CLIENT-FOCUSED
AGGRESSIVE
CUTTING-EDGE
BUSINESS + REAL ESTATE ATTORNEYS
CALIFORNIA | FLORIDA
CONTACT US
MBK Chapman can help
OUR SERVICES
At MBK Chapman, our seasoned real estate lawyers have extensive experience not only negotiating and drafting complex real estate contracts, but also with resolving real estate-related disputes both in and out of court. We begin by partnering with our clients to understand their goals and objectives, after which we devise the most efficient and effective approach to ensure the best possible result. The firm’s real estate attorneys are experts in both commercial and residential property laws and regularly represent property owners in a variety of matters, including: negotiating complex real estate deals, drafting highly sophisticated real estate contracts, HOA disputes, nuisance, trespass, encroachment, easements, adverse possession, neighbor disputes, evictions, destruction of property, illegal cutting/removal of trees, partition actions, first-party bad faith insurance, failure to disclose, and fraud.
In addition, MBK Chapman’s business attorneys and corporate lawyers provide the firm’s business/corporate clients with a full spectrum of corporate and business litigation and transactional services. When it comes to the firm’s litigation department, for example, MBK Chapman’s business litigation attorneys have more than 60 years of combined experience navigating the firm’s clients through a whole host of business-related trials and court disputes involving complex issues like breach of contract, fraud, unfair business practices, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, intellectual property infringement, and labor/employment law. But MBK Chapman’s business and corporate lawyers don’t just excel at representing the firm’s clients in court. The firm’s transactional attorneys act as corporate counsel to a large number of companies, offering a wide array of corporate/business transactional services. From long-established businesses to untested start-ups, MBK Chapman’s crack team of business and corporate lawyers rely on decades of hands-on experience counseling the firm’s clients through the myriad daily challenges that arise in any successful, growing, and dynamic business, including: business formation, negotiations, drafting business agreements, protection of intellectual property, labor/employment, corporate compliance, asset protection, and franchising.
OUR METICULOUS APPROACH TO YOUR CASE
Initial Consultation
For the most part, before we take on a new client, we like to meet with you via Zoom or in person to gather facts, review any pertinent documents, and discuss your legal options—including whether you have a viable case or defense. If you do, we’ll prepare a written agreement with you detailing, among other things, the legal services we’re going to perform for you.
Notice of Rep. and Demand to Preserve Evidence
Once you’ve hired MBK Chapman, and when it’s appropriate, we’ll send the opposing side(s) a letter to: (i) notify them that we are now representing you; (ii) demand that they produce certain documents to which you’re legally entitled (if applicable); and (iii) demand that they preserve potentially relevant evidence. The latter is particularly important because we want to set things up so that later, if we discover that the opposing side has altered or destroyed evidence, the other side can be sanctioned for spoliation.
Proprietary Case Analysis
We will then proceed with a proprietary, exhaustive, and detailed written report that we call a Due Diligence Analysis (and in litigation cases, we call it a Litigation Due Diligence Analysis). We start by reviewing the facts of your case (including any timeline you might prepare for us), along with the documents that you’ve provided. Our primary purpose for conducting this proprietary due diligence analysis is to: (i) determine whether the strategy discussed with you during your consultation remains the best course of action following our review of the facts, law, and documentation provided; and (ii) provide you with a detailed analysis of your case based on the information/documents provided—e.g., examining potential claims/defenses, determining what evidence would best support those claims/defenses, examining potential pitfalls, such as whether an anti-SLAPP motion might come into play, applicable statutes of limitations, etc. In some cases, the report is aimed at determining whether you currently have (and/or can reasonably continue to maintain, whichever the case may be) viable causes of action, affirmative defenses, and/or other legal recourse.
Partnering with You Throughout the Case
During the course of your case, not only will we notify you of every significant event, but we’ll keep you as involved and informed as you wish to be. This starts with our sending you a detailed introductory email explaining the entire process that you’re facing. We then make it a point to communicate regularly with you about the progress of your case, and to ensure that all of your questions and concerns are addressed.
Dispute Resolution
Of course, when the situation calls for it, we’re always looking for ways to resolve your dispute without expensive litigation. Whether this takes the form of informal settlement discussions with the opposing side (or their attorneys), or more formal alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation, we make it a priority to put your needs first by looking for settlement opportunities when they arise.
TESTIMONIALS
SOCIAL MEDIA
COMBINED YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
CASES LITIGATED
CONSULTATIONS
PRIORITY: YOU
OUR TEAM
Led by two pioneering and highly experienced litigation and business attorneys, MBK Chapman is staffed by some of the most impressive legal minds in the business. Leveraging decades of actual courtroom and transactional experience, clients who retain MBK Chapman quickly discover why the firm has earned such a stellar reputation for its innovation, staunch advocacy, and winning record. Whether aimed at negotiating and resolving highly complex business and real estate disputes, drafting all manner of complex business and real estate contracts, or going to court to litigate business and real estate cases, the battle-hardened lawyers at MBK Chapman are truly the best in the business.
Clients who retain MBK Chapman come to quickly understand why its two leaders are so well respected among the scores of judges, attorneys, and celebrities who have hired them over the last several decades. But MBK Chapman’s laudable contribution to the legal community does not end with its superstar team of lawyers and support staff. Rather, Michael B. Kushner, one of MBK Chapman’s founding shareholders, pioneered and developed two truly paradigm shifting and disruptive technologies that will, among other things, change the way lawyers interact with their clients.
Michael B. Kushner
Shareholder|California
William D. Chapman
Shareholder|California
Sean Mills
Shareholder|Florida
Jason Boss
Partner|California
Jessica Grazul
Associate|California
Sara Etemadi
Associate|California
Sam Khil
Associate|California
Xu Shirly Sun
Associate|California
Denetta E.J. Scott
Associate|California
Craig Koelling
Associate|Florida
Education
- J.D., University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, Los Angeles, California
- B.A., University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California
- Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
- Honors: With High Distinction
Bar Admissions
- California, 1998
Michael B. Kushner, Shareholder
Mr. Kushner was born and raised in Long Beach, California. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in his third year and graduated with High Distinction the following year. Mr. Kushner then attended law school at the University of California at Los Angeles. After moving to Orange County, Mr. Kushner honed his skills at two of Orange County’s most respected law firms before striking out on his own. From there, Mr. Kushner quickly earned a reputation as a formidable and skilled trial and transactional lawyer in the areas of business and real estate law, as well as an entertaining and informative lecturer on various trending topics.
It was during a set of particular lectures offered by Mr. Kushner (related to the Davis-Stirling Act, California’s HOA law) that he came to two realizations: first, that homeowners living in HOA-governed communities were at a distinct disadvantage when dealing with bad, even out-of-control, associations; and second, that most real estate attorneys who represented homeowners were unacceptably ignorant regarding the ins and outs of the Davis-Stirling Act. Mr. Kushner decided to act. He began developing a series of proprietary and unique processes and legal materials that ensured that the firm’s attorneys became experts in the Davis-Stirling Act and that the firm’s clients received consistently excellent representation. In short, Mr. Kushner pioneered a way of representing the firm’s HOA clients that not only catapulted the firm into a well-known legal powerhouse, but also significantly raised the quality of representation for homeowners throughout California.
Mr. Kushner’s practice areas currently include business transactions, franchise law, corporate governance, labor and employment, real estate transactions, and entertainment law. In the business/corporate arena, Mr. Kushner has substantial experience in structuring and negotiating complex commercial transactions and drafting all manner of business related contracts. Mr. Kushner’s corporate transactional practice includes general representation of large, well-established companies, as well as start-ups and family owned businesses. In recent years, Mr. Kushner expanded his corporate transactional practice to include multi-national businesses located in China, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Hong Kong.
Mr. Kushner’s consummate attention to detail, and singular client-centered focus, have made him an indispensable asset to hundreds of businesses throughout California.
Education
- J.D., Pepperdine Law School, Malibu, California
- Honors: Dean’s List
- Philip C. Jessop International Law Moot Court Competition
- B.S., Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
Bar Admissions
- California, 1981
William D. Chapman, Shareholder
Mr. Chapman was born and raised in Southern California. Mr. Chapman received his BS in business management/finance from Brigham Young University and his JD from Pepperdine University School of Law. After graduating from law school, Mr. Chapman eventually became a named partner at two of Orange County’s most respected law firms before deciding to form MBK Chapman with his partner, Michael Kushner.
Mr. Chapman has tried cases before judges and juries in state and federal courts throughout the United States at both the trial court and appellate court levels, where he has won multiple $10,000,000+ jury verdicts. Mr. Chapman’s reputation as one of California’s most distinguished trial lawyers led not only to his having been selected to the California Super Lawyers® List every year since 2009, but also to his being designated a “Fellow” of the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only honorary society for trial lawyers composed of less than .5% of American lawyers.
Mr. Chapman’s clients have included Fortune 500 companies, for whom he’s litigated cases involving real estate, business finance, nutraceuticals, computer software, sales, the automotive and boating industries, and insurance bad faith.
Education
- J.D., Florida Coastal School of Law, Jacksonville, Florida
- B.A., University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Bar Admissions
- Florida, 2008
- New York, 2012
Sean Mills, Shareholder
Born in Hackensack, New Jersey, Mr. Mills has called Orlando, Florida his home for over three decades. Mr. Mills obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida. After graduating from college, Mr. Mills earned his Juris Doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law, where he served on Law Review and was a founding member of the Sports Law Society.
After briefly practicing business litigation in Jacksonville, Florida, Mr. Mills returned home to Orlando, and for over 15 years, he focused his practice on real estate law, where he represented a wide range of clients including national and local banks and private real estate investors.
Throughout his legal career, Mr. Mills has amassed extensive experience as a managing attorney for industry leading law firms, and in early 2024, Mr. Mills joined MBK Chapman PC as the senior partner in charge of the firm’s Florida office.
Mr. Mills is admitted to practice in all State, Federal, Bankruptcy, and Appellate Courts throughout the States of Florida and New York.
Education
- J.D., Whittier Law School, Costa Mesa, California
- B.A., University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Bar Admissions
- California, 2016
Sara Etemadi, Associate
Born and raised in Southern Orange County, California, Ms. Etemadi attended UCLA. After obtaining her bachelor of arts in political science, Ms. Etemadi attended Whittier Law School, where she received the Dean’s Merit Scholarship and contributed her talents to both the Iranian Student Bar Association and the Public Interest Law Foundation.
After obtaining her law degree, Ms. Etemadi worked at a boutique plaintiffs’ litigation firm, where she successfully prosecuted a variety of cases relating to premises and common carrier liability and real estate litigation. Ms. Etemadi also honed her legal skills performing legal work for various non-profit organizations and governmental agencies. In 2017, Ms. Etemadi began working for Michael Kushner at the law firm he founded and managed, where she gained extensive experience in all aspects of corporate compliance and real estate law, with a primary focus on representing homeowners in HOA disputes.
When Mr. Kushner formed MBK Chapman, Ms. Etemadi decided to join him at the new firm as a senior associate, where she not only heads MBK Chapman’s dedicated pre-litigation HOA disputes team, but also one of the firm’s transactional law teams, with a focus on corporate compliance and critical business protection documents.
Education
- J.D., Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, California
- B.A., Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Bar Admissions
- California, 2003
Jason Boss, Partner
Born and raised in San Diego, Mr. Boss obtained his undergraduate degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After graduating from college, Mr. Boss attended Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, where he was a member of Honor’s Trial Advocacy Team.
After obtaining his law degree in 2003, Mr. Boss became a prosecutor in the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office. He then went on to work at a civil litigation firm, representing a variety of business, real estate, and employer/employee clients. Mr. Boss honed his litigation and trial skills as a senior litigator for a national law firm representing nation-wide business ventures.
In early 2021, Mr. Boss joined the litigation team at MBK Chapman as a senior associate, where he impressed everyone with his incredible work ethic, attentiveness to client needs, and litigation instincts. On January 1, 2023, the senior partners of the firm made Mr. Boss a partner. By consistently implementing creative and effective strategies in all of his cases, while at the same time tailoring his approach to comport with each client’s priorities and unique circumstances, Mr. Boss remains a client and firm favorite.
Mr. Boss has consistently been selected as a Super Lawyer—an honor limited to less than three percent of attorneys in California—and he’s admitted to practice in all State, Federal, Bankruptcy and Appellate Courts throughout California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Education
- L.L.M., University of Southern California Gould School of Law, Los Angeles, California
- L.L.B., Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil
Bar Admissions
- California, 2019
- Brazil, 2017
Jessica Grazul, Associate
Jessica Grazul was born and raised in Brazil, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in law. She then attended the USC Gould School of Law, where she received the Dean’s Merit Scholarship and obtained her master’s degree in law, as well as certification in Alternative Dispute Resolution. During her studies at USC, Ms. Grazul clerked for the Major Crimes Division of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
After earning her master’s degree, Ms. Grazul honed her legal skills while working for a civil litigation firm representing clients in personal injury cases, contract disputes, and various tort actions. Ms. Grazul joined MBK Chapman in 2022 as an associate in the firm’s litigation department.
Education
- J.D., Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts
- B.A., University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California
Bar Admissions
- California, 2019
Sam Khil, Associate
Mr. Khil was raised in the Bay Area and has lived in Orange County since 2001. He received his undergraduate education at the University of California, Irvine, where he graduated magna cum laude with his Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Studies and Sociology. He received his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School with an emphasis in business law and financial services.
Prior to joining MBK Chapman as a senior associate, Mr. Khil worked as general and litigation counsel at multiple Southern California law firms where he gained significant experience handling a wide range of real estate matters including lender rights, title actions, foreclosures, receiverships, eminent domain, forfeiture actions, municipality disputes, probate, HOA law, and general real estate issues.
He also represented HOAs throughout California, serving as general and litigation counsel. He has significant experience advising boards regarding corporate compliance, enforcing declarations, amending governing documents, board governance, the limits of their actions, vendor contracts, easements, member disputes, DFEH issues, general compliance with the Davis-Stirling Act, and a wide range of other matters affecting associations and their members. It is this background that provides Mr. Khil a unique perspective regarding HOAs and their members’ rights.
Education
- L.L.M., Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
- L.L.B., Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, China
Bar Admissions
- New York, 2021
- California, 2023
Xu Shirly Sun, Associate
Born and raised in Shanghai, China’s financial hub, Ms. Sun earned her bachelor’s degree in law from Shanghai International Studies University. After graduating from university, Ms. Sun attended Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where she obtained her masters degree in law.
Her professional journey post-graduation led her to work in both the Orange County and Chicago offices of a national general practice law firm, where she adeptly managed a wide array of legal matters and honed a diverse set of legal skills. Her clientele varied extensively, ranging from individual clients seeking assistance with their everyday legal concerns to international trading companies grappling with cross-border litigation and contractual disputes.
Ms. Sun joined MBK Chapman in January 2024 as an associate, focusing on the representation of homeowners in HOA disputes. She is dedicated to providing the firm’s clients with exceptional legal services and serving their best interests with an empathetic and efficient approach.
Ms. Sun is fluent in Mandarin.
Education
- J.D., Whittier Law School, Costa Mesa, California
- B.A., Pepperdine University, Malibu California
Bar Admissions
- California, 2005
- District of Columbia, 2006
Denetta E.J. Scott, Senior Associate
Born in South Carolina and raised in Southern California, Ms. Scott obtained her undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University. After graduating from college, Ms. Scott attended Whittier Law School, where she was a member of the Trial Advocacy Team and the Black Law Association.
After obtaining her law degree, Ms. Scott worked at civil litigation firms, where she successfully represented clients in a variety of cases involving automobile accidents, business, premises liability, real estate, and employment.
In early 2024, Ms. Scott joined the team at MBK Chapman as a senior associate in the firm’s litigation department. She is admitted to practice in all state, federal, and bankruptcy courts throughout California and the District of Columbia.
Ms. Scott serves on the board of the Thurgood Marshall Association and is a member of the Orange County Women Lawyer’s Association and the Orange County Bar Association.
Education
- J.D., Washington and Lee University School of Law, Lexington, Virginia
- B.A., University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
Bar Admissions
- Florida, 2018
Craig Koelling, Associate
Born in Arnold, Missouri, Mr. Koelling has called Florida his home for over two decades. Mr. Koelling earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida in 2014. After graduating, Mr. Koelling attended Washington and Lee University School of Law.
Mr. Koelling started his law career as an assistant public defender, during which time he gained valuable experience in the courtroom. In 2021, Mr. Koelling left the public defender’s office and went into civil practice, where he focused on property insurance disputes and litigated numerous cases on behalf of insurance carriers throughout the State of Florida.
Mr. Koelling joined MBK Chapman in 2024 as an associate, where he represents the firm’s clients in all manner of business and real estate disputes, with a focus on representing homeowners in disputes with their HOAs.
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MBK Chapman PC can help
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