About

Our firm strives to give PERSONAL attention to each and every client’s specific needs. We have decades of EXPERIENCE in attending to a wide variety of matters and are COMMITTED to providing the client with COST EFFECTIVE professional services to achieve the best possible result.

John Speciale

John Speciale earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1972, and a Juris Doctor degree in 1977 from Whittier College, School of Law. He was admitted to the California Bar in December 1977 and has practiced law continuously since that date. Mr. Speciale immediately began his legal career, representing clients in a variety of civil matters, including personal injury, real estate and business litigation, probate litigation, and marriage dissolution. Since “Speciale & Burton” began their joint practice in 1984, Mr. Speciale has concentrated his practice in the area of family law, primarily litigating community and separate property issues, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, and other family law related issues. His focus now is marital dissolution mediation, offering these services to those couples striving to avoid the high financial and emotional cost of litigation. His practice also includes preparation of Premarital, and other Marital Agreements. When not practicing law, Mr. Speciale travels with his wife, vacationing inside and outside of California, and visiting their 7 grandchildren.

Steve Burton

Steve Burton was born and raised in Los Angeles and has lived here his entire life. He graduated from UCLA in 1976 with a B.S. in Economics. He then attended Southwestern University School of Law, receiving his law degree in May 1980, and then was admitted to the California Bar in December 1980. After working as an associate in the law firm of Lang & Suttle for three years, he and John Speciale began their own practice in January 1984 and have been partners ever since. Mr. Burton’s practice focuses primarily in the area of business, real estate, construction and commercial matters, both litigation and transactional. His clients vary widely, but mostly are small to medium size businesses that require a general outside counsel with a strong background in litigation as well as catering to the client’s transactional needs. Mr. Burton’s clients have included real estate developers, contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, design professionals, real estate brokers and agents, private lenders, escrow companies, aeronautic engineering and design firm, film and video production companies, pension plan administration firms, industrial design firms, scrap metal companies, graphic arts companies, advertising and marketing firms, distributors, channel marketing companies, film and television writers and producers, daycare and assisted living facilities, accountants, attorneys, physicians and professional bicycle racing teams. Mr. Burton has wide litigation experience in real estate, business, construction cases, in Federal, State and bankruptcy courts. This litigation experience extends to:

Business and Commercial Litigation

Unfair Competition

Misappropriation of Trade Secrets

UCC

Purchase/Sale of Businesses

Fraudulent Transactions

Fraudulent Conveyances

Accountant Malpractice cases

Shareholder/Partner/LLC Member Disputes

Employment Disputes

Investor Suits

Distributorships

 

Construction and Real Estate Litigation

Construction Defect, Breach of Contract & Negligence

Mechanic’s Liens, Stop Notices, Bonds

Commercial Lease

Quiet Title

Fraudulent Conveyances

Buyer/Seller Disputes

Trust Deeds/Receivership

Easements and Encroachments

Breach of Fiduciary Duty and Fraud

Trust/Accounting Matters

Interpleader

Real Estate Transactions

Sale & Purchase of Commercial and

Residential Real Estate

Commercial and Residential Leases

Loan Agreements and Documentation

Easements

Construction Contracts

General Contractors & Subcontractors

Design Professionals

Commercial & Residential Projects

Development Agreements

Business

Business Sales/Stock & Asset

Financing

Employment Agreements

Independent Contractor Agreements

Non-compete Agreements/NDA’s

Consulting Agreements

Entity Formation & Operation

Corporations, LLC’s, Partnerships & Limited

Partnerships

Operating Agreements, Shareholder

Agreements, Partnership Agreements

Buy-Sell Agreements

Corporate Governance