About the Espinoza Law Firm in Monterey, CA
Since 2003, the Espinoza Law Firm has been providing exceptional legal support to our clients throughout Monterey, CA. Our attorneys, Thomas J. Espinoza and Lori L. Espinoza, have combined experience of more than 38 years. To learn more about the Espinoza Law Firm in Monterey, CA, reach out to our offices.
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Thomas J. Espinoza, Esq.
Tom Espinoza is a native Californian, born and raised in Southern California. In 1985, Mr. Espinoza graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and Marketing. Mr. Espinoza worked in commercial banking for ten years with Wells Fargo Bank, including five years as a trust auditor as well as a legal compliance officer in the Bank’s Consumer Lending Division, dealing with state and federal truth-in-lending laws. He attended John F. Kennedy University School of Law in the evening and continued to work for the bank during law school.
In 1996, Mr. Espinoza left banking to begin his legal career in the Monterey Bay Area and had the good fortune of working with highly respected local practitioners. Prior to opening his own office, Mr. Espinoza worked at The Grunsky Law Firm. Much of his caseload involved probate litigation which is the practice area Mr. Espinoza continues to enjoy, utilizing his extensive business/banking background and legal training and experience. In addition to trust and estate litigation, Mr. Espinoza handles unlawful detainer actions, probate administration, conservatorships, and general civil litigation matters, representing both plaintiffs and defendants.
Mr. Espinoza served on the Executive Committee of the Monterey County Bar Association from 2003 through 2009, including serving as President of the Association in 2008. In 2005, Mr. Espinoza, along with other local attorneys, reconstituted the Trusts and Estates Section of the Monterey County Bar Association. He served as Chair of the Trust and Estates Section from 2005 through 2007. Mr. Espinoza also served four years on the board of the Court-Appointed Special Advocates of Monterey County (C.A.S.A.). In 2020, Mr. Espinoza once again served as the President of the Monterey County Bar Association and is currently serving as the Treasurer.
In 2009, Mr. Espinoza was appointed by Supervisor Dave Potter to represent the 5th District as a commissioner on the Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of the County of Monterey (H.A.C.M.). In addition to serving on the H.A.C.M. Board, Mr. Espinoza also served as the Chair of the Monterey County Housing Development Corporation, which is a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation dedicated to the development and rehabilitation of affordable housing. Mr. Espinoza served on these Boards until the spring of 2016.
Mr. Espinoza has had more than eighty hours of formal mediation training through the University of California, at Berkeley, and through the Mandell-Gisnet Center for Conflict Management. Mr. Espinoza continues to serve as an attorney-mediator as part of the Monterey County Superior Court’s Court-Directed Mediation Program since the Program’s inception in 2005. Additionally, Mr. Espinoza has served as an arbitrator for the Monterey County Bar Association, arbitrating attorney-client fee disputes.
Mr. Espinoza served on the Executive Committee of the Monterey County Bar Association from 2003 through 2009, including serving as President of the Association in 2008. In 2005, Mr. Espinoza, along with other local attorneys, reconstituted the Trusts and Estates Section of the Monterey County Bar Association. He served as Chair of the Trust and Estates Section from 2005 through 2007. Mr. Espinoza also served four years on the board of the Court-Appointed Special Advocates of Monterey County (C.A.S.A.). In 2020, Mr. Espinoza once again served as the President of the Monterey County Bar Association and is currently serving as the Treasurer.
In 2009, Mr. Espinoza was appointed by Supervisor Dave Potter to represent the 5th District as a commissioner on the Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of the County of Monterey (H.A.C.M.). In addition to serving on the H.A.C.M. Board, Mr. Espinoza also served as the Chair of the Monterey County Housing Development Corporation, which is a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation dedicated to the development and rehabilitation of affordable housing. Mr. Espinoza served on these Boards until the spring of 2016.
Mr. Espinoza has had more than eighty hours of formal mediation training through the University of California, at Berkeley, and through the Mandell-Gisnet Center for Conflict Management. Mr. Espinoza continues to serve as an attorney-mediator as part of the Monterey County Superior Court’s Court-Directed Mediation Program since the Program’s inception in 2005. Additionally, Mr. Espinoza has served as an arbitrator for the Monterey County Bar Association, arbitrating attorney-client fee disputes.
Lori L. Espinoza, Esq.
Lori Espinoza is a native Californian who was born in Southern California, raised in Northern California, and is proud to call the Central Coast her home since 1996. After raising two children, Ms. Espinoza decided to attend Monterey College of Law, graduating in July of 2007, and she has been practicing law in and around Monterey County since December 2007. During her last year of law school, Ms. Espinoza worked as a certified legal intern for the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office in Salinas, California. Upon graduation from law school, Ms. Espinoza worked in the Monterey County District Attorney’s office as a deputy district attorney.
After leaving the District Attorney’s Office, Ms. Espinoza went into private practice with her husband, Tom Espinoza, at the Espinoza Law Firm. Ms. Espinoza practices in the area of Conservatorships, Guardianships, and Restraining Orders. Additionally, since December of 2007, Ms. Espinoza has worked with the City of Monterey prosecuting misdemeanor city code violations.
Ms. Espinoza is a member of the Monterey County Bar Association, serving as a member of the Executive Committee since 2011, and has had the distinct privilege of serving as president for 2016. Ms. Espinoza is also a member of the Monterey County Women Lawyers Association and has served on the board since 2014. Ms. Espinoza’s desire to serve on the Monterey County Bar Association Board and the Monterey County Women Lawyers Association Board stems from her wish to give back to the local community that has enriched her life personally and professionally.
Ms. Espinoza is a member of the Monterey County Bar Association, serving as a member of the Executive Committee since 2011, and has had the distinct privilege of serving as president for 2016. Ms. Espinoza is also a member of the Monterey County Women Lawyers Association and has served on the board since 2014. Ms. Espinoza’s desire to serve on the Monterey County Bar Association Board and the Monterey County Women Lawyers Association Board stems from her wish to give back to the local community that has enriched her life personally and professionally.
Brian R. Barton
Brian is a certified paralegal who joined the Espinoza Law Firm in May of 2019. He currently provides litigation support and general office management for the Firm.