Joe Strohman is a longtime partner of Ferguson Case Orr Paterson, LLP. His practice focuses on business law, civil litigation, including real property litigation, business litigation, boundary disputes, easement litigation and mechanic’s lien law. Joe is a Martindale-Hubbell “AV Preeminent” rated attorney.

In 1983 Joe joined what was then Case, Orr & Cunningham as its first associate. Over the course of his more than forty years of practice, Joe has secured numerous major trial decisions in favor of his clients. These include successfully defending, with firm partners, a nationally-known title company against a $10 million demand regarding foreclosure sales, and numerous favorable real property, easement and business trial decisions. He has also successfully litigated real property matters, a $1 million dollar plus business lease, insurance questions, and successfully defended defamation claims against a corporate client.

A past president of the Ventura County Bar Association and a past multi-term member of its board of directors, Joe coordinated fundraising for the association’s non-profit legal fund as race director for the VCBA’s annual Law Day 5K run for more than 35 years. Between earning his law degree from Pepperdine in 1982 and joining our firm, Joe studied with the McGeorge School of Law’s International Law Program in Salzburg, Austria, and worked with a barrister in London. He is also a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance.

Outside of legal service, Joe has volunteered with Family to Family (a volunteer interdenominational organization that feeds the poor) since 1987, the Rotary Club of Ventura-East (President 1997-98; Co-President 2022-23), the Notre Dame Club of Ventura County (President 2009-11), and, for more than 35 years, as chair of the San Buenaventura Mission’s Christian Service Committee.

In 2017, Joe was the recipient of the Ventura County Bar Association’s prestigious “Ben E. Nordman Public Service Award”.  This award is presented to one recipient each year to recognize a significant and lifelong commitment to public service in the community.

A track and cross-country runner and three year letterman at Notre Dame, Joe has hung up his running shoes, but he still loves to hike, enjoy the outdoors, study history and follow college sports.

Noteworthy Matters

• Real Property: After court trial in Santa Barbara Superior Court, obtained successful decision for clients involving confirmation and division of complex joint real estate residential and ranch interests.
• Real Property: Along with other firm partners, obtained defense verdict following one-month Ventura County Superior court trial and appeal for nationally known title company regarding foreclosure sale issue. The plaintiffs’ demand was in excess of $10 million.
• Business Litigation: Obtained defense verdict in Ventura County Superior Court jury trial regarding grocery store fire and related lease and insurance proceeds. The alleged damages at trial exceeded $1 million.
• Corporate Defense on Defamation Claim: Obtained defense verdict after jury trial in Orange County Superior Court case involving defamation claim against corporation.
• Easement Litigation: Obtained several successful court decisions after trial on easement cases in Ventura County Superior Court resulting in confirmation of clients’ easement rights.
• Ranch and Farming: Represented clients in the purchase and sale of ranch and farming properties which included significant easement, real property and title issues.