Best Lawyers Near You in Mission Viejo, California
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Practice Areas
Christi Forsline is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law and Litigation - Environmental. Christi, who practices law in Mission Viejo, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christi is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Stephanie H. Ng is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Environmental. Stephanie H., who practices law in Mission Viejo, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephanie H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Steve Edwards is a partner in Manatt's Orange County office. Steve has a broad background in real estate and real estate law, including in-house experience in the real estate industry, and serving as co-chair of the real estate practice for an international law firm. He has been active in virtually all aspects of the acquisition, sale, exchange, financing, ground leasing, leasing, and development of improved and unimproved real estate for both individual and institutional clients. His practic...
William N. Lobel specializes in chapter 11 reorganizations and out-of-court restructurings. He is certified by the state bars of California and Florida and has more than forty-five years of experience as one of the nation’s leading bankruptcy lawyers. He represents clients in the real estate industry, including home builders, commercial real estate developers, and subprime lenders. He has also successfully applied his legal expertise in representation of gaming casinos and restaurant ch...
Peter J. Woo is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Peter J., who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Peter J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michael G. Balmages, Esq. is an accomplished mediator and discovery referee with extensive experience as a trial lawyer, general counsel, and transactional lawyer. As a mediator and as a neutral, he has had great success in helping litigants resolve their disputes in more than 1,500 cases. His friendly nature and ability to find common ground both contribute to his easy rapport with litigants and their attorneys, while his determination to get cases settled is evident at each hearing. He is c...
Mr. Gazin graduated from San Jose State University with honors in 1971, earning a BA degree in Political Science. He attended the University of Santa Clara School of Law where he earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 1974. Mr. Gazin was admitted to the California State Bar in 1974, when he commenced his practice in Orange County. In Mr. Gazin’s early years of practice, he handled a broad spectrum of cases ranging from criminal defense, personal injury, business litigation and family law. Comme...
Saul Gelbart is a Diplomate in the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, a Certified Family Law Specialist and a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, having served its Southern California Chapter in many official capacities including President. Mr. Gelbart is also a Fellow in the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a Founding Fellow in the Orange County Bar Association's Society of Fellows, and a member of the Orange County Bar Association. Among his distinctio...
Steve Nichols has over 30 years of experience as a construction and commercial law and litigation specialist, and is co-chair of Rutan’s Construction Law Group. He represents prime and specialty contractors, manufacturers and suppliers, institutional and private owners, developers, builders, design professionals, lenders, insurers, distributors, and others in business and construction law matters. Steve has assisted clients in negotiating and drafting a wide array of construction and co...
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...
Katherine Bell is a partner in the Paul Hastings Global Finance practice. Ms. Bell is based in the firm’s Orange County office. Ms. Bell focuses her practice on commercial and corporate finance transactions. She regularly represents banks, investment banks, finance companies, private debt lenders, other lenders, and borrowers in working capital facilities (cash flow and asset-based), acquisition financings, structured financings, and restructurings and recapitalizations—both cross...
John Benedict Phillips—known as Ben Phillips for all his life—received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis, and his Juris Doctor degree from Chapman University School of Law. Mr. Phillips is a Certified Family Law Specialist by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, and rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale Hubbell—the highest rating attainable for legal ability and professional ethics. Mr. Phillips practices exclusively fam...
Michael A. Gregg is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Michael A., who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Defining the Automotive Liability Industry Since 1995 Jonathan Michaels has been in practice since 1995, and during that time has created an exemplary law firm. By challenging some of the largest companies in the world, Michaels has gained national recognition as the “go to” attorney for high stakes litigation, when everything is on the line. Michaels has developed a unique practice in the automotive industry, where he has litigated cases against nearly every major automotive manu...