The philosophy of my practice is simple: no matter the area of law, I’m there to find a resolution so my clients and the parties involved can get on with their business. I’m committed to doing whatever the circumstance requires to make that happen, from playing hard-ball to taking a softer approach.

Michelle is a seasoned and tenacious litigator. She brings more than 25 years of experience to a wide range of clients, from individuals and homeowners associations (HOAs) to small businesses and large corporations. She advises on diverse issues, including employment law, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights, as well as unfair competition, business torts, and general business disputes. In addition to interpreting HOA corporate governance documents, Michelle counsels associations and owners on their enforcement and litigates related matters. She has many years of experience preparing and implementing proprietary information protection plans along with drafting agreements to protect or license any company’s proprietary information.

In her litigation practice, Michelle handles high-profile or high-exposure cases in disputes from various contexts: HOAs and landlord/tenant matters, toxic torts, personal injury claims of wrongful death, traumatic brain injuries, and others. She has also handled litigation matters involving employment and intellectual property issues. As a self-professed “CC&Rs nerd,” Michelle has extensive experience diving into an HOA’s Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions and other governing documents, many of which were recorded prior to the enactment of the Davis-Stirling Act.

Based on her decades of experience in real estate and insurance litigation, Michelle is available to provide expert witness services in California matters related to HOAs and property management. She has particular experience with CC&Rs and governance issues, Davis-Stirling Act litigation, actions for declaratory relief, and defense of common interest developments such as breach of fiduciary duty, wrongful termination, discrimination, wrongful foreclosure, and Federal and State Debt Collection Practices Act violations. Michelle has handled cases and advocated on behalf of HOAs across California state, federal, appellate, and bankruptcy courts.

Committed to advocating in the client’s best interest with integrity, Michelle has resolved extremely challenging cases. Michelle knows that some of her clients (many of whom have worked with her on numerous matters) are grateful for her counsel. And despite best efforts, Michelle understands that there are those times when going to trial is necessary – and the best option for her clients. She has handled cases that settle in two days while others take years to resolve. Often, Michelle will incorporate cost-conscious approaches into her practice and uses alternative dispute resolution (ADR) forums such as mediation and arbitration when doing so would better serve her clients.

Michelle is a speaker and author in the areas of HOA governance/litigation, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights, employment, and business law. She has also taught courses in intellectual property, contracts, and civil trials and evidence for the paralegal program at Coastline Community College, and business law courses in the Business Department at Saddleback College.