In my experience, as an HOA Member, you have to take what this attorney says with a grain of salt -…read moreunless he actually cites any legal authority. He represents the HOA Board, not the members, which he told one of our members who called about his Cease and Desist letter to another member (me) to take down a private Facebook group page for neighbors. (Note: the client is supposed to be the HOA itself, as an entity, per California State Bar in Rule 3-600(A) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.) During an HOA meeting, Tracy instructed me to shut down a live-stream of the meeting when 5 members were watching it via a private Facebook group live stream. (the HOA's live stream didn't work) When I asked him to cite his legal basis, he replied "turn off your phone or leave the meeting." Tracy actually claimed I had the burden to prove that I had a right to record the meeting. However, our HOA has no Rules about recording meetings and California law deems private membership meetings as public forums for the limited purpose of free speech by the membership. (Damon v. Ocean Hills.) So recording is permissible at my HOA meetings, which anyone who can read the L.A. Times can understand. (See article titled Feel free to hit the 'record' button at board meetings) During our meeting, Tracy said nothing while a board member responded to a member's concerns by repeatedly demanding that they state their badge number, insinuating that he wasn't really a law enforcement officer. This was apparently to discredit the member, who had submitted an application to be on the ballot for the Board of Directors and advocated for people to vote "no" to the CC&R amendments. Does Tracy think that directors are meeting their fiduciary duties to members when they respond to legitimate concerns with personal attacks? Tracy also didn't correct the board's misrepresentations regarding the legal effects of their proposed changes. Many members voiced their concerns and eventually Tracy admitted that many of the changes significantly limited our property rights. But this was AFTER members had already begun voting. Even though voting is ongoing and the board extended the vote for 90 days, some members believe that this document is simply a draft. Tracy certainly implied that was the case. Many people also believed Tracy when he said we need to update our CC&Rs because they are old. There was nothing stated as to any changes that required an update and he ignored the fact that they were updated in 1995, with an amendment. People naively believed Tracy, apparently because they thought he represented them. A board member asked Tracy if they had to disclose their membership list if a member requests it. Tracy answered in a way that left the board feeling they could refuse, which they did. This is a breach of the board's fiduciary duties to the members and California law provides for $500 penalties for such blatantly illegal acts, plus attorney fees. California's "Office of the Attorney General has limited, discretionary authority to intervene on behalf of homeowners who are denied certain prescribed rights provided by the California Corporations Code" including Corp. Code, Section 8330(2), "Failure to send member list of names and addresses of members upon written request." See https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/homeowner_assnfor a list of laws the AG will enforce when HOAs behave improperly. Tracy added many changes that will significantly increase litigation and even added a provision that the board is advanced attorney fees for this. Basically, Tracy created documents that will enrich lawyers, take away members' freedoms in their homes (which currently are not governed by our CC&Rs), and cause more conflict in our HOA. All of this will likely reduce our property values, as no one wants to live in an overbearing HOA. At this point, I doubt this attorney has enough credibility with our members to persuade anywhere close to 75% to make any changes. He did succeed in creating interest in the HOA and removing some of the directors.

Mr. Ettinghoff helped me successfully resolve a dispute that I had with my neighboring homeowners…read moreassociation. He is knowledgeable, responsive, and dependable. I highly recommend him.

We were referred to Anthony regarding a real estate transaction. He was very professional in…read morescheduling our meetings and walking through the steps to completion. In addition, he followed up with many of the items that we did not think to be related. His prices are fair and great value for the services rendered. Hope you get the opportunity to work with Anthony!

Attorney Anthony Dispoto is by far one of the best attorneys I've ever worked with. I've personally…read moreused Anthony on numerous commercial real estate transactions and every time he has been extremely detailed, responsive and really knows exactly what he is doing. What also helps a lot is that Anthony is also a California licensed real estate broker, so he understands both sides of the transaction. The legal side and the real estate side. That alone makes a huge difference when you're dealing with important commercial deals. Besides real estate, he has also helped me with other matters, including reviewing contracts for both my business and personal needs. He has guided me through different situations with a lot of knowledge and patience. Another thing I really appreciate is that he is extremely reasonable with his rates. For the level of service, experience and attention he gives, it is very fair. He is also always available by phone and extremely responsive, which is hard to find these days. I feel very fortunate to have Anthony on my side. I really can't speak enough about him. Anyone who uses his services will not regret it. Highly recommend.

Very straight forward phone call regarding legal issues. Explained it thoroughly and gave me great…read moreadvice. Thank you.

It was great to have Katie help me plan my estate. She made things easy to understand and was there…read moreto answer any questions via phone, text, or email. She is extremely friendly and thoughtful. Meeting at her office was a bit of a drive for me, so she saved me and extra trip by handling copies, prints, and instructions while I was there. I would definitely recommend Katie!

I worked with Catalina for a one-hour consultation involving a seller non-disclosure and…read moremisrepresentation situation. She reviewed my purchase contract, disclosures thoroughly, caught what mattered, and gave me honest, no-BS clarity on my next steps. From the moment we started, she skipped the fluff and got straight to work. Every minute counted and none of it was wasted. She spotted that my SPQ and TDS were not up to date after disclosures were added later, and made sure I knew to be BCC'd on all communications going forward. These are exactly the kinds of things you don't know to look for until it's too late. Her background as both an attorney and a real estate agent gives her perspective that most attorneys simply don't have. But what struck me most is that she is a true advocate for you. I walked away feeling informed, confident, and truly protected. If you need someone detail-oriented, straight to the point, and genuinely in your corner, I highly recommend her.

I consulted with Catalina regarding a real estate law matter, and I am so glad that I did. She…read moreimmediately guided me in the right direction, and it was truly one of the best time I've ever spent with an attorney. She is very focused, asking the right questions, and has access to real estate information because of her secondary background as an agent. I appreciate her honest opinion and highly recommend her to anyone navigating complex real estate needs or disputes.

Working with James was a pleasure. We were fish out of water trying to execute a will and have…read morenever done this before. He was very helpful very quick in getting us the paperwork we needed to satisfy the bank. It was a little bit of a rough start with him and we all thought that one another was being rude when we all took time to explain what was going on for us as individuals everybody was able to take a deep breath calm down and he gave us fantastic customer service.

Quick efficient, thorough, professional, and very warm and kind. It was a good experience.read more

I highly recommend Michael. He was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and responsive throughout…read morethe entire process. He always took the time to answer our questions clearly and thoroughly, and we never felt rushed or unsure about the next steps. Michael provided thoughtful guidance and excellent recommendations that helped us make informed decisions with confidence. His attention to detail, communication, and willingness to be available whenever questions came up made the experience much easier and less stressful. We truly appreciated his support and professionalism and would not hesitate to work with him again or recommend him to others.

Let me start by saying, when I leave a review for a business, it must mean that I was thoroughly…read moreimpressed by their services. I can't say enough good things about Coast Counsel. I came to them with a breach of contract issue and was honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed. Initial contact from Coast Counsel was very fast. I spoke with Michael who offered a free phone consultation and he put me at ease. He really knew the ins and outs of the situation and explained everything in a way that made sense, which took a huge weight off my shoulders. His phone etiquette was stellar and i felt valued and understood. What I appreciated most was how fair and accommodating Michael was when it came to pricing. It never felt like it was just about money--Michael genuinely cared about helping me resolve my issue; he did some additional research in relation to my issue which I thought was amazing of him to do! Communication was also excellent. Anytime I had a question or concern, Michael was quick to respond and always kept me in the loop so I never felt left in the dark. Thanks to Michael's guidance, I feel as if I was led to the best possible solution for what I came to him for. I'm so grateful I found Coast Counsel and Michael, and would recommend them to anyone looking for an attorney who is not only knowledgeable but also compassionate and easy to work with.

Despite not being the right fit, Kitty made sure I still felt like part of the family. A true…read moreprofessional and genuinely kind and compassionate throughout an unexpectedly enjoyable conversation. If speaking with Kitty is the worst case scenario when calling this firm, I'd be looking forward to the worst each day

LS CARLSON LAW PC was recommended to me by another attorney. After researching them, I found their…read morewebsite showed experience in contractor disputes, breach of contract, fraud, misrepresentation, performance issues, illegal mechanic liens, poor workmanship, property damage, and building code violations. This assured me they had the expertise for my case. For months, I worked with the intake coordinator, who advised me to collect all evidence--including documents, photos, emails, texts, invoices, change orders, and inspection reports--before meeting LS CARLSON LAW PC. I followed her advice and gathered everything needed. At the end of April, I delivered a 2-inch and a 3-inch binder to LS CARLSON LAW PC, both organized with a table of contents. The binders contained evidence regarding two General Contractors who broke multiple business, ethical, and Contractor's laws. In mid-May, I had a free consultation with a managing partner at LS CARLSON LAW PC. He advised me to file complaints with the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) for each contractor to strengthen my case and noted litigation could cost at least $150,000. I clarified that I preferred a reasonable resolution without litigation, and he assured me he'd remain involved. A week after the consultation, I signed the retention documents. LS CARLSON LAW PC confirmed receipt by email and said the next step was paying the retainer. In early June, I paid a retainer to LS CARLSON LAW PC to start my case. The following day, I received emails introducing two attorneys and their paralegals. However, the managing partner who promised to stay involved was not included, making me feel misled by his unexpected absence. By mid-June, I notified the attorneys by email that I had CSLB case numbers for complaints filed against the General Contractors. To assist LS CARLSON LAW PC further and explore additional solutions, I contacted both contractors' bonding companies to learn their claim procedures. My goal was to find out the necessary documentation and steps for filing a bond claim, ensuring I was prepared to pursue all remedies if needed. LS CARLSON LAW PC sent me an invoice after the emails, explaining their billing: invoices are issued bi-weekly, due in three business days. If paid by credit card, future payments will be processed automatically unless the client asks for a different method. The firm's invoice totaled $2,319. This amount included a one-time file initiation fee--essentially an extra charge--and 4.2 hours of professional work related to my case. Although the bill listed specific charges and descriptions, all it mentioned was preparing an email to the client, starting a draft, and working on litigation analysis. By month's end, I had not heard from LS CARLSON LAW PC. Unlike my previous experiences with attorneys, their lack of communication made me feel my case was not a priority. After reviewing the retention documents, I learned that if LS CARLSON LAW PC didn't settle my case within 120 days or before trial, another retainer between $25,000 and $75,000 would be required. With 51 days passed and no communication or progress, I was concerned about facing high additional fees with no updates from my legal team. I discovered a clause that entitled the referring attorney to 12.5% of all payments I made to LS CARLSON LAW PC. Combined with warnings about litigation costs exceeding $100,000 and poor communication from my legal team, I was concerned about the financial and emotional impact. After preparing all evidence myself and receiving little response, I chose to end my relationship with LS CARLSON LAW PC to avoid further expense and frustration. LS CARLSONS LAW PC, managing partner responded to my email: "I'm sorry that you feel like you were subject to a bait and switch, but that is not the case. Given my availability and workload, we assigned your matter to another partner. She has been working with another top associate....... If you are still interested in working with our firm, I can take this matter over." I questioned the managing partner's commitment when he initially delegated my case due to being busy, but later offered to handle it personally after I considered ending LS CARLSON LAW PC's services. This abrupt shift seemed insincere and inconsistent. LS CARLSON LAW PC refunded my retainer and gave me a thumb drive with all my case documents when I picked them up. I found that the thumb drive contained case materials dated nine days after my relationship with the firm ended. The attorneys completed significant work only after they were terminated and kept requesting more information, even though I had already provided everything in organized binders. Repeated requests for documents I had already submitted revealed issues with the firm's clarity and transparency. The lack of clear and consistent communication made me wish for greater honesty and openness from the legal team. And I might have had a better outcome for my case.