Mr. Bendel received his B.S. in Finance, magna cum laude, from the University of Connecticut in 1997. He then went on to receive his J.D., magna cum laude, in 2000 from Pepperdine University, where he was a member of the Pepperdine Law Review. Upon graduating from law school, Mr. Bendel joined the Los Angeles office of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, where he practiced for over twelve years. While at Stroock, Mr. Bendel handled complex business litigation, including securities disputes, small business dissolutions, insurance coverage and bad faith matters, and other business and commercial disputes. The primary focus of Mr. Bendel’s practice is insurance coverage and insurance bad faith litigation. He has provided coverage advice and/or been involved in bad faith litigation with respect to claims made under all types of insurance policies including Commercial General Liability, Directors & Officers, Errors & Omissions, Property, Homeowners, and Automobile insurance policies. Mr. Bendel is admitted to practice before all federal and state courts in California, including the California Court of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has tried cases in federal and state courts in Northern and Southern California. In total, Mr. Bendel has over fifteen weeks of trial experience. Mr. Bendel also has experience at the appellate level; he has drafted a number of successful appellate briefs.

Douglas Shaffer practices out of Santa Monica, CA and has been licensed for 34 years. This attorney attended Pepperdine University School of Law and handles cases in Accident & Injury.

An accomplished litigator, Sara Colón is admitted to practice in both California and New York, where she has extensive experience handling a broad range of commercial litigation cases in federal and state courts and in arbitral forums. Ms. Colón has skillfully managed a variety of legal matters including disputes regarding breach of contract, partnerships, investments, insurance coverage, fraud, government investigations, and business torts. She has also represented plaintiffs in financial elder abuse cases. Ms. Colón’s clients include local and international businesses in a variety of industries, including finance, real estate, telecommunications, entertainment, and technology.

Welcome to Takehara & Stuart, LLP, a distinguished boutique law firm based in the beautiful City of Santa Monica and offering a diverse range of legal services in all of California. Our firm's mission is to provide exceptional legal representation across various practice areas, including personal injury litigation, auto accidents, entertainment law, aviation law, employment law and other areas of practice. With a deep commitment to excellence and a proven track record of success, we pride ourselves on delivering tailored, client-focused solutions that meet your unique needs. Whether you've been injured in an accident, require expert counsel in the entertainment industry, or seek specialized aviation legal services, our team of experienced attorneys is here to guide you through every step of your legal journey. Explore our website to learn more about our firm and the comprehensive legal expertise we bring to the table. Your legal needs, our passion for justice—Discover the Takehara & Stuart difference today.

California attorney Scott Rahn resolves contests, disputes and litigation related to trusts, estates and conservatorships, creating a welcome peace of mind for clients. He represents heirs, beneficiaries, trustees and executors. He utilizes his experience to develop and implement strategies that swiftly and efficiently address the financial issues, fiduciary duties and emotional complexities underlying trust contests, estates conflicts and probate litigation. Driven by a commitment to provide relief to people grieving the loss of a loved one, Scott collaborates closely with clients. He pursues and defends claims involving incapacity, incompetence, undue influence, breach of fiduciary duty, and other similar areas of dispute. His advice and counsel includes prevention and remediation of financial elder abuse.