Timothy Michael Kowal

Timothy Michael Kowal

also known as Tim Kowal, Timothy Kowal

5.0
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 18 years

Appeals Lawyer at Costa Mesa, CA
Practice Areas: Appeals, Business, Lawsuits & Disputes

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

About Timothy

Biography

Practice Areas

3

Practice Areas

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.

19 years

50%
Business 25%

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

25%
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.

25%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 60 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Check
  • Credit Card

Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.

search module image

Search our directory

Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.

chat module image

Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.

Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.

Chat with

Licenses

Licensed in California for 18 years

State: California

Acquired: 2007

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Thomas Vogele & Associates, APC

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

Ad

Transform legal challenges into solutions.

Connect now to review your situation.

The Avvo Rating explained

display-bg

The Avvo Rating explained

Timothy Michael Kowal's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

7 Client Reviews

5 star (7)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (0)

Posted by Robert | January 28, 2024 | Consulted Attorney

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

Tim Kowal - 5 stars!

Tim helps trial attorneys win appeals and even works with lawyers during trial, so they don’t create appealable issues for the other side. He is THE California expert in appellate law. I’ve worked with Tim on several cases, and he knows the law, the judges, the justices, knows what needs to be in the... brief, and takes a load of work off the trial attorney’s plate. If you, or any attorney you know, could benefit Tim’s assistance, I highly recommend you call him. -Bob Hartmann

Posted by Gene | January 26, 2024 | Consulted Attorney

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

Top Attorney

I think of Tim as the attorney's attorney. He steps in when other attorney's need help with their cases. He has expertise in appeals and disputes. A great resource!

Posted by Niki | September 28, 2022 | Consulted Attorney

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

Knowledgeable, kind and thorough

Attorney Kowal generously spent almost an hour of his time to discuss some questions I have regarding my specific complex case. He was well informed on procedural requirements as well as applicable case law. The time spent talking with Attorney Kowal provided me valuable and usable information. Attor...ney Kowal was kind, thorough and extremely knowledgable.

Posted by Rachel | October 15, 2020 | Consulted Attorney

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

Awesome

Attorney Timothy Kowal is simply awesome. He was the ONLY appellate attorney I felt comfortable with after speaking to several others. Not only is he smart, he is honest and caring which is rare to find.

Posted by Mary | November 14, 2019 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

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

During the initial in-person consultation, Tim listened carefully to the complicated contract details and outlined additional information he would need to approach the other party to demand performance on the contract. He outlined a step-by-step approach which he confirmed in the engagement letter f...or his services. Further matters, confirming facts, research, etc., were conducted entirely by email for the convenience of the client. The result was that the other party immediately chose to perform and further litigation was avoided! That's a great attorney! So we trusted him with a small matter and believe we will again call on him and his firm, Thomas Vogele & Associate for more excellent service!

See All Client Reviews

Timothy Michael Kowal's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Timothy
Michael Charles Doland headshot
Michael Doland

Lawsuits and disputes lawyer | May 25

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."

Mark Edward Deforrest headshot
Mark Deforrest

Litigation lawyer | Dec 05

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."

William R. Bailey headshot
William Bailey

Litigation lawyer | Sep 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Hovanes Margarian headshot
Hovanes Margarian

Appeals lawyer | Oct 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Jonathan H Matthews headshot
Jonathan Matthews

Unknown lawyer | Apr 05

Relationship: Worked together on matter

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

Teddy Terrell Davis headshot
Teddy Davis

Unknown lawyer | Aug 14

Relationship: Other

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

Michael John Rossiter headshot
Michael Rossiter

Real estate lawyer | Jun 07

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."

View All Endorsements
Mark Edward Deforrest headshot
Mark Deforrest

Unknown lawyer

Hovanes Margarian headshot
Hovanes Margarian

Unknown lawyer

Jason Richard Burris headshot
Jason Burris

Business lawyer

Omar Ahmed Siddiqui headshot
Omar Siddiqui

Litigation lawyer

Jeffrey Lewis headshot
Jeffrey Lewis

Appeals lawyer

Erik Gunderson headshot
Erik Gunderson

Employment and labor lawyer

Jonathan H Matthews headshot
Jonathan Matthews

Litigation lawyer

Shu-Lin Tung headshot
Shu-Lin Tung

Litigation lawyer

Michael John Rossiter headshot
Michael Rossiter

Litigation lawyer

Teddy Terrell Davis headshot
Teddy Davis

Litigation lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2020

#1 Trespass Jury Award (CA, 2019), TopVerdict.com

2020

Top 20 Jury Award of California in 2019, TopVerdict.com

2019

#1 Breach of Fiduciary Duty Jury Award (CA, 2018), TopVerdict.com

2019

#1 Conversion Jury Award (CA, 2018), TopVerdict.com

2019

#1 Fraudulent Transfer Jury Award (CA, 2018), TopVerdict.com

2019

Top 10 Breach of Contract Jury Award (CA, 2018), TopVerdict.com

2007

Excellence for the Future Award: Constitutional Jurisprudence, CALI

2007

Excellence for the Future Award for Administrative Law, CALI

2007

Environmental, Land Use & Real Estate Law (ENLURE) certificate, Chapman University, School of Law

2006

1st Prize, Seventh Annual Judicial Awareness Writing Competition, Pacific Legal Foundation

2006

Excellence for the Future Award for Natural Resources, CALI

2006

Hagman Conference Scholar, UCLA Extension's 20th Annual Land Use Law & Planning Conference

2005

Excellence for the Future Award for Contracts I, CALI

Work Experience

2011 - Present

Shareholder, Thomas Vogele & Associates, APC

2015 - 2017

Adjunct Professor, Chapman University Fowler School of Law

2007 - 2011

Associate Attorney, Enterprise Counsel Group

2006 - 2007

Law Clerk, Trutanich Michel

1997 - 2006

Co-Founder and Service Manager, CloudStep (formerly Innovative Technologies & Engineering)

Associations

2008 - Present

Orange County Federalist Society

Board of Directors

2008 - Present

Orange County Bar Association

Member

2007 - Present

State Bar of California

Member

1998 - Present

UCI Alumni Association

Lifetime Member

2017 - 2018

Ferguson Inn of Court

Member

2012 - 2016

Orange County Human Relations

Commissioner

2012 - 2020

Huntington Beach Tomorrow

Director, Treasurer

2006 - 2007

Chapman Law Review

Editor-in-Chief

Sample of Legal Cases

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. Dohr

Reversed $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.

Peterson v. Rubio

Successfully reversed judgment

Casey v. Ferrante et al.

Motion for summary adjudication granted; affirmed on appeal

Citizens for a Fair Trash Contract v. City of Los Alamitos

Victory

Choi et al. v. Orange County Great Park Corporation

Victory

See More Legal Cases

Education

2007

Chapman University, School of Law

J.D.

1998

UC Irvine

BA

Speaking Engagements

2018

Peace and the Global Economy: Emerging Issues & Practical Solutions

Don't Be an Activist, Be a Neighbor: How to Persuade Your City Council

2007

2007 Chapman Law Review Symposium: Miranda at 40: Applications in a Post-Enron, Post-9/11 World Opening Remarks

Publications

2024

2024

2023

CLE presentation, San Francisco Lawyers Network Ten Trial Tips from an Appellate Specialist

2022

2011

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution