Best Lawyers Near You in Laguna Beach, California
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Judi Curtin was born in New York City, New York in 1951, and has been an Orange County resident since 1979, following her graduation from law school and admission to the California Bar Association in 1978. She is married and has three children (Jessica is a lawyer, Jordan is a clinical social worker, Jillian is a second-year student at NYU and has her black belt in Shaolin Kempo). Judi is a Certified Family Law Specialist, admitted to the US Supreme Court, and has been rated AV by Martindale ...
Michele L. Maryott is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Michele L. practices law in Irvine, California Best Lawyers has recognized Michele L. Maryott since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Michele L. Maryott is held by other lawyers.
Richard Bridgford is a successful trial attorney with over 36 years of experience who has obtained multiple 7 and 8-figure financial awards for his clients in jury trials, judge trials, arbitrations, mediations, appeals and settlements. Mr. Bridgford presently acts as plaintiff’s counsel in the following serious personal injury/wrongful death/mass tort and class action litigation: Recent Representative Cases 2022 Laguna Niguel Coastal Wildfire vs. SCE. Represents the majority of homeown...
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 c...
Javier H. van Oordt is a principal at Callahan and Blaine who counsels and represents diverse clients in complex and high value business litigation. He has significant trial and arbitration experience in contract, business fraud, employment, products liability, property, class action and personal injury litigation. He successfully managed international discovery efforts in business litigation involving large multi-national defendants and has taken depositions throughout the world. He is also ...
John Hueston has been described by Chambers USA, which ranked him in Band 1 nationally, as “the best trial lawyer of his generation” with “a commanding reputation for trial advocacy.” He has been recognized twice as a “California Lawyer of the Year” by California Lawyer magazine, twice as “California Trial Lawyer of the Year” by Benchmark Litigation, and among the “Top Lawyers of the Decade” by the Daily Journal. Mr. Hueston won &ldq...
Erika Mayshar advises hospitals and health systems, private foundations, and other tax-exempt organizations facing complex legal and tax issues. She works closely with nonprofit leaders and philanthropists to accomplish major corporate and charitable transactions, engage in sophisticated tax planning, and maximize philanthropic impact. She also advises private equity firms, investment management firms, and closely held companies engaging in innovative business relationships with the nonprofit...
Michael Zweiback has significant experience in matters involving the theft of trade secrets, intellectual property disputes, national security, technology, privacy and data security, and complex commercial litigation. Michael previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney and while in this role, served as chief of the Cyber & Intellectual Property Crimes Section and was the principal advisor to the U.S. Attorney General’s Advisory Committee on Cyber Crime. He has more than 25 years...
Jim McDonald is managing partner of the Irvine office and a partner in the Los Angeles office. He is also the firm's marketing partner and chair of the firm's Development Committee. Jim tries employment cases before juries, judges and arbitrators. His practice especially focuses on executive terminations, workplace harassment and discrimination claims, the Americans with Disabilities Act, mental health issues in the workplace, and trade secrets and unfair competition matters. Jim also advises...
Jeff Garfinkle represents secured and unsecured creditors, creditors’ committees, trustees, equity receivers, debtors, and other parties in a variety of bankruptcy, restructuring cases and collection matters, including out of court workouts. Jeff also specializes in matters pertaining to Articles 2 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code and asset sales of bankrupt and financially-troubled companies.
Helen Cayton received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (summa cum laude), and her Juris Doctor from Chapman University, Fowler School of Law. While at Chapman, Helen was on the executive board of the Federalist Society, on the Nexus Law Journal, and was a staff writer for the campus newspaper, The Courier. Helen is currently on the Chapman Law Alumni Advisory Board. Before joining Minyard Morris, Helen practiced civil litigation primarily in the mortgage...
A. Lavar Taylor has 30 years of experience in handling civil and criminal tax controversies. He handles litigation in U.S. District Court, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. Tax Court, U.S. Court of Claims, U.S. Courts of Appeal, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He also handles administrative disputes within the IRS, including audits, collection matters, criminal investigations, administrative hearings with the Office of Appeals and Collection Due Process appeals. Mr. Taylor, prior to entering private pr...
Jim D. Riddet is a criminal defense attorney with more than 50 years of experience representing clients in state and federal courts. Based in San Clemente, California, Mr. Riddet is a partner with Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP , where his practice focuses on Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar matters. He has tried more than 75 jury cases and has spent the last 35 years concentrating on federal criminal defense. Mr. Riddet represents individuals charg...
