Michael A. Peters
Michael Peters brings with him over 20 years of business ownership and management experience. Mr. Peters previously owned and operated an Orange County contracting firm with experience managing both commercial and residential projects. He has held a contractor’s license since 1985. Michael’s personal business experience has added to his capacity for counseling clients in business planning and development and avoiding litigation. His practice areas include Civil Litigation, General Business & Construction Litigation, Real Estate, Trusts & Probate Services, and Probate Litigation.
Michael’s broad arbitration and trial experience includes serving as lead trial counsel for numerous business entities and construction firms. He has an outstanding record of achieving early settlement at mediation and through other alternative dispute measures.
Mr. Peters’ in-depth understanding of issues involving the recovery of attorney’s fees has brought him success before the California Appellate Court. He has also successfully defeated appeals to the California Supreme Court attempted by major insurance companies.
Education: Mr. Peters received his Juris Doctorate Degree, Cum Laude from Trinity Law School. He also earned the American Jurisprudence Award in Constitutional Law, and in Criminal Procedure, and was named as the recipient of the annual Dean’s Award in recognition of his excellence in academics and leadership while serving as President of the Student Bar Association.
Memberships: Mr. Peters was admitted to the California State Bar in 1999. He is admitted to practice before the United State District Court, Central and Eastern Districts, and is also a member of the Orange County Bar Association and the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Michael J. Riddell
Michael’s practice focuses on Trusts and Estate planning, as well as counseling individuals and businesses regarding business and real estate transactions and disputes.
Michael Riddell earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Chapman University School of Law. He served on the Executive Board of the Nexus Journal of Law and, in 2006, received the Ralph W. Manual Award for Pro Bono Legal Service.
During his tenure at Chapman, Michael improved his education and credentials by gaining extensive practical legal experience working for several distinct law firms in the areas of trusts and estates, general business litigation, insurance coverage litigation, and public entity defense.
As well as his strong legal background, Michael brings to the firm a broad range of experience, including working for a United States Congressman, for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and for a worldwide electronics data consulting firm. Michael, the middle of three sons, was born and raised in La Canada, California, and received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Azusa Pacific University in 2001. He currently resides in Costa Mesa.