About Us
We are a highly agile forward-thinking boutique law firm committed to finding creative solutions to your problems.
We know your dollars are long sought and with difficulty kept. Let us show the value we provide (it’s not just price) and the results you can expect. Discover how tapping into our local knowledge and world class experience early is affordable, effective and a hell of a lot smarter than waiting until you have a problem that’s out of control.
Our Philosophy
We treat our clients as we wish to be treated and provide outstanding legal service at a fair price. We develop intelligent strategies for our clients by applying our biggest strengths: iron-fist-in-velvet-glove representation tempered with 25 years of experience, sharp intellect, long-standing relationships in the community, listening and understanding.
We build amazing relationships with our clients because we enjoy helping them cope with challenges by bringing a straightforward, no-nonsense philosophy to inspire a different and special kind of interaction. We understand the value of working alongside our clients and we build on this foundation every day.
Practice Areas
Luxury Estate Construction Defect Litigation
High value, complex construction defect and construction law matters require a level of expertise and attention to detail that exists on a separate level. Jonathan Terry and Carter Mudge are two of the preeminent California lawyers in the areas of Luxury Estate Construction Defect Litigation and have successfully represented homeowners throughout California. Together, they have over 55 years of experience dealing not only in the details of construction necessary to handle these claims, but also in the nuances of insurance and construction law and the construction business.
Construction Problems and Building Defects
Jonathan Terry and Carter Mudge are two of the foremost California lawyers in the areas of construction and construction defect litigation with over 55 years of experience dealing not only in the details of construction necessary to handle these claims, but also in the nuances of insurance and construction law and the construction business. We encourage every owner and builder to have their contract professionally reviewed before construction starts, because, as Robert Frost observed, a good fence makes a good neighbor and a strong contract that is understood by both parties makes for a successful project.
Our construction-related practice includes:
- Negotiating contracts for homeowners and builders
- Mid-project construction disputes
- Insurance Coverage for defective construction
- Construction defects
- Deck failures
- Slope failure cases
- Concrete failures
- Mold
- Land subsidence
- Complex multi-party actions
Local Land Use
Carter Mudge was born and raised in South Laguna and was a lifeguard for ten years in Laguna Beach and San Clemente. He graduated from Laguna Beach High School and has served on the Boards of Directors for both the Coastal Municipal Water District and the San Clemente Educational Foundation. There are few who know South Orange County as well as he does.
We offer experience, perspective and insight to our clients in the areas of:
- Entitlements
- Design Review Boards and Planning Commissions
- Negotiating boundary and view compromises with neighbors
- California Coastal Act/ Coastal Commission
- View Equity Claims
- Tree and hedge disputes
- Easements
- Mills Act historic structures
- Coastal bluff top setbacks
Real Estate Transactions and Litigation
In today’s commercial and residential real estate environment, real estate skyrocketing, every transaction is expensive. There can be temptation to cut corners to get the escrow closed. We strongly agree with Benjamin Franklin when he said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” We work with our clients up front so we can scrub down a deal together before it closes, rather than have to deal with a far more expensive problem later if something was overlooked.
Our real estate practice covers a wide range of cases, including:
- Representation before local and State agencies
- Title insurance claims and quiet title actions
- Easement issues
- Partitions of property interests
- Disagreements arising from California Association of Realtors forms
- Litigating failure to disclose issues
- Construction disputes
- Environmental/toxic/mold issues
- Property lease disputes
- Fraudulent conveyances
- Landlord and tenant issues
Business Formation and Litigation
Every person and every situation is unique, and we understand that. We offer business formation services to entrepreneurs and small businesses including corporations, limited liability companies, general partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships and joint ventures. Our approach to commercial disputes enables us to address contract, construction, real estate, insurance and commercial disputes as business concerns, not just elements of trial strategy. If an effective settlement isn’t possible, we will aggressively take cases to trial.
Insurance and Risk Transfer
With over 55 years of experience, including representation of international insurance carriers, Jon Terry and Carter Mudge know how to resolve all types of insurance disputes for both individuals and business policyholders. They have intimate familiarity with third-party liability insurance disputes involving an insurer’s duty to investigate, defend, indemnify, and settle claims against the policyholder. They also represents policyholders in first-party claims to obtain benefits and damages, including punitive damages, against their insurers.
They have helped clients with insurance and risk transfer problems these areas:
- Comprehensive General Liability
- Construction claims
- Environmental/Pollution claims
- Product Liability
- Wrap Policies
- OCIPs
- CCIPs
- Captives
- Builder’s Risk
- Property
- Homeowners
- Mold contamination
- Water and fire damage
- Landslides
- Automobile
How We Work
Assess Obstacles in Context
Every person and every company is unique and their legal problems don’t exist in a vacuum. It is critical that the client and the client’s problem be assessed in their proper context. We take the time to thoroughly discuss and analyze the variables surrounding obstacles – not just the obstacle itself.
Chart Efficient Path to Goal
Shooting from the hip is a Louis L’Amour plot twist not a wise legal strategy. From the beginning of the relationship, we work hand-in-hand with you to develop an efficient path to your goal, explaining the steps and your options along the way.