What we handle · Los Angeles
Construction Dispute Lawyer in Los Angeles
Neva let them walk off the job.
If you're bringing the claim
The contractor took the deposit and stopped showing up. The work is nothing like the plans. The roof leaks, the foundation cracks, the budget doubled and the permits never came. Whether it's a kitchen or a commercial build-out, a construction dispute lawyer in Los Angeles knows the rules that decide these fights — licensing, change orders, liens and deadlines — and uses them for you.
If you're defending one
Or you're the contractor or subcontractor, and the owner won't pay, keeps changing the scope, or is threatening to sue over defects you didn't cause. Getting paid in construction is a matter of paperwork and timing: preliminary notices, lien deadlines, change orders in writing. We make sure yours are right and we fight for the balance.
Common situations we handle
- “The contractor took my deposit and disappeared.”
- “The work is defective and they won't come back to fix it.”
- “We're way over budget and nothing was agreed in writing.”
- “I've finished the job and the owner won't pay.”
- “A subcontractor has put a lien on my property.”
- “My contractor turned out not to be licensed.”
What the law says
California licenses contractors, and the licence matters more than almost anything else. An unlicensed contractor generally cannot sue to be paid for work requiring a licence, and an owner can demand back everything paid to one. Home improvement contracts over a small amount must be in writing with specific terms, and down payments on them are capped by statute.
Mechanics' liens let contractors, subcontractors and suppliers secure payment against the property, but only if strict notice and recording deadlines — measured in days — are met. For new homes, the Right to Repair Act sets out construction standards and requires owners to give the builder a chance to fix defects before suing.
Related: Real estate disputes · Business litigation & contract disputes
What's at stake
For owners: the cost to finish or repair, the difference in value, and sometimes the return of everything paid to an unlicensed contractor. For contractors: the unpaid balance, interest, and the leverage of a valid lien. Many construction contracts carry attorney's-fee clauses, so the losing side can end up paying both sets of lawyers.
How long you have
Lien deadlines run in days after the work ends, not years. Defect claims generally have four years for problems you can see and up to ten for hidden ones; the Right to Repair Act has its own shorter periods for specific parts of a home. Contract claims follow the usual four years for a written agreement. Get the dates to us early.
What happens next
- 1
Tell us what happened
The quiz, a text, or a call. Fifteen minutes, free.
- 2
We tell you straight
Whether you have a case, what it would take, and which way of working applies.
- 3
Clear terms in writing
If we take it, you get clear terms in writing before anything starts.
Three ways we work. Some cases we take on contingency — no fee unless we win; if there's no recovery you don't pay us a fee, though you may still be responsible for case costs, which we explain in writing before anything starts. Some cases we do for a fixed fee you know before we begin. Some are hourly. We tell you which applies in the first call.
Why Cirkveni 2.0
Trial training
Neva trained on the plaintiffs' trial team at a top Los Angeles litigation firm. Every case is prepared as if it will go to trial.
Direct access
You deal with the lawyer. Your calls and texts reach Neva, not a queue.
Straight talk
Plain English, honest about the odds, and a fee you know before we start.
Second generation
The first Cirkveni law office opened in 1992. Same instinct, rebuilt for now.
What a client said
“I would recommend Neva. She is knowledgeable, detailed, patient, and did a great job of explaining the process and answering my questions. I was very pleased with the experience and settlement.”
— Cathy P., Google review
5.0 on Google
Results depend on the facts of each case.
Questions people ask
Find out where you stand.
Text or call +1 (424) 230-3912, or take the five-question quiz.