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Timothy Michael Kowal

also known as Tim Kowal, Timothy Kowal
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Avvo Rating10
  • Costa Mesa, CA
  • Licensed for 14 years
  • Free consultation
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About Timothy

I have been practicing law since 2007, with trial and appellate victories totaling over $60 million. I was proud to be part of the trial and appellate teams that achieved one of California’s 50 largest judgments in 2018, and one of the 20 largest in 2019.

I took my law degree with honors from Chapman Law School, now the Fowler School of Law, in 2007, where I had the privilege of serving as editor-in-chief of the Chapman Law Review. I had the honor to extern for the late Presiding Justice David Sills of the Court of Appeal in Santa Ana, and to teach civil procedure to law students as an adjunct professor of law at the Fowler School of Law. My legal analysis on issues including trial and appellate practice has been published in several law reviews and legal journals.

My wife, Andi, and I have two young children and are active in our community. We started the group Non-Toxic Huntington Beach in 2017, and we are involved in the city's Fourth of July Parade Committee. I have served on the board of the Orange County Federalist Society since 2008, and I previously served two terms on the Orange County Human Relations Commission on appointment by the Board of Supervisors.

Practice areas

  1. Appeals: 50%

    Appeals are won in the trial court, which is why I split my practice evenly between the trial and appellate courts. This sets me apart from other appellate attorneys, who work on appeals either exclusively, or only occasionally.

    15 years

  2. Business: 25%

    I have successfully represented business owners, lenders, borrowers, and developers in the trial and appellate courts involving over $60 million.

  3. Lawsuits and disputes: 25%

    My trial and litigation practice focuses on complex business and property disputes, including the top verdicts in California for fraud and trespass in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Languages spoken

English

Photos and videos

1754924 1588018900

1754924 1588018935

Contact

Thomas Vogele & Associates, APC

129 West Wilson Street, Suite 200
Costa Mesa, CA, 29627

      Resume

      License
      StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
      CAActive200702/07/2022
      We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
      Avvo Contributions
      Legal answers156
      Legal guides1
      Awards
      Award nameGrantorDate Granted
      #1 Trespass Jury Award (CA, 2019)TopVerdict.com2020
      Top 20 Jury Award of California in 2019TopVerdict.com2020
      #1 Breach of Fiduciary Duty Jury Award (CA, 2018)TopVerdict.com2019
      #1 Conversion Jury Award (CA, 2018)TopVerdict.com2019
      #1 Fraudulent Transfer Jury Award (CA, 2018)TopVerdict.com2019
      Top 10 Breach of Contract Jury Award (CA, 2018)TopVerdict.com2019
      Excellence for the Future Award: Constitutional JurisprudenceCALI2007
      Excellence for the Future Award for Administrative LawCALI2007
      Environmental, Land Use & Real Estate Law (ENLURE) certificateChapman University, School of Law2007
      1st Prize, Seventh Annual Judicial Awareness Writing CompetitionPacific Legal Foundation2006
      Excellence for the Future Award for Natural ResourcesCALI2006
      Hagman Conference ScholarUCLA Extension's 20th Annual Land Use Law & Planning Conference2006
      Excellence for the Future Award for Contracts ICALI2005
      work experience
      TitleCompany nameDuration
      ShareholderThomas Vogele & Associates, APC2011 - Present
      Adjunct ProfessorChapman University Fowler School of Law2015 - 2017
      Associate AttorneyEnterprise Counsel Group2007 - 2011
      Law ClerkTrutanich Michel2006 - 2007
      Co-Founder and Service ManagerCloudStep (formerly Innovative Technologies & Engineering)1997 - 2006
      associations
      Association namePosition nameDuration
      Orange County Federalist SocietyBoard of Directors2008 - Present
      Orange County Bar AssociationMember2008 - Present
      State Bar of CaliforniaMember2007 - Present
      UCI Alumni AssociationLifetime Member1998 - Present
      Ferguson Inn of CourtMember2017 - 2018
      Orange County Human RelationsCommissioner2012 - 2016
      Huntington Beach TomorrowDirector, Treasurer2012 - 2020
      Chapman Law ReviewEditor-in-Chief2006 - 2007
      publications
      Publication nameTitleDate
      The Verdict Magazine (ASCDC)A Defense Lawyer’s Complaint: Some Judges Don’t Get It About Judicial Admissions2018
      Orange County Lawyer MagazineDirty Work: Disgorging the Profits of Trespassing Pipelines2017
      California Trespass Law BlogDisgorgement Damages for Trespass Under California Civil Code § 33342017
      California Trespass Law BlogHow to Get Big Trespass Damages in Disgorgement Under California Civil Code § 33342017
      California Trespass Law BlogYes, You Absolutely Can Sue Pokemon for Trespass – And If You Get the Chance, You Absolutely Should2017
      education
      School nameDegreeGraduated
      Chapman University, School of LawJ.D.2007
      UC IrvineBA1998
      speaking engagements
      Conference nameTitleDate
      Peace and the Global Economy: Emerging Issues & Practical SolutionsDon't Be an Activist, Be a Neighbor: How to Persuade Your City Council2018
      2007 Chapman Law Review Symposium: Miranda at 40: Applications in a Post-Enron, Post-9/11 WorldOpening Remarks2007
      legal cases
      Case nameOutcome
      C&C Properties, Inc., et al. v. Shell Pipeline Company, et al.$40 million jury verdict
      Yang v. Sui$10 million jury verdict
      Shapiro v. DohrReversed $5.1 million judgment
      C&C Properties, Inc., et al. v. Chevron USA Inc.Multi-million dollar settlement
      C&C Properties, et al. v. Shell Pipeline Co., et al.The District Court agreed with TVA and issued a mandatory injunction in favor of its clients.
      See all Legal Cases

      Reviews

      5.0 stars5.0 (4)
      5 Star
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      Review Timothy Michael Kowal

      Awesome

      5.0 stars

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      This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
      Consulted attorney

      Tim Kowal understood just how to approach the Trust's collection issue!

      5.0 stars

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      This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
      Hired attorney

      Attorney Who Cares

      5.0 stars

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      This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
      Hired attorney

      Lawyer with compassion not mechanical

      5.0 stars

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      This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
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      Attorney endorsements

      (7)
      Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer
      Lawyer Michael Charles Doland

      Michael Doland, Lawsuits and disputes Attorney on May 25, 2020
      Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

      The answers of Mr. Kowal are consistently accurate, full of analysis, and customized to meet the needs of the Avvo askers. These are exactly the qualities that every client would look for when hiring a lawyer.

      Lawyer Mark Edward Deforrest

      Mark Deforrest, Litigation Attorney on Dec 5, 2016
      Relationship: Friend

      Tim Kowal is an outstanding lawyer who understands the law on a deep level and applies that knowledge to achieve optimal outcomes for his clients. He is a hardworking and focused problem solver who brings to his work both an ethical eye and a commitment to helping others.

      Lawyer Michael Charles Doland

      Michael Doland, Lawsuits and disputes Attorney on May 25, 2020
      Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

      The answers of Mr. Kowal are consistently accurate, full of analysis, and customized to meet the needs of the Avvo askers. These are exactly the qualities that every client would look for when hiring a lawyer.

      Lawyer Mark Edward Deforrest

      Mark Deforrest, Litigation Attorney on Dec 5, 2016
      Relationship: Friend

      Tim Kowal is an outstanding lawyer who understands the law on a deep level and applies that knowledge to achieve optimal outcomes for his clients. He is a hardworking and focused problem solver who brings to his work both an ethical eye and a commitment to helping others.

      Lawyer William R. Bailey

      William Bailey, Litigation Attorney on Sep 10, 2016
      Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

      I endorse this lawyer.

      Lawyer Hovanes Margarian

      Hovanes Margarian, Appeals Attorney on Oct 7, 2014
      Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

      I endorse this lawyer.

      Lawyer Jonathan H Matthews

      Jonathan Matthews, Unknown Attorney on Apr 5, 2014
      Relationship: Worked together on matter

      Tim is an outstanding litigator and tireless advocate for his clients. I endorse Tim without reservation.

      Lawyer Teddy Terrell Davis

      Teddy Davis, Unknown Attorney on Aug 14, 2013
      Relationship: Other

      I worked with Tim for several years. He is one of the brightest and most upstanding attorneys with whom I have worked.

      Lawyer Michael John Rossiter

      Michael Rossiter, Real estate Attorney on Jun 7, 2013
      Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

      Tim is one of the brightest people I know. He is a clear thinker, a skilled lawyer, and tireless worker.

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