Michael S. Martin

Michael S. Martin is a partner whose practice focuses primarily on construction law, construction-related disputes, and business litigation. He represents general contractors, specialty contractors, heavy equipment lessors, material suppliers, and other businesses in a wide range of matters involving contract drafting, risk management, payment disputes, and litigation.

A substantial portion of Mr. Martin’s practice is devoted to construction industry counseling and dispute resolution. He advises clients on both commercial and residential construction agreements and assists contractors, subcontractors, equipment lessors, and suppliers in protecting and enforcing their payment rights through mechanic’s liens, stop notices, payment bond claims, and related collection remedies. He also assists clients with contractor licensing issues and represents parties in California Contractors State License Board mediations and arbitrations, as well as in state and federal court.

In addition to his construction practice, Mr. Martin handles civil and business litigation, including business disputes, lease disputes involving personal and real property, commercial collections, receivables matters, and judgment enforcement. His litigation background allows him to advise clients not only on how to avoid disputes at the contract stage, but also on how to position matters effectively when litigation becomes unavoidable.

Mr. Martin also has experience handling code enforcement matters on behalf of the firm’s municipal clients, including the prosecution of municipal code violations and the pursuit of related civil remedies.

Mr. Martin earned his B.A. from Abilene Christian University in 1991 and his M.Div. from Princeton Seminary in 1994. He later earned his J.D. from Ventura College of Law in 2004.

Mr. Martin is fluent in Portuguese, which he learned while living and working in Brazil with a nonprofit organization for five and a half years. After returning to the United States, he joined the firm as a clerk, began studying law, and ultimately earned his law degree before continuing his practice with the firm.

Mr. Martin is admitted to practice before all California state and federal courts. He is a member of the State Bar of California and the Ventura County Bar Association.

Mr. Martin was active in the construction industry and served on the State Board of Directors of the California Landscape Contractors Association as Director of Legislation. He also served as a Board Member of LandPac, the political action committee for CLCA, was a member of the Ventura County Contractors Association, and served as Legislative Chair for the Board of Directors of the Channel Islands Chapter of the CLCA.