Lawyer and Advocate:
Our managing attorney Michael L. Mau, Esq. has gained extensive experience as a trial lawyer and advocate for our 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.
With a considerable background and resources to draw upon, professional affiliations, industry contacts and the latest technology, Mr. Mau is the premier advocate for our business clients. Though we have only identified his credentials on this website, The Mau Law Firm utilizes independent contract attorneys for different projects as needed. This ability allows it the firm to expand and contract to fit the client needs, while keeping overhead low, with resulting cost savings to you. This is an example of providing large firm representation, in a small firm setting. 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. He has presided over Unlawful Detainer settlement conferences, Small Claims law & motion, trials and appeals, as well as Traffic arraignments, prove-up hearings and trials. In order to do this he was approved by the Presiding Judge of both Courts, and had to undergo multiple 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 over 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.