Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  I spent years as a criminal defense trial lawyer, defending individuals accused of serious felonies involving allegations of sexual assault, rape, murder, kidnapping, domestic violence, robbery, and cyberbullying, stalking and harassment.
• DUI/DWI
  “JENNIFER GARDNER- FANTASTIC CHOICE” Jennifer Gardner is amazing. She helped us through a very scary time in our life when our 21 year old college student was charged with a first offense DUI. From the first phone call, Jennifer was receptive, straight-forward and honest. She gave us the facts, possible scenarios and let us choose the best legal course for our son. She was fantastic in court, and helped us navigate a very confusing process. Jennifer is smart, savvy, personable and professional. I don’t think we would have made it through this ordeal without her efficient advice and expertise. We owe her a great deal, and would recommend her highly to anyone needing criminal representation. –Lisa, October 2010
• Sex Crimes
  I am one of those rare attorneys with both criminal and civil trial experience, which helps me when representing clients accused of sexual assault in civil cases who are targets of ongoing criminal investigations or proceedings. Although I rarely accept criminal cases, that experience informs every aspect of my current work for clients.
• Fraud
  Expensive ??) to help decide their fate by figuring out who owes who how much. These experts include forensic accountants (who especially love it and lick their chops when I call with a business fraud case), real estate appraisers and business valuation experts. Their retainers at the time of writing this post average $5,000 – $10,000, just to
• Robbery
  I’ve represented individuals and enterprises of all sizes in business and real estate disputes (just about any kind of dispute concerning money, reputation, intellectual property, real property and corporate/partnership dissolutions).   I also spent years as a criminal defense trial lawyer, defending individuals accused of serious felonies involving allegations of sexual assault, rape, murder, kidnapping, domestic violence, robbery, and cyberbullying, stalking and harassment.
• Theft
• Misdemeanors
  Santa Monica Juvenile charged with three felonies: resisting arrest, public drunkenness, and assault on a police officer. Result: misdemeanor for disturbing the peace and summary probation for 6 months.
• Embezzlement
• Assault
  Los Angeles Juvenile tried for assault on a police officer, aggravated assault, criminal threats and resisting arrest. Result: probation granted and charges reduced to misdemeanor of disturbing the peace.
• Murder
  Los Angeles man charged with second degree murder for the death of his wife, and facing 15 years to life in state prison. After jury trial, client acquitted of murder and convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and will serve approximately 1 and half years.
• Restraining Order
  “Simply the Best ” Jennifer B. Gardner is BY FAR the most conscientious informative attorney I have ever worked with, I felt like my rights were protected to the fullest and that showed in the outcome. A Domestic Violence case is sensitive to say the least as well as having a restraining order possibly placed upon you, Jennifer took care of my case with great care and understanding and I was relieved to say the very least! A+ in professionalism, compassion as well as legal knowledge, Thank you a million times over!” RS, Domestic Violence Client, Summer 2014
• Forgery
• Kidnapping
• Manslaughter
  Los Angeles resident charged with vehicular manslaughter, hit and run, DUI/DWI, and facing 17 years in state prison. Result: Charges reduced and client will be out of jail in 3.6 years.
• Hit and Run

Business and Corporate Law

• Business Disputes
  Even business disputes and dissolutions are characterized by intense feelings of betrayal and anger on all sides. What to do to make sure yours doesn’t break the bank.
• Business Transactions
  We are increasingly relying on electronic communications to handle even routine business transactions. Especially troubling is how often “electronic signatures” are being used in real estate transactions, which are often the largest and most complex financial commitment most consumers will make in their lifetimes. Many of my real estate litigation… Continue Reading
• Limited Liability Companies
  Jennifer Gardner handles partnership disputes and dissolutions of every kind – whether between family members, former usually unmarried domestic partners, business partners, members of Limited Liability Companies, and even shareholders vying for control.
• Intellectual Property
• Unfair Competition
  These days I focus primarily on real estate litigation [including conflicts concerning boundary lines, easements, neighbor disagreements, trees, trespass, land use/zoning, lease disputes, partition, nuisance and real estate fraud], and complex business disputes [unfair competition, breach of contract, fraud, business dissolutions].

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  My speciality is developing the story of your case and telling it in a compelling way at every phase of the litigation. I’ve represented individuals and enterprises of all sizes in business and real estate disputes (just about any kind of dispute concerning money, reputation, intellectual property, real property and corporate/partnership dissolutions).
• Construction Litigation
  As you can see from this list, real estate disputes often encompass many different types of legal issues.  They can involve conflicts concerning the location of boundary lines, construction defects, encroachments (i.e., trees, landscaping and fences and sometimes entire structures) and more.  They also can arise where a purchaser fails to pay, requiring the trust deed holder to file a judicial or non-judicial foreclosure action to foreclose on the property.
• Real Estate Transactions
  We are increasingly relying on electronic communications to handle even routine business transactions. Especially troubling is how often “electronic signatures” are being used in real estate transactions, which are often the largest and most complex financial commitment most consumers will make in their lifetimes.
• Easement
• Land Use and Zoning
  Los Angeles County and the numerous cities that comprise it (i.e., The City of Culver City, The City of Beverly Hills, The City of West Hollywood, Pasadena, and the like) have municipal codes which govern how land owners can use land owned within their borders.  The three main types of districts (“zones”) that are established in a municipality are residential, commercial and industrial zones.
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
  Landlord-tenant disputes can include who is responsible for property repairs, issues of rent, tenant rights, rules on entry and upkeep, and more.  Nuisance is a very big issue these days — especially during the pandemic when many people work from home.  Jennifer Gardner has concentrated on representing clients in commercial lease disputes.
• Property Damage

Health Law

• Dog Bites
  “When the dog bites!” sounds like a song from the Sound of Music, and it is. But as a Los Angeles dog bite lawyer, I can tell you that it’s not all raindrops and roses when dogs bite another dog or a human. Los Angeles County is so congested. It is… Continue Reading

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Many of my real estate litigation clients encounter problems that they later call upon me to fix because they only read the documents that they later sign electronically on their computer screen and fail to print out the documents and read the “hard copies” before signing.

Finance Law

• Foreclosure
• Tax Law
  The information contained on this Website and the resources available for download through this website is not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, tax advice. While the professional at Gardner + Associates, Lawyers are tax professionals and the information provided on this Website relates to tax issues, the information contained on this Website is not a substitute for tax advice from a professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation.