Joshua S. Hopstone

Joshua S. Hopstone is a versatile litigator with extensive experience counseling businesses and individuals in a broad range of practice areas.  The focus of Josh’s practice is complex business and real estate, land use, and construction-related matters.  Josh advises and represents landowners, contractors, developers, and landlords in all legal aspects of real estate construction, development, and ownership and operation.  Josh has particular experience litigating disputes arising from the sale of real property, such as claims involving breach of contract, breach of warranty, negligence, and nondisclosure; land use entitlement and permitting, including Coastal Commission and CEQA; construction contracts, defects, warranties and mechanics liens; lease disputes and unlawful detainer actions; and quiet title, partition, and other title-related disputes.

Beyond real estate, Josh has developed further expertise in areas such as business and commercial litigation; employment litigation and counseling, including prosecution and defense of class action and PAGA claims; and trust, estate and probate litigation.  Concurrently, Josh has developed a reputation as a prominent appellate advocate, having successfully prosecuted and argued over a dozen appeals in courts across the state, including cases before the California Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit.

Active in the Ventura County legal and business communities, Josh currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Ventura County Bar Association; is a past President of the Ventura County Barristers; and is a member of the Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association and the Ventura and Greater Conejo Valley Chambers of Commerce.  When not working, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Michelle and their children Benjamin and Natalie.

Publications and Presentations

• “Supreme Court Addresses Implied Public Dedication of Property,” Ventura County Bar Association Citations, October 1, 2017
•  Speaker , “Politicians’ Private Email is Fair Game: the California Supreme Court’s Decision in Smith v. City of San Jose,” Ventura County Bar Association Natural Resources Section MCLE Presentation, May 17, 2017
•  Speaker, “Business Litigation Basics,” Ventura Chamber of Commerce Legal Workshop Presentation, April 16, 2015
• “Breaking News Flash: Fracking is Still Controversial,” Ventura County Bar Association Citations, March 1, 2015
• “California’s Evolving Fracking Regulation,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, Vol. 128, No. 18, January 28, 2015
• Speaker, “Preparing and Approving CEQA Documents in the Face of Litigation,” American Public Works Assoociation-Ventura County Chapter June 11, 2014
• “From Rails to Trails and Back Again,” Ventura County Bar Association Citations, cover story, May, 2014
• Speaker, “Business Formation for Business Folks,” Ventura Chamber of Commerce Legal Workshop Presentation, April 23, 2014
• “Another Lackluster Year for CEQA Reform,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, Vol. 126, No. 238, December 9, 2013
• Speaker, “Greenmail- a Guide to Current Practical and Legislative Responses to CEQA Abuse,” Ventura County Bar Association Natural Resources Section MCLE Presentation, December 3, 2013
• “Dark Money: Anonymous Campaign Finance,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, Vol. 125, No. 201, October 16, 2012
• “Citizens United and Judicial Elections,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, Vol. 125, No. 103, May 29, 2012
• “The Modern Role of the Maxims of Jurisprudence,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, Vol. 125, No. 027, February 9, 2012