Free Initial Consultation

(Main Office)

Prenovost, Normandin, Bergh & Dawe has been serving the interests of local, regional and national clients in the business community for over 25 years. The firm has achieved the highest rating available by Martindale-Hubbell, which also ranks the firm as "preeminent" in the fields of Banking, Bankruptcy and Commercial Litigation.

Our commitment to a higher level of responsiveness and personal attention to our clients' needs is perhaps the most significant reason for the success and continued growth of the firm. Prenovost, Normandin, Bergh & Dawe prides itself in providing high-quality, cost-effective legal services reflecting high standards of innovation, ethics and professionalism.

Statement of Practice

Appellate Practice, Automobile Law, Banks and Banking, Banking Law, Banking Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Bankruptcy, Business Law, Business Litigation, Complex Litigation, Civil Litigation, Collections, Construction Litigation, Corporate Law, Corporate Litigation, Creditors Rights, Creditor Bankruptcy, Dealership Law, Employment Litigation, Estate Planning, Probate, Federal Civil Practice, Financial Institutions Law, Insurance Coverage, Insurance Litigation, Lenders Rights, Loan Workouts, Mortgage Banking Law, Real Estate Law, Real Estate Litigation, Nationwide Bankruptcy and Loan Sub-Servicing.

Representative Clients:

ADESA California, Inc.
American Lenders Facilities, Inc.
Anaheim Door Company
AIG Insurance
Automotive Finance Corp.
Athens Disposal Co.
BankAmerica Mortgage
Bank of Orange County
Brundige Glass
Caliber One Management
Caliber-One Insurance Co.
California Bank & Trust
California State University
Long Beach Foundation
CalWest Bank
Carl Warren & Co.
Carpenter Performing Arts Center
Citizens Business Bank
City Holding Co.
City Mortgage Services
Concordia Finance Ltd.
Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.
Don Knott Ford
E Trade
Encinitas Ford
Fannie Mae
F.C.I. Trustee Services
First American Title Insurance Co.
First American Title Lenders Advantage
Fireside Bank
First Security Bank, N.A.
Ford Plastering Co.
Frisbie Management, Inc.
Gonzales Automotive Corporation
Genisys Financial Corp.
Greater Acceptance Mortgage Corp.
Green Tree Servicing, LLC
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Co.
Hartford Escrow Company
Hill Brothers Chemical Co.
Household Automotive Finance Corp.
Isuzu Motor Acceptance Corp.
Kerdus Plastering, Inc.
Landwood Title Insurance Company
Lawyers Title Insurance Corp.
Lazy Pet Products Inc.
Lloyds of London
Long Beach Acceptance Corp.
Long Beach Mortgage Co.
Mike Thompson R.V.
Mission Hills Mortgage
Mortgage Capital Resource Corp.
Network Bank U.S.A.
Omega Products Corp.
Omni Bank
One Beacon Insurance Co.
Onyx Acceptance Corp.
Pacific Exteriors, Inc.
Penhall Company, Inc.
Placer Sierra Bank
Plastering Contractors Association of Southern California
Pro-Line Plastering
Sawdust Festival Corp.
South County Bank
Specialized Medical Management
Strategic Recovery Group
Stucco Manufacturers Assoc.
Suburban Plastering, Inc.
Sunwest Bank
Rangemark Insurance
R & B Auto Center
Real Time Resolutions, Inc.
Riverside County's Credit Union
Tarbell, Realtors
The Bank of Orange County
Thompson Building Materials
Triad Financial Corp.
Tuttle Click Automotive Group, Inc.
U.S.A. Industries
Wells Fargo Bank
Western Financial Savings Bank
WFS Financial Inc.
Whittier Area Federal Credit Union.

Rate Information

Fixed Hourly Rates
Fixed Fees Available
Free Initial Consultation

Address

2122 North Broadway, Suite 200
Santa Ana, CA 92706, (Orange Co.)

Phone

Phone: 714-881-2581
Fax: 714-835-2889

Website

http://www.PNBD.com

Office Hours

Monday: 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
Tuesday: 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
Wednesday: 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
Thursday: 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
Friday: 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM

PRINCIPALS

Thomas J. Prenovost, Jr. (Principal) admitted to bar, 1977, California. Education: California State University at Long Beach (B.A., cum laude, 1972); Loyola University (J.D., 1977); University of California at Los Angeles. Former Associate Professor, Chapman University. Judge Pro Tem, Orange County Superior Court. Former Parks and Recreation Commissioner, City of Brea. Chairman, Planning Commission, City of Brea. Member: Board of Governors, Loyola Law School; Board, St. Vincent de Paul Society. Member: Orange County (Member, Debt Collection, Bankruptcy and Real Estate Sections) and American Bar Associations; Community Bankers of California; California Bankers Association; American Financial Services Association; Celtic Bar Association of Orange County (Vice President). (Managing Principal Attorney). Practice Areas: Automobile Law; Banking Law; Commercial Litigation; Bankruptcy; Civil Litigation; Corporate Law; Financial Institution Bonds; Real Estate.Email: Thomas J. Prenovost, Jr.

Tom Roddy Normandin (Principal) admitted to bar, 1981, California and District of Columbia; 1982, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia; U.S. Court of International Trade. Education: Loyola University (B.A., 1977; J.D., 1981). Alpha Sigma Nu; Pi Gamma Mu. First Place, Jessup Moot Court Western Division. Member: Orange County and American Bar Associations; American Bankruptcy Institute; Community Bankers of California. Practice Areas: Arbitration; Banking Law; Banking Litigation; Bank Foreclosures; Business Fraud; Commercial Litigation; Bankruptcy; Business Law; Business Litigation; Complex Civil Litigation; Civil Litigation; Financial Institutions Law; Internet Law; Real Estate; Complex Commercial Litigation.Email: Tom Roddy Normandin

Steven L. Bergh (Principal) born Santa Ana, California; admitted to bar, 1983, California; U.S. District Court, Northern, Eastern, Central and Southern Districts of California; 1995, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: California State Polytechnic University (B.S., cum laude, 1978); Western State University College of Law (J.D., 1983). Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Preschool Ministry Team Leader/Member, 1992-2001, Capital Campaign Executive Committee, 2000, Foundation Chair, 2002-2005. Frequent speaker on Basics of Estate Planning; California State Polytechnic University, University Educational Trust Board, 2002-2004. Member: Orange County (Member, Sections on: Bankruptcy; Estate Planning); Orange County Bankruptcy Forum; American Bankruptcy Institute. Practice Areas: Banking Law; Commercial Litigation; Bankruptcy; Estate Planning and Probate.Email: Steven L. Bergh

Michael G. Dawe (Principal) admitted to bar, 1980, California and U.S. District Court, Central and Southern Districts of California; 1982, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; 1998, U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of New Brunswick (B.A., 1975); London School of Economics (M.Sc., 1976); California Western University (J.D., magna cum laude, 1980). Member: American Bar Association. Languages: French. Practice Areas: Appellate Practice; Bank Directors and Officers Liability; Banking Law; Commercial Litigation; Business Law; Complex Litigation; Civil Litigation; Dealership Law; Directors and Officers Insurance Coverage; Employment Litigation; Insurance Bad Faith; Financial Institutions Law; Insurance Coverage; Insurance Litigation; Real Estate; Wrongful Termination.Email: Michael G. Dawe

Theodore A. Prenovost (Principal) admitted to bar, 1995, California. Education: University of California at Davis (B.A., 1990); Western State University (J.D., 1994). Member, Indoor Air Quality Council. Member: Orange County and American Bar Associations; Association of Southern California Defense Lawyers; State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Automobile Law; Banking Law; Commercial Litigation; Business Law; Complex Litigation; Civil Litigation; Construction Litigation; Contracts; Insurance Defense; Personal Injury.

ASSOCIATES

Kristin F. Godeke (Associate) born Fullerton, CA; admitted to bar, 2007, California. Education: Occidental College (B.A., 2003); Western State University (J.D., 2007). Valedictorian, Western State University, Spring, 2007. Editor, Western State Law Review. Appellate Externship to Presiding Justice David Sills, California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division Three, 2006. Clerkship at Orange County District Attorney's Office, 2006. Member: Bar Association of Orange County; State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Civil Business Litigation; Auto Dealer and Finance Company Defense; Appellate Practice; Commercial Law.Email: Kristin F. Godeke

Patrick L. Blair (Associate) born Hilo, Hawaii; admitted to bar, 1999, Hawaii, California and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; 2004, U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: University of Hawaii, Manoa (B.A., with distinction, 1995; J.D., 1998). Practice Areas: Insurance; Insurance Litigation; Business Litigation; Intellectual Property.

Marc Y. Lazo (Associate) born Beirut, Lebanon; admitted to bar, 2001, California; U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: University of California at Irvine (B.A., cum laude, 1998); Loyola Law School (J.D., 2001). Practice Areas: Complex Business Litigation; Insurance Coverage; Construction Litigation.Email: Marc Y. Lazo

Benjamin K. Griffin (Associate) admitted to bar, 2005, California; 2007, District of Columbia; U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: The Citadel (B.A., 2000); Pepperdine University (J.D., 2004). Co-Author: Principles of Air Quality Management, 2d Ed., CRC Press (2007). Member: Orange County Bar Association (Member, Environmental Section); State Bar of California; Robert. A. Banyard Inn of Court. Practice Areas: Automobile Dealership Law; Business Litigation; Civil Litigation; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Estate Planning and Probate; Real Estate.Email: Benjamin K. Griffin

Adam S. Hamburg (Associate) born Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; admitted to bar, 2006, California and U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: St. Lawrence University (B.A., History, 2001); Western State University College of Law (J.D., 2006). Member: Orange County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Automobile Dealership Law; Business Litigation; Civil Litigation; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Employment Counseling and Litigation; Real Estate.Email: Adam S. Hamburg

Paula Harrelson (Associate) admitted to bar, 1993, California; 1994, U.S. District Court, District of California; 1995, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: California State University (B.A., with honors, 1981); University of San Diego School of Law (J.D., 1993). Criminal Law Moot Court Semi-Finalist, 1992. Certified Law Clerk, San Diego District Attorney's Office and The Long Beach City Prosecutor's Office. Judicial Extern for the Honorable John C. Woollo the Orange County Superior Court. Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager for Cal Bank. Member: Orange County Bar Association; State Bar of California. Languages: Spanish and French. Practice Areas: Automobile Law; Banking Law; Commercial Law; Bankruptcy; Business Litigation; Complex Business Litigation; Civil Litigation; Collections; Financial Institutions Law; Real Estate.Email: Paula Harrelson

Andrea R. Patton (Associate) born South Bend, Indiana; admitted to bar, 1999, California; 2002, U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: University of California, Irvine (B.A., 1992); Loyola Law School (J.D., 1999). Chief Production Editor and Staff Writer, "Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Journal"; Judicial Extern for the Honorable Barry Russell of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Member: Orange County Bar Association; Orange County Women Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Collections; Construction Litigation; Estate Planning; Probate; Real Estate.Email: Andrea R. Patton

Michael D. Rohfeld (Associate) born Jacksonville, Florida; admitted to bar, 1983, California. Education: California State University (B.A., Psychology, 1979); Western State University (J.D., 1982). Member: Orange County and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Insurance; Personal Injury Defense.Email: Michael D. Rohfeld

Karel G. Rocha (Associate) born Mexicali, Mexico; admitted to bar, 2001, California. Education: University of California, San Diego (B.A., Sociology, 1997); Institute on Comparative Law, Florence, Italy; University of San Diego (J.D., 2000). Member: State Bar of California; Defense Institute; American Bar Association. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Real Estate; Construction Defects; Mechanic's Liens; Auto Dealer and Finance Company Defense.Email: Karel G. Rocha

Nichole Wong (Associate) born Los Angeles, California; admitted to bar, 2008, California. Education: University of California, San Diego (B.A., English, 2001); University of California, Irvine (M.A., Education, 2003); Whittier College School of Law (J.D., 2007). Member: Bar Association of Orange County; State Bar of California. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Business Litigation; Insurance Defense; Commercial Law.Email: Nichole Wong

OF COUNSEL

Charles "Mike" Michaelis (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1975, California. Education: California State University of Long Beach (B.A., cum laude, 1972); Southwestern University School of Law (J.D., 1975). Author, "California Automobile Dealer's Handbook of Vehicle Registration Practices and Procedures"; Author, "Handbook of Vehicle Advertising in California"; Author, "California Auto Dealer's Handbook of Credit Report Use and Creditor Obligations". Managing Editor, "Southwestern Law Review". Judge Pro Tem, South Orange County Municipal Court. Member: Orange County Bar Association. Special Agencies: Orange County Automobile Dealers Association; Long Beach New Vehicle Dealers Association; San Diego Automobile Dealers Association. Practice Areas: Dealership Law; Automotive Franchises and Dealerships; Administrative Law; Financial Institutions Litigation; Creditors Rights; Collections.Email: Charles "Mike" Michaelis

Dennis H. Doss (Of Counsel) born Kenosha, Wisconsin; admitted to bar, 1978, California and U.S. District Court, Southern District of California. Education: California State University at Northridge (B.A.); California Western University (J.D., magna cum laude). Member: Orange County Bar Association (Member, Financial Services Section); State Bar of California. (Also Member, Doss Law, A Professional Corporation, Irvine). Practice Areas: Banking; Consumer Credit Law; Real Estate; Business Law; Civil Litigation.

Rose Pothier (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1978, California; 1979, U.S. District Court, Central, Southern, Northern and Eastern Districts California; 1982, U.S. Supreme Court; 1983, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; 1991, District of Columbia. Education: Stanford University; Northwestern University (Mortgage Banking, 1976); Western State University (B.S.L., 1976; J.D., 1978). Inducted into Western State University College of Law Hall of Fame, 1989. Received Award from the South Orange County Bar Association in Recognition of Voluntary and Valuable Services as a Temporary Judge to the Legal Community, 1996; Temporary Judge, County of Orange Superior Court, State of California, 1994-. Member: State Bar of California; Orange County and Los Angeles Bar Associations. (Also Member, Rose Pothier & Associates). Special Agencies: California Department of Corporations; Escrow Law Advisory Committee. Practice Areas: Real Estate Law; Escrow Law; Mortgage Lending Law.