Indexed from official State Bar of California records · Identity verification · Updated regularly

The RegistryPractice Area · Statewide

Find Construction Lawyers in California

Counsel for the build: defects, liens, delays, and contractor disputes. This is the statewide record for construction in California: every attorney on the State Bar of California's official roll whose published practice reaches this area, shown in neutral directory order.

Californians search this field under many names · construction attorney, construction lawyer, construction defect lawyer, construction defect attorney, mechanics lien attorney · and the registry answers all of them from the same source. Below: the governing deadline with its citation, what to weigh as you read the record, the questions Californians ask with the code sections that answer them, and construction coverage county by county, from Del Norte to San Diego.

The clock & the craft

Statute of limitations

Mechanics liens: record within 90 days of completion (60/30 days after a notice of completion).

Cal. Civ. Code § 8412

Suit to foreclose the lien must follow within 90 days of recording (Cal. Civ. Code § 8460). Defect claims run four years for patent defects (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337.1) and ten for latent (§ 337.15).

Reading the roster

Construction disputes reward attorneys fluent in the deadline lattice (preliminary notices, lien and foreclosure windows, Right to Repair pre-litigation steps), so ask early counsel to calendar every date. Owners should ask about defect-claim strategy and expert costs; contractors and subs about lien and stop-notice practice and CSLB exposure. Many construction contracts compel arbitration, and prevailing-party fee clauses are common enough to change settlement math on both sides.

Construction · statewide roster

4,961 attorneys on the official State Bar of California roll list construction among their practice areas, with an address of record in 48 of California's 58 counties.

4,826 of them hold an active licence; the remainder are recorded as inactive and are not currently eligible to practise.

The largest county rosters are Los Angeles (1,332), Orange (826), San Diego (629), San Francisco (387) and Contra Costa (241).

23 hold a State Bar Certified Legal Specialist designation, a certification issued by the State Bar's Board of Legal Specialization, and not a rating or a ranking.

For 207, the registry records a language other than English, almost always from a firm website published in that language; that describes the website, not an attorney's own ability.

Nicholas J. Brooks

Construction · San Diego · San Diego County

Bar #349771 · Admitted 2023

Speaks Spanish, Portuguese · Taking new clients (attorney stated)

Identity verified · View the record →

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Construction matters in California

The matters this field covers, as Californians search for them. Each attorney's own profile states which of these they take.

  • construction defects
  • mechanics liens and stop notices
  • contractor payment disputes
  • unlicensed contractor claims
  • delay and change order disputes
  • home improvement contract disputes
  • construction site injuries
  • CSLB licensing complaints
  • subcontractor disputes
  • bond claims

Construction questions, cited

How do mechanics lien deadlines work in California?

Most subcontractors and suppliers must serve a 20-day preliminary notice to preserve lien rights (Cal. Civ. Code § 8204). Liens must then be recorded within 90 days of project completion, shortened to 60 days for direct contractors and 30 for others when a notice of completion is recorded (Civ. Code §§ 8412, 8414). A foreclosure suit must follow within 90 days of recording (§ 8460), or the lien expires.

How long do I have to sue for construction defects in California?

Four years for patent (obvious) defects (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337.1) and ten years for latent defects (§ 337.15), both running from substantial completion. New residential construction sold after 2003 runs through the Right to Repair Act (Cal. Civ. Code § 895 et seq.), which sets building standards and requires a pre-litigation notice-and-repair process (§ 910) before most defect suits.

Can an unlicensed contractor sue me for payment in California?

No: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7031(a) bars anyone required to be licensed from suing to collect compensation for unlicensed work, regardless of the work's quality. More strikingly, § 7031(b) lets the customer sue to disgorge all compensation already paid to an unlicensed contractor. Licensing status is verifiable through the Contractors State License Board.

What should be in a California home improvement contract?

Home improvement contracts over $500 must be in writing and include statutory content: a described scope, total price, approximate start and completion dates, and required notices (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159). Down payments are capped at $1,000 or 10% of the price, whichever is less (§ 7159.5). Violations are disciplinary offenses and can be misdemeanors, and they shape later disputes.

What is a stop payment notice?

A remedy that intercepts construction funds rather than the property: a subcontractor or supplier serves the owner (or construction lender) with a stop payment notice, obligating them to withhold the claimed amount from the contractor (Cal. Civ. Code § 8502 et seq.). On public works (where mechanics liens are unavailable) stop payment notices and payment bond claims (Civ. Code § 9100 et seq.) are the principal collection tools.

Legal information, not legal advice.

From the registry's blog

Construction Lawyer in California: What the Law CoversWhat California construction law actually says about contracts, licensing, liens, and deadlines, plus how to confirm a lawyer is licensed.Construction Attorney in California: What Law AppliesLearn what California construction law covers, from mechanics liens to defect deadlines, and how to verify who is licensed to handle it.

From the answer files

What are the mechanics lien deadlines in California?Cal. Civ. Code § 8412Can an unlicensed contractor collect payment in California?Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7031How much does a construction attorney cost in California?Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 6148How does a construction defect claim work in California?Cal. Civ. Code § 910What can I do if my contractor abandoned the job in California?Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7107When does a contractor have to be paid in California?Cal. Civ. Code § 8800Can I recover from a contractor's license bond in California?Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7071.6Does California's Right to Repair Act apply to remodels?Cal. Civ. Code § 938Why did I get a 20-day preliminary notice in California?Cal. Civ. Code § 8200How do I evaluate a construction attorney in California?Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 6125; State Bar of California

Construction in all 58 counties

Construction in Los Angeles CountySeat: Los AngelesConstruction in San Diego CountySeat: San DiegoConstruction in San Francisco CountySeat: San FranciscoConstruction in Alameda CountySeat: OaklandConstruction in Santa Clara CountySeat: San JoseConstruction in Sonoma CountySeat: Santa RosaConstruction in Humboldt CountySeat: EurekaConstruction in Shasta CountySeat: ReddingConstruction in Sacramento CountySeat: SacramentoConstruction in Yolo CountySeat: WoodlandConstruction in Monterey CountySeat: SalinasConstruction in Santa Barbara CountySeat: Santa BarbaraConstruction in Fresno CountySeat: FresnoConstruction in Kern CountySeat: BakersfieldConstruction in El Dorado CountySeat: PlacervilleConstruction in Riverside CountySeat: RiversideConstruction in San Bernardino CountySeat: San BernardinoConstruction in Orange CountySeat: Santa AnaConstruction in San Joaquin CountySeat: StocktonConstruction in Stanislaus CountySeat: ModestoConstruction in Ventura CountySeat: VenturaConstruction in Tulare CountySeat: VisaliaConstruction in San Luis Obispo CountySeat: San Luis ObispoConstruction in Alpine CountySeat: MarkleevilleConstruction in Amador CountySeat: JacksonConstruction in Butte CountySeat: OrovilleConstruction in Calaveras CountySeat: San AndreasConstruction in Colusa CountySeat: ColusaConstruction in Contra Costa CountySeat: MartinezConstruction in Del Norte CountySeat: Crescent CityConstruction in Glenn CountySeat: WillowsConstruction in Imperial CountySeat: El CentroConstruction in Inyo CountySeat: IndependenceConstruction in Kings CountySeat: HanfordConstruction in Lake CountySeat: LakeportConstruction in Lassen CountySeat: SusanvilleConstruction in Madera CountySeat: MaderaConstruction in Marin CountySeat: San RafaelConstruction in Mariposa CountySeat: MariposaConstruction in Mendocino CountySeat: UkiahConstruction in Merced CountySeat: MercedConstruction in Modoc CountySeat: AlturasConstruction in Mono CountySeat: BridgeportConstruction in Napa CountySeat: NapaConstruction in Nevada CountySeat: Nevada CityConstruction in Placer CountySeat: AuburnConstruction in Plumas CountySeat: QuincyConstruction in San Benito CountySeat: HollisterConstruction in San Mateo CountySeat: Redwood CityConstruction in Santa Cruz CountySeat: Santa CruzConstruction in Sierra CountySeat: DownievilleConstruction in Siskiyou CountySeat: YrekaConstruction in Solano CountySeat: FairfieldConstruction in Sutter CountySeat: Yuba CityConstruction in Tehama CountySeat: Red BluffConstruction in Trinity CountySeat: WeavervilleConstruction in Tuolumne CountySeat: SonoraConstruction in Yuba CountySeat: Marysville

Construction by city

Construction in Los AngelesLos Angeles County · Los AngelesConstruction in Long BeachLos Angeles County · Los AngelesConstruction in PasadenaLos Angeles County · Los AngelesConstruction in Santa MonicaLos Angeles County · Los AngelesConstruction in San DiegoSan Diego County · San DiegoConstruction in Chula VistaSan Diego County · San DiegoConstruction in San FranciscoSan Francisco County · Bay AreaConstruction in OaklandAlameda County · Bay AreaConstruction in San JoseSanta Clara County · Bay AreaConstruction in Santa RosaSonoma County · North CoastConstruction in EurekaHumboldt County · North CoastConstruction in ReddingShasta County · Shasta CascadeConstruction in SacramentoSacramento County · Sacramento ValleyConstruction in DavisYolo County · Sacramento ValleyConstruction in FolsomSacramento County · Sacramento ValleyConstruction in SalinasMonterey County · Central CoastConstruction in Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara County · Central CoastConstruction in FresnoFresno County · San Joaquin ValleyConstruction in BakersfieldKern County · San Joaquin ValleyConstruction in South Lake TahoeEl Dorado County · SierraConstruction in RiversideRiverside County · Inland EmpireConstruction in San BernardinoSan Bernardino County · Inland EmpireConstruction in IrvineOrange County · Orange CountyConstruction in AnaheimOrange County · Orange CountyConstruction in Santa AnaOrange County · Orange CountyConstruction in Palm SpringsRiverside County · DesertConstruction in StocktonSan Joaquin County · San Joaquin ValleyConstruction in ModestoStanislaus County · San Joaquin ValleyConstruction in OxnardVentura County · Central CoastConstruction in FremontAlameda County · Bay AreaConstruction in VisaliaTulare County · San Joaquin ValleyConstruction in San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo County · Central Coast

Adjacent shelves of the law

Real EstateCal. Code Civ. Proc. § 338(b)Business LawCal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337InsuranceCal. Ins. Code § 2071

Full Construction rosters, by surname

Abrams – Zovickian · Alameda County182 attorneysAcevedo – Young · Contra Costa County232 attorneysAbbasi – Cochran · Los Angeles County218 attorneysCoddington – Groza · Los Angeles County218 attorneysGubbins – Lau · Los Angeles County217 attorneysLauderdale – Ortega · Los Angeles County220 attorneysOrtmann – Sherman · Los Angeles County217 attorneysShin – Zwierlein · Los Angeles County226 attorneysAbghari – Fleming · Orange County205 attorneysFlood – Lee · Orange County207 attorneysLeimkuhler – Rodriguez · Orange County205 attorneysRogers – Zuetel · Orange County197 attorneysAbbott – Zavaleta · Riverside County106 attorneysAguilar – Yates · Sacramento County232 attorneysAdams – Gleiberman · San Diego County202 attorneysGoldschlag – Olson · San Diego County203 attorneysOmohundro – Zucker · San Diego County206 attorneysAdams – Lenett · San Francisco County188 attorneysLevin – Zwang · San Francisco County186 attorneysAcoba – Zink · Santa Clara County161 attorneys

If cost is the concern

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Free and low-cost help in California

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279,000+ attorney records · 58 counties · Official State Bar records