Joel L. Benavides

Overview

Joel L. Benavides is the Managing Partner of Kaufman Dolowich LLP’s Torrance office. His practice focuses on business and real estate litigation, commercial and residential landlord-tenant matters, labor and employment law, construction law, and the defense of claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act.

In his business litigation practice, Mr. Benavides advises local, national, and multinational clients on partnership disputes, shareholder and corporate disputes, and a broad range of business and real estate matters.

Mr. Benavides represents and advises commercial and large-scale residential landlords throughout Southern California in unlawful detainer proceedings, wrongful eviction claims, landlord-tenant disputes, and property management matters. He also advises clients on local and statewide rent control regulations, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, the Ellis Act, and other issues involving landlords’ property rights and responsibilities.

His real estate practice includes advising businesses, real estate developers, landlords, and homeowners on purchase and sale transactions, commercial leasing, construction litigation, and related contractual matters. He also helps clients develop strategies to prevent ADA and Unruh Act claims and defends against such claims in state and federal court.

In labor and employment matters, Mr. Benavides counsels employers of all sizes on employment agreements, hiring and retention, severance, pre-litigation dispute resolution, employment policies and handbooks, mass layoffs, and human resources training.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Benavides worked at a boutique law firm in Beverly Hills, California, where he handled civil litigation involving labor and employment defense and general business matters.

Mr. Benavides is fluent in Spanish.