Practice Focus

Mr. Barton’s practice is focused in the areas of business litigation and family law.

Business Litigation

Having spent eight years as a big law firm litigation associate, Mr. Barton has helped to resolve disputes over contract interpretation, partnership agreements, purchase and sale agreements, lease agreements, lender liability, tort liability, foreclosure, debt restructuring, and bankruptcy, among others.

As an experienced business litigator, Mr. Barton is well prepared to handle your litigation needs, whatever the nature of the dispute.  He is also experienced in drafting and reviewing contracts and other business agreements.  In Spring 2011, Mr. Barton taught “Real Estate Practice” at the University of Laverne College of the Law.

During his tenure at the big law firms, Mr. Barton represented clients in their dealings with regulatory authorities such as the California Department of Real Estate.  A licensed California Real Estate Broker, he is especially qualified to handle such representation, and welcomes inquires from contractors, property management companies, homeowner associations, and others.

Mr. Barton also has a blue chip first-career background in marketing, advertising, and public relations.  Fluent in the language of the trade, he looks forward to helping small to mid-size marketing communications companies with a wide range of legal issues.

Finally, Mr. Barton has extensive aviation credentials, including numerous Flight Instructor certificates and an Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic certificate.  Given his lifetime involvement with aviation, he welcomes inquiries from any FBO or aircraft owner/operator faced with a business dispute or other legal problem.

Family Law

Since his departure from big law firm practice, Mr. Barton has been heavily involved in the practice of family law.  Whatever the issue… divorce, spousal support, child support, custody, visitation, property division, spousal abuse and restraining orders, or other, Mr. Barton has had extensive experience in dealing with the issue.

Indeed, Mr. Barton has specialized expertise when handling with property divisions involving a family owned business.  In May 2013 he co-authored an article entitled “The ‘Double-Dipping’ Debate” which was published in the California Lawyer magazine.  View Article This article discusses one of the most complex legal issues in family law today: “When awarding support to a spouse who has been bought out of an income-generating community property business or asset – and in the process has received compensation for the transfer of its anticipated future income stream – the court may consider the future income stream earned by the ‘supporting’ spouse.  To some observers, this amounts to a form of ‘double-dipping’ that is unfair to the spouse who has paid to acquire 100 percent of the business or asset, and then must pay support based, in part, on the income stream.”

Since this article was published, Mr. Barton has been and will likely continue to be retained to provide input when property divisions involve the buy-out of community income-producing assets.

Regardless of the issue, Mr. Barton’s initial consultations are usually free.  Typically, initial consultations will take place in his office in Big Bear Lake.  However, when necessary, he will arrange to meet at a client’s place of business or home.