior Court Probate Department. He has also worked for several Southern California and Bay Area law firms as a litigation attorney representing business owners and professionals . Hanlen grew up in Bubendorf, Switzerland and attended...

Jonathan T. Little is an attorney with Minyard Morris family law firm in Newport Beach, California. He is a Certified Specialist in Family Law by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Little has more than 17 years of legal experience, and he provides outstanding representation, advice and support to clients throughout Orange County who are going through a divorce or other family law issues. "One must love what they do to truly excel at it! Passion is key. As a divorce lawyer, I love what I do because I get the incredible opportunity to work alongside people to...

Mr. Bardwell’s practice focuses on all aspects of wealth transfer planning, including estate planning, charitable planning, business succession planning and post-death administration.

Mr. Bardwell routinely assists individuals and families in efficiently minimizing estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes through the creation of wills, trusts, business entities and charitable organizations and the use of gifts, sales and other wealth-transfer strategies. He works closely with each client's team of advisors, including accountants, investment advisors and insurance agents, to ensure the client's personal planning and wealth preservation goals are accomplished in a coordinated manner. In addition, he advises clients on estate and trust administration,...

Dorit L. Goikhman is a licensed attorney, with years of experience representing clients in business, real estate, and family matters. Dorit graduated Brooklyn Law School in 2012, with a certificate in business law. During law school, she served as a debate coach for underserved NY youth, and won the CALI award for future excellence in accounting. After witnessing numerous clients spend fortunes and waste years of their lives in litigation, Dorit became interested in mediation and all that it has to offer. Dorit is committed in helping parties work together to obtain a mutually acceptable solution to their disputes at a...

Gerald R. Prettyman has been preparing and filing patents since 2001, and since 2006 has filed trademarks, copyrights and business filings, and worked to prevent and solve legal problems for his clients. Mr. Prettyman has prepared and filed over 200 patent applications for his clients and over 70 trademarks. Mr. Prettyman was previously an engineer and business manager, making him uniquely qualified to work with and protect the intellectual property of tech companies and to advise start-ups on how to make money without spending money. Mr. Prettyman is a U.S. Navy veteran.

Prior to forming Quintilone and Associates, Mr. Quintilone worked with the national labor and employment defense firm of Fisher & Phillips and with some of southern California’s preeminent trial lawyers at Horton, Barbaro & Reilly. Mr. Quintilone was formerly an associate with the insurance defense firm of Hollins Schechter working with large multi-party cases in their environmental, liability and employment practice areas.

Dennis Sandoval, paralyzed in a 1992 car accident, turns personal adversity into advocacy in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. California's sole attorney certified in estate planning, elder law, and taxation, Dennis earned distinctions like Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) and Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP). His financial expertise, including Enrolled Agent, CFP, and RFC designations, enriches his estate planning, elder law, and tax controversy practice. For seventeen years, Dennis directed education for the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA), contributing to NAELA and the National Elder Law Foundation. In 2014, he became a Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law...

Nancy has more than 30 years of experience in workers comp in the Inland Empire, starting as a law clerk defending Comp Insurance Companies, watching insurance companies refuse help people seriously hurt at work. In 1994, she left defense to represent only injured workers. Nancy knows what it is to be injured and trying to work and support a family. In the Inland Empire 30 years, Nancy knows which physicians and facilities truly help injured workers (and which ones just give lip service but no help). Nancy answers questions for workers throughout...

Human / Civil Rights Attorney working with clients in the public and private spheres for over 25 years in over 75 countries. Significant experience serving non-profits in the public health and international development spheres assisting refugees, asylum seekers, and those suffering from various forms of trauma. Particular focus on LGBTQ and non-binary clients with legal / personal concerns related to gender expression and its effects and helping spearhead international initiatives addressing the same.

Current Director of the Gamelan Council - Asia-Pacific Public Health, Microfinance, and Development Center. Previous experience includes working as a primary care clinician / rural health officer for...

I am Tracy Jonson, an attorney with a broad range of experience in the legal field. My practice includes providing legal advice and representation to high-net-worth individuals on various issues, including high-conflict child custody, child and spousal support, domestic violence, and both straightforward and complex property and financial matters. I have a successful track record in litigating cases that involve international child custody disputes and complex multinational business issues. My background is extensive, covering business and civil litigation, civil rights, personal injury, criminal defense, and family law. This diverse experience offers me a comprehensive perspective in my current practice. My previous...

Matt’s practice focuses on facilitating innovative change through legal action, and he works with private and public leaders in emerging issues and industries, ranging from internet to cannabis law. Most recently, Matt was one of the lead drafting attorneys on California’s Proposition 64, the successful ballot initiative to decriminalize and regulate cannabis for adult use. Working directly with California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and other state leaders to craft the policy structure, Matt directly authored key provisions in the legislation, integrating complex legislative, political and legal considerations into a balanced, comprehensive and historic reform. For over 10...

We guide our clients through the creation and implementation of comprehensive wills and trusts so that you can provide for your treasured people, pets, and charities with confidence and ease. Since 2011 I have been guiding clients through the creation and administration of wills, trusts, and probate. Early in my legal career I volunteered at the Redwood City Probate Court, where I watched families argue over who would manage and inherit the money, and who would take care of the kids and grandparents. I saw so much heartache and expense that could have been avoided with good quality estate planning, and have...

As a graduate of Western State University, Virginia L. Landry has grown her legal career over the past 25+ years. She quickly realized that criminal defense, particularly DUI, was her passion. As a fierce advocate for her clients, she never backs down from a fight and knows how to secure positive results on their behalf. Ms. Landry has handled countless DUI cases and is well-versed in the laws surrounding these charges. She has been Board Certified in DUI Defense, is a Regent for the National College for DUI Defense, and has received her certificate of instruction so that she can...

Meet Kristen A. Holstrom, CFLS*, a dynamic Partner at Holstrom, Block & Parke and a renowned family law specialist. Kristen hosts the top legal talk radio show on Go Country 105FM, educating listeners on family law. With a decade of experience, she's respected for her sharp legal mind, tenacious representation, and creative strategies. Kristen's journey started early working with her father, Dayn Holstrom, a prominent family law attorney. Holding a business degree from Jacksonville University, she excelled in NCAA Division 1 Soccer. Kristen earned her Juris Doctorate from Trinity Law School, passing the California State Bar and Family Law Specialists Exam. As...

Alan Ahdoot, a partner at Adamson Ahdoot LLP, is committed to serving as a powerful advocate for individuals dealing with various personal injury cases. Following the completion of his law degree at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and successfully passing the California State Bar, Alan has maintained a strong passion for assisting individuals and championing the rights of those lacking the resources to pursue the justice they merit. This dedication has motivated him to concentrate his legal career on representing those who have suffered injuries and endured oppression. Within Adamson Ahdoot LLP, Alan aims to positively impact the lives of...

Jeremy N. Roark brings over a decade of exclusive expertise in family law within the Inland Empire. His practice covers diverse facets of divorce cases, including child custody and support, asset division, spousal support, custody jurisdiction, and matters involving domestic violence and restraining orders. Certified as a Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS) by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, Jeremy stands out for his demonstrated excellence in the field. He is also honored as the recipient of the Terry D. Bridges Outstanding Attorney Award from the Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court Board of Directors and Members. As a...

Reza Torkzadeh is the managing attorney of TorkLaw, a premier personal injury law firm headquartered in California, with offices in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Massachusetts, Texas, Washington, and Washington DC. Mr. Torkzadeh and his firm specialize in cases involving catastrophic injury, sexual abuse, elder abuse, and wrongful death. Reza has been recognized annually by 'Best Lawyers' since 2015 and 'Super Lawyers' since 2012. He has been named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer' and 'Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyer by 'The National Trial Lawyers Association'. The Million Dollar Advocates Forum and The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum'...

Court Admissions:

United States District Court, Central District of California, May 30, 2007
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, October 26, 2009
United States District Court, Southern District of California, November 16, 2009
United States Tax Court, November 19, 2009
United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, January 10, 2010
United States District Court, Eastern District of California, June 3, 2010
United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, July 13, 2010
United States Court of International Trade, January 2, 2014
United States Court of Appeals For The Federal Circuit, June 30, 2015
United States Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals, May 3, 2017
United States...

Jason K. Smith is one of the founding shareholders of MK Smith, APC. He has been admitted to practice in state and federal courts of both California and Utah. Mr. Smith focuses his practice in civil litigation and has successfully represented clients in matters involving business litigation, construction litigation, patent litigation, contract disputes, employment issues, false advertising, unfair business practices, personal injury, medical malpractice, family law, education law, and special education law.

Mr. Smith obtained his Bachelors degree in Political Science from the University of Utah, graduating Cum Laude in 2008. In 2011, he received his Juris Doctorate degree from the...

Briny Woods is an experienced litigator and has successfully represented numerous clients throughout the State of California. Mr. Woods has also been on both sides of the litigation, representing plaintiffs and defendants. For numerous years he represented insurance companies doing their defense work and knows what their strategies include.

In the defense field, Mr. Woods was selected by a major insurance company to train insurance company adjusters on how to handle litigation cases, and was further responsible to train adjusters on handling Premises Liability (typically slip/trip and fall) cases.

Mr. Woods has effectively litigated cases as "simple" as minimal impact rear-end...

Tamara S. Freeze is highly experienced in employment litigation, taking her cases to trial and obtaining multi-million dollar verdicts. Before opening her own practice, she worked for several big law firms in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Orange County. Ms. Freeze is comfortable litigating cases and representing clients throughout California. Ms. Freeze has substantial experience representing clients in discrimination and harassment disputes, wrongful discharge, breach of contract, and for unpaid compensation and benefits. She has experience vigorously defending employee rights, educating drafting employment and settlement agreements, independently supervising cases, calculating settlement ranges and managing litigation. As part of her practice, Ms....

Michael Dallo, CPA, JD, LL.M., the founder of Dallo Law Group in San Diego, California, is both a tax attorney and certified public accountant (CPA). Unlike most tax attorneys who usually only have a J.D., the basic law degree, he also holds a masters of law degrees (LL.M.) in tax, is a Certified Tax Law Specialist, and is an adjunct professor of taxation in the Masters of Tax program at the University of San Diego. His dual background in both law and accounting, his dedication to the tax profession, his passion to educate in tax, and his persistence in the...