Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

Offices in: Long Beach, West Los Angeles, Pasadena, Woodland Hills, Irvine, San Diego and Riverside.

A former Marine and graduate of the University of California at Berkeley (1966) and the UCLA School of Law (1969), Lawrence Eric Taylor served as deputy public defender and deputy district attorney in Los Angeles before entering private practice. He was the trial judge's legal advisor in People vs Charles Manson, was Supreme Court counsel in the "Onion Field" murder case, and was retained by the Attorney General of Montana as an independent Special Prosecutor to conduct a one-year grand jury probe of governmental corruption.

Turning to teaching, Mr. Taylor served on the faculty of Gonzaga University School of Law, where he was voted Professor of the Year, was Visiting Professor at Pepperdine University Law School, and was finally appointed Fulbright Professor of Law at Osaka University in Japan.

With over 33 years of experience, Lawrence Taylor is the author of over thirty articles and 13 books, including the standard text on DUI litigation, "Drunk Driving Defense", 7th edition (N.Y.: Aspen Law and Business) and "California Drunk Driving Defense", 4th edition (St. Paul, MN: West Publishing). He is one of only 4 DUI attorneys in California who is Board-certified as a DUI defense specialist.

Over the past 30 years Mr. Taylor has proven a popular lecturer on DUI trial techniques and constitutional issues at over 200 CLE seminars in 39 states, including those sponsored by the American Bar Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and numerous state bar associations including the California State Bar. He was one of the original 13 founders of the National College for DUI Defense, served on its Board of Regents and was elected Dean for 1995-1996. On July 25, 2002, at Harvard Law School, Mr. Taylor was presented with the National College's Lifetime Achievement Award.


(Taylor) excels at trial preparation and tactics....His expertise is incomparable.
Trial (Assoc. of Trial Lawyers of America)

Larry Taylor is recognized as one of the finest DUI trial tacticians in the country.
Editor, California DUI Report

Lawrence Taylor is one of the top DUI lawyers in the U.S. today.
Editor, Drinking/Driving Law Letter

Taylor's patented approach to crossing the cop....can be regarded as so fundamental that newer drunk driving defense practitioners may not be aware that he was its originator.
The Champion (Nat'l Assoc. of Criminal Defense Lawyers)


Mr. Taylor is a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar, California State Bar, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Orange County Bar Association and National College for DUI Defense. He maintains a personal DUI blogsite with commentary on the defects, fallacies and Constitutional damage of the war on drunk driving, and serves as Wikipedia contributing editor on DUI matters.

Kevin Kump has practiced law in southern California for 23 years. He and his staff are very patient and helpful in explaining the bankruptcy process. There is no pressure and, unlike other bankruptcy firms, you will always meet the attorney. The office handles bankruptcy in the counties of Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange.

Michael C. Hackworth is a partner with lawfirm of Fernandez & Lauby LLP. Mr. Hackworth has a variety of experiences in defense litigation. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of California, Riverside, and held internships at the City of San Bernardino Mayor's Office performing legal and political research. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from Hastings College of the Law in 1996 where he specialized in litigation and served externships with the Public Law Research Institute, where he worked on the research and drafting of ethics bills.

Before attending law school, Mr. Hackworth served as a licensed real estate appraiser, determining the values of residential properties in several Southern California counties. This background, and his experience working for the Resolution Trust Corporation (an agency of the FDIC) led to an early practice in real estate transaction and litigation.

Mr. Hackworth's current practice includes insurance defense, premises liability, general liability, construction defect litigation, construction accidents, and general business litigation. He also has experience in professional and medical negligence cases, employment litigation, drafting of employment agreements and handbooks, business transactions, real estate issues, and public entity defense. He has represented various public entities, such as Cities, Counties, Special Districts, and School Districts in various litigation matters, including employment claims, contract disputes and injury claims.

Mr. Hackworth is licensed to practice before the Federal Courts, and has extensive experience at that level. He also has experience with appellate issues, in both State and Federal forums. His practice is enhanced by membership in local county bar associations. Additionally, he has served as a judge at the annual Hispanic National Bar Association Moot Court competition.

Derek K. Early is an associate with Fernandez & Lauby. His expertise includes both transactional and litigation matters, with clients ranging from large companies to nonprofits and private individuals. Mr. Early graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2003, where he was a member of Penn's 2000 Ivy League Championship football team. He graduated from Indiana University School of Law Bloomington in 2008. At Indiana, Mr. Early was President of the Sports & Entertainment Law Society, a Managing Editor for the Indiana Law Journal, an intern for the Nonprofit Legal Clinic, and a participant in the Intellectual Property Practicum. He also researched and wrote extensively on NCAA enforcement and compliance issues, including completing projects for the Indiana University Athletics Department. Mr. Early's current practice includes employment law, business law, intellectual property, sports law, entertainment law, and insurance defense.

Edward A. Fernandez has over 25 years' experience in general civil litigation with an emphasis in personal injury, premises liability, construction (both injury and defect) and business litigation. He has tried, arbitrated and mediated hundreds of cases throughout Southern and Central California. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California San Diego in 1979 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego in 1982. More recently, he completed the Pepperdine University School of Law/Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution Mediating the Litigated Case program. Mr. Fernandez also recently attended "Impasse Is A Fallacy" a 14-hour Advanced Mediators' Forum with Lee Jay Berman, Doug Noll, and Tim Corcoran of the American Institute of Mediation. He is licensed to practice in the State of California and before the United States District Court and is currently a member of the California Bar Association, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Riverside Bar Association, The Los Angeles County Bar Association, The American Inns of Court [Leo A. Deegan Chapter], and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.

Mr. Fernandez is the recipient of the 2008 Defense Attorney of the Year Award presented by The International Association of Special Investigation Units, Southern California Chapter. He is a former director for Southern California Insurance Professionals and in addition to doing private mediations, also serves as a mediator for the Riverside Consolidated Courts and the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Two. From a personal standpoint, he is married and has five children. He and his family live in Riverside and he has been actively involved in the AYSO Soccer Program where he served as a Board Member, Referee Administrator, Coach and Referee. He is an instrument-rated private pilot and enjoys activities such as flying, skiing and playing golf.

I graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point in June 1993. I received a reserve commission in the United States Navy as an Ensign. After 12 years of service I was Honorably Discharged from the Navy.
I worked for various parts of the AP Moller Group from Feb 1994 through June 2003. Those companies included Maersk Pacific, Ltd.; AP Moller; APM Terminals North America, Maersk Pacific Ltd. While with those companies I became intimately familiar with the heavy industry environment including Maritime and Rail Container Terminals, Shipboard Operations and Customer Service. Additionally, I was the project manager for software implementation at the Pier 400 cargo terminal in the Port of Los Angeles.
In 2003 I left the maritime industry to attend Whittier Law School. In October 2007, I was admitted to the practice of law in the state of California. I was admitted to the practice of law before the U.S. Federal Court Central District of California Dec 2009. Since being admitted I have worked in several practice areas including but not limited to Worker's Compensation, Bankruptcy, Family, Criminal, and Civil litigation. I have tried many cases both to the bench and to a jury.

Michael Tam is an associate in the Riverside office of Fernandez & Lauby. Mr. Tam graduated from University of California, San Diego in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Science. In 2008 he received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. While in law school Mr. Tam received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Professional Responsibility. Additionally, during his time in law school, Mr. Tam was a research assistant for a renowned corporate law professor and participated in the Tax Clinic for low income tax payers. He also clerked at Mayfield & Associates, a corporate transaction and business litigation firm, for almost two years. Mr. Tam's current practice includes general civil litigation, business litigation, construction defect, insurance defense and personal injury.

Scott Talkov joined Reid & Hellyer in August 2009 after serving as a Summer Law Clerk with the firm in 2008. The emphasis of his practice is in real estate and business litigation.

Scott graduated cum laude from of Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, where he sat on the Board of Editors and served as the Online Supplement Editor for the Washington University Law Review. He was also a research assistant for noted land use professor Daniel R. Mandelker and received numerous academic awards, including the Honor Scholar Award for outstanding academic achievement, CALI Award of Excellence for top academic performance in Legal Ethics and Land Use Law, and the Student Excellence Award from the American Bar Association's Section of State and Local Government.

Beginning his studies at University of California, Riverside, Scott completed his bachelor's degree as a 2004 graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara. Active in student government at both campuses, UCSB awarded Scott the University Service Award for exemplary campus leadership.

During the third year of his legal studies in 2009, Scott completed an academic research paper that was published in the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal of the American Bar Association. With more than 30,000 members, the journal is the leading national forum for attorneys in real estate and financing law.

Scott is active in numerous boards and organizations in the Riverside area, serving as a board member of the Riverside County Barristers (Young Attorneys') Association as well as a member of the Riverside County Bar Association, and the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce. Scott volunteers his time as founding Director of the Associated Students Legal Clinic at the University of California, Riverside, where he provide free advice to students with questions relating to real estate law.

Originally from the Butte County area of Northern California, Attorney Matthew Murillo has never forgotten his roots since making Southern California his home. Attorney Murillo attended high school in Northern California, where he was an active participant in various activities, including band, FFA, football and basketball â all while volunteering his time at the local community hospital.

After graduating from high school, Attorney Murillo began his undergraduate studies at the University of Redlands, located in the Inland Empireâs city of Redlands, California. After graduating with a Bachelorâs degree in Philosophy and Psychology, as well as a Minor in Communicative Disorders. While at the University of Redlands, Attorney Murillo was involved with various on-campus clubs, including the Philosophy Club, as its President, as well as the âBig Buddiesâ program, as one of its Co-Directors for approximately 2 1/2 years.

After graduating from the University of Redlands, Attorney Murillo immediately enrolled in at the University of La Verne, College of Law, to earn his Juris Doctorate degree. While attending the University of La Verne - the Inland Empireâs only ABA accredited law school â Attorney Murillo was an active participant in the College of Lawâs Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) Chapter on campus, as a member and as its President. Attorney Matthew Murillo was also an active participant in the Justice & Immigration Clinic, which offers free services to individuals in need of legal representation who are facing deportation/removal proceedings.

Mr. Murillo strongly believes that his calm, easy-going demeanor, and his ability to speak English and Spanish fluently, makes him the perfect attorney for many Southern California residents looking for legal representation. Those traits, along with the connections and ties heâs made since making the Inland Empire his home, allow him to effectively and efficiently represent his clientâs legal needs and interests.

Matthew Murillo is a member of the following organizations:

State Bar Of California, Member
Federal District Court-Central District of California, Member
Federal District Court-Southern District of California, Member
California Attorneys For Criminal Justice, Member
California DUI Lawyers Association, Member
California Public Defenders Association, Member
Riverside County Bar Association, Member
San Bernardino County Bar Association, Member

Brian Mankin is an experienced attorney who primarily represents clients in employment disputes, class action and mass tort litigation. His practice also consists of general business, personal injury and construction matters.

Brian completed his undergraduate degree from San Diego State University while serving six years as a military police officer in the California Army National Guard. He received his law degree from Whittier Law School where he was on the Dean's Honor List, and a member of all three Honors Boards - Law Review, Moot Court and Trial Advocacy - on behalf of which he competed in national competitions.

Brian originally joined Fernandez & Lauby LLP in 2004. He is admitted to practice before Federal and California courts, and is a member of local bar associations.

In his time away from the office, Brian and his wife enjoy spending time with their baby boy, house projects, and the thrill of motocross and road bike racing.

Kirk A. Lauby has a varied and comprehensive background in business management which is of particular benefit to the firm's business and business litigation clients. Mr. Lauby was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1978, and has combined his legal practice with business endeavors in the food marketing industry, oil and gas exploration, and real estate building and development.

Mr. Lauby is an experienced trial attorney with a focus on business litigation, construction defect litigation, construction injury litigation, premises liability, contractor general counsel assignments and personal injury. He has the distinction of having represented the developer defendants in what was at the time the largest construction defect jury trial held in Riverside County. Mr. Lauby has vast experience representing plaintiffs, developers, manufacturers and subcontractors in all construction trades.

His published opinion in Lopez v. C.G.M. Development, Inc. (2002) 101 CA 4th 430 is an established and often cited authority which limits liability of owners, developers and general contractors for injuries sustained by subcontractor employees.

Additionally, Mr. Lauby has had the opportunity to participate with multiple insurance carriers in their special investigation unit (SIU) automobile defense activities. He has tried and arbitrated several hundred SIU cases.

Mr. Lauby is licensed to practice in the State of California, and before the United States District Court. He is available to represent appellants in the California Appellate Court system.

He is a member of the State Bar of California, the Riverside County Bar Association, and the American Inns of Court and a former member of the American Bar Association, and the Los Angeles and Orange County Bar Associations.

Fernandez & Lauby LLP strongly supports alternative dispute resolution programs as the best means to control litigation costs and exposure. Mr. Lauby has successfully completed the mediator's training certificate from the Strauss Institute for Mediation at Pepperdine University School of Law. Mr. Lauby serves as a private mediator for construction, business litigation, real estate and personal injury disputes and is on the panel of mediators for Dispute Resolution Services. He also serves on the panel of arbitrators for the Riverside County and San Bernardino County courts.

Mr. Lauby received his Bachelor of Arts degree from U.C.L.A. in 1974 and his Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern University in 1978.

Our goal is to provide each client with the highest quality legal services and attention. We are dedicated to personally focusing on providing personalized attention to each case. While we recognize that each case is unique and may require different strategy, one common factor remainsâour commitment to aggressive and personal representation of our clients.

Our entire staff is dedicated to providing each our clients a professional, personalized, and supportive environment as we work to find the best legal solution for you.

At the Law Offices of Stella Espinoza Browne we dedicate our practice exclusively to the areas of Family and Criminal Law. We practice in courtrooms throughout San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, and Orange counties.

You do not have to face your legal issues alone. We want to help you win your case. We welcome you to call the Law Offices of Stella Espinoza Browne to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION in our office to discuss your case with an attorney.

Whether your need to protect your children, whether you need to protect your assets, or whether you need to protect your lifestyle. We can help.

For over 20 years Mr. Liebaert has been in the legal field. First as an investigator and then as an attorney. He is licensed in California and Texas. Holds an advanced degree in Energy & Environmental Law (LL.M.), and is a licensed Private Investigator.

Grant’s Law Firm, is a business oriented law firm composed of experienced attorneys delivering aggressive and innovative services in a cost-effective manner. While we offer the kind of work product, expected from a large law firm, we retain small firm efficiency and focus on personalized service to individuals, businesses and business owners throughout Orange County, Riverside County, and Los Angeles County, California.

Our business lawyers craft creative and efficient solutions to various legal problems, no matter how complex the issues may be. In doing so, we seek to build long term relationships with our clients, so that we can contribute to the overall success of their business.

Working personally with you and your business

Our lawyers practice in a variety of specialized legal areas, including:

Business Law: (sometimes known as Commercial Law) is the body of law that governs business, corporate law, and commercial transactions. We provide practical legal advice in negotiating and documenting business transactions and agreements for individuals, business owners and entrepreneurs.

Business Formation: We assist clients in selecting the appropriate organizational form for their new business endeavor, and document the selection by formalizing it with the appropriate State entity, whether it’s a corporation, a limited liability company (LLC), or a partnership.
We also help those clients acquire the appropriate business licenses, permits, and tax registrations so they can conduct business.

Employment Law: Helping business owners and start-ups with their day-to-day employment related issues, resolving employment disputes, and drafting clear and concise executive and key employee contracts, handbooks, policies, confidentiality agreement, and invention assignment agreements.

Entertainment: We advise on, draft and negotiate contracts for music recording, music and book publishing, and movie and television production packaging deals.

Franchise Law: We represent companies on a regional and national level, from first-time franchisors to multi-unit systems. Our law firm provides comprehensive services from development, operation and expansion to termination, non-renewals and contractual disputes.

Intellectual Property (IP) Law: We assure client ideas, whether protected by patents, trademarks, domain names, copyrights, trade secrets, and/or trade dress, are up to date and current to continuously guard against any infringement and counterfeiting.

Patent: We represent clients in the prosecution and protection of utility and design patents. We will research prior art, prepare all filings, respond to requests and office actions from the Patent Office, and handle all appeals. We also handle all litigation to enforce or defend patents.

Trademark: We assist in the selection of trademarks, conduct trademark clearance searches, prosecute trademark applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), maintain and monitor our clients’ trademark registrations and litigate trademark infringement and related actions.

Trade Dress: Refers to the packaging, bottling or labeling of a product, which focuses on the appearance of a manufactured item. We can help register the Trade dress of your product, in a process that is similar to trademark registration.

Trade Secret: Guard the intensive work you have invested while developing your business know-how, customer lists, market intelligence and business plans over the years. We can help you protect those secrets.

Copyright: Protects your creative work by properly registering copyrights for your websites, writings, marketing materials, music or developed software. These represent your competitive advantage in the market place. We will protect your rights against those who violate your copyright.

Domain Names: We advise and represent clients in connection with their use of IP on the Internet — authorized or otherwise — blogging, social networking, web compliance, privacy statements, terms of use, disclaimers, and the application of the doctrine of fair use.

International Protection: In a global economy based upon instantaneous communication, securing intellectual property protection worldwide has never been more important. We offer assistance to our clients in pursuing all forms of intellectual property protection in foreign countries and especially in neighboring countries such as Canada and Mexico. We coordinate with foreign specialty firms practicing before foreign tribunals and agencies, to secure, defend and exploit our client’s IP rights, worldwide.

International Clients: We offer assistance to our foreign associates and foreign attorneys who seek protection for their International Clients U.S. Patents and International Client U.S. Trademarks. Our office serves as a US associate for foreign law firms seeking to file patents and/or trademark in the United States. We coordinate with those foreign attorneys to ensure all of their intellectual property needs are met for our foreign clients.

Licensing: Our intellectual property attorneys have vast experience crafting licensing agreements that protect businesses intellectual property while optimizing revenue. We have drafted and negotiated numerous franchise licenses, patent licenses, and trademark licenses.

Contract Negotiation, Development and Litigation: Our attorneys have the experience to review and advise you on any negotiable instruments including all types of contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding and letters of intent related to intellectual property and technology. We can help you develop contractual agreements that protect you and your business. If you find your business in conflict, our contract litigation attorneys are experienced in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and civil procedures, including pre-litigation analysis and investigation.

Civil Litigation: Our litigation attorneys are equipped to litigate in California and federal courts regarding business, commercial, employment, and intellectual property disputes involving trade secret theft, confidentiality violations, IP counterfeiting, non-compete agreements, trademark and unfair competition litigation, patent litigation, copyright litigation, and litigation matters.

At Grant’s Law Firm, we value the relationships we have created with our clients in handling their various legal issues. Contact an Orange County, Riverside County, or Los Angeles County attorney for an initial consultation.

I have been practicing law for two years. My practice has always focused on Civil Litigation, which I have now expanded to Probate, Business Transactions and Estate Planning. I am excited to learn new areas of law, new cases and meeting new clients.

Tracy Owens is an Associate in the Gresham Savage Real Estate & Land Use Practice Group. Ms. Owens assists clients with all aspects of commercial, industrial and residential development, including land use applications, zone changes, subdivisions, common interest developments, environmental compliance issues, and governmental approvals of projects. Ms. Owens has experience with projects affecting sensitive or endangered species, wetlands and cultural resources, and assists businesses and developers in complying with air and water quality regulation, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Ms. Owens is also experienced in title analysis and resolution of title problems, as well as other transactions related to the purchase and sale of real property.

Ms. Owens is one of only 50 attorneys in California who is fully accredited through the Green Building Certification Institute as a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP). The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. State and local governments across the country are adopting LEED for public-owned and public-funded buildings, as well as offering incentives for privately-owned projects that achieve LEED certification. As a LEED AP, Ms. Owens has the knowledge and skill to successfully navigate clients through the LEED certification process, as well as the complex issues that can arise in any commercial or residential green building project. Ms. Owens combines this unique knowledge with her skill as an attorney to identify and resolve permitting, insurance, taxation and professional liability issues, ensure careful drafting of green building project agreements and resolve disputes.

I HAVE BEEN IN PRACTICE FOR OVER 30 YEARS. I PRIDE MYSELF IN TELLING CLIENTS THE TRUTH & GIVING THEM AN HONEST APPRAISAL OF THEIR CASE. I MAINTAIN AN EXCELLENT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OF THE JUDGES & DISTRICT ATTORNEYS @ THE COURTS I SERVICE. EXPERIENCE... KNOWLEDGE... & A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COURTS = THE BEST RESOLUTION OF YOUR CASE POSSIBLE !