Eric Scott Hartman | Huntington Beach Business Lawyer

• Orange County Bar Association
• Long Beach Bar Association (formerly on Board of Governors)

• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell (highest available peer rating for competency and ethics
• Top Lawyers in California rating

I have built a successful practice over a period of more than 40 years by listening to clients, offering customized services and solutions, and providing high quality legal services at a fair price. My practice is what is sometimes referred to as a "boutique" practice, in that I do not try to compete with mass marketed online services that offer "one size fits all" packages for a cheap price with little or no ongoing client communication, nor do I try to offer expertise in all areas of the law. My practice emphasizes individualized client attention and services in the areas of estate planning, probate, asset protection, business entity selection and formation, business transactions and litigation, and business sales and dissolutions.

In selecting an attorney, clients should look for experience, good ethical reputation, subject matter knowledge, and good communication skills. There is no substitute for experience, and an attorney who has dealt with your type of issue before is going to be more efficient and cost effective in dealing with your matter.

I enjoy the practice of "preventive law" with business clients, which involves meeting with the clients periodically, engaging in strategic planning, looking at existing or potential legal issues and implementing solutions before those issues rise to the level of claims or litigation. This requires foresight and the right attitude on the part of the management of the business, but ultimately results in a reduction in legal costs to the company.

The subject of "free phone consultation" is greatly misunderstood. My office is happy to listen to a client's general description of the type of service the client believes he or she is looking for and advise as to the fee, or range of fees, we would charge to provide that service, but cannot provide an in-depth client interview and fact analysis in an initial phone consultation. Sometimes we make exceptions for geographically remote business or probate clients who are not able to come into the office. The term "free phone consultation" is often used in connection with consultations on criminal or personal injury matters where the attorney's fees for services are a flat fee or contingent fee and consequently are not affected by the amount of time expended by the attorney in consultations or otherwise.

My outside interests include boating, travel, reading, music, and the study of unusual phenomena such as UFO's. My office was in Long Beach for many years and I am still a member of the Kiwanis Club of Long Beach and Chair of their Endowment Committee.