Law Firm Overview

Lawyer and Advocate:

Our managing attorney Michael L. Mau, Esq. has gained extensive experience as a trial lawyer and advocate for his clients. He has extensive experience in the areas of Construction Law, Real Property and Commercial Litigation, Collections, Business Counseling and Insurance / Surety Defense. He has experience handling cases at all stages of litigation, but unlike many he has successful courtroom trial experience.

Initially he worked and gained a wide variety of experience as an Independent Contract Attorney. He then practiced for five plus years with Simpson, Aherne & Garrity, P.C., a construction law firm with offices in San Mateo and San Francisco. After a shorter stint at McLemore, Collins & Toschi, LLP, an insurance defense firm with offices in Oakland and Santa Rosa, he opened The Mau Law Firm in 1999.

The firm's practice includes substantial work in each of the following areas: drafting, analysis and litigation of commercial, construction, design and real estate contracts; litigating Mechanics Liens and lien release bonds, Stop Notices and release bonds for Stop Notices, and Payment / Performance bond claims; construction bidding and delay claims; substitution hearings; construction defect litigation; debt collection and defense; administrative hearings; license bond claims; real estate law; landlord-tenant counseling and evictions; representation of mobile-home parks; corporate counseling / business forming; and insurance / surety defense. The firm’s clientele include contractors, subcontractors, construction supply companies, design professionals such as architects and engineers, property owners, property developers, insurance carriers, surety companies and various local businesses. Mr. Mau believes in a vigorous advocacy of client interests, but always aiming towards a prompt, efficient and cost-effective resolution.

Arbitrator and Mediator:

In addition to being a seasoned litigator, Mr. Mau has for several years served as Judge Pro Tem for the San Francisco County Superior Court and San Mateo County Superior Court. In doing so he has gained a wide variety of experiences handling handling arraignments, settlement conferences and trials. In order to do this he was approved by the Presiding Judge of both Courts, and had to undergo several classes of Continuing Legal Education focused on being a Pro Tem member of the Judiciary.

At Santa Clara University School of Law, he successfully completed a semester class in Interviewing, Counseling and Mediation and has continued to undertake Continuing Legal Education courses in ADR (alternative dispute resolution) as well as arbitration, trial and mediation techniques. With close to 15 years of legal practice focused on Construction Law, Real Estate Law and Business Law, coupled with this combined education and training to draw upon, he is available as an Arbitrator or Mediator to resolve your disputes in these and related practice areas.

Areas of Practice

• Construction Law; Construction Defects; Construction Contracts
• Real Estate Law; Landlord-Tenant; Homeowner's Associations
• Business Law
• Contracts & Disputes
• Collections Claims & Defense
• Insurance Claims & Defense
• Surety Claims & Defense
• Litigation; Transactions; Arbitration; Mediation

Honors and Awards

• Better Business Bureau, Honor Roll, 2006 - 2009

Pro Bono Activities

• Judge Pro Tem, San Mateo County Superior Court, 2003 - 2009
• Judge Pro Tem, San Francisco County Superior Court, 2003 - 2009

Representative Cases

• ZFA Structural Engineers v. Edward J. Gee & Associates, et al., 48 Law Reporter 224 (San Francisco Superior Ct. 2005)
• Bay Area Builders & Env., v. Construction & Environmental Dynamics, et al., 49 Trials Digest 2 (Alameda Superior Ct. 2001)

West Practice Categories

Administrative Law, Administrative Hearings & Adjudication, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, Mediation, Business & Commercial Law, Collections & Repossessions, Commercial Leasing, Consumer Protection, Contracts, Debtor/Creditor, Lemon Law, Transactions, Business Organizations, Formation & Business Planning, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, Collections, Construction Law, Construction Contracts, Construction Liens, Government Construction Contracts, Housing & Construction Defects, Government Contracts, Insurance Defense, Insurance Law, Bad Faith, Commercial Insurance, Directors' & Officers' Liability Insurance, Errors & Omissions Insurance, Fidelity, Guarantee & Surety, Property & Casualty, Title Insurance, Litigation & Appeals, Federal Trial Practice, State Trial Practice, Real Estate Law, Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums & Cooperatives, Eminent Domain, Foreclosure & Alternatives, Landlord/Tenant, Residential Real Estate, State, Local & Municipal Law