Like our home of Ventura County, Ferguson Case Orr Paterson has a rich history of putting down roots and cultivating growth.

In 1982, Michael Case, David Cunningham and John Orr — a fourth generation Ventura County attorney — sought to bring a new level of legal services to Ventura. They left the firm of Benton Orr Duval & Buckingham, then approaching its 100th year in practice, to launch their own firm. Like many entrepreneurs, they started bare bones with a word processor, three support staff and John Orr’s 70-year-old mother, who answered the phones.

Over the decades that followed, Ferguson Case Orr Paterson has established its own identity as Ventura County’s premiere legal practice and the place for talented legal professionals. In the words of partner, Ted England, “we are in the talent business.” We cultivate talent in house and from leading state and national firms expanding our expertise and sharing our values as we continue to grow. From partner Mike Case, “John Orr and my view has always been to hire, or group together with lawyers who are better than us.”

In 1990, our first merger brought decades of legal knowledge built at Ferguson, Regnier and Paterson. Eleven years later, we added top lawyers from England, Whitfield, Schroeder & Tredway and in 2002, England and Cohen. More of the best and brightest legal minds came from such prominent firms as Lascher & Lascher and Nordman Cormany Hair & Compton. With each addition, the lawyers joining us said ours was the only firm they were willing to join, but we’re the ones who benefited most.

For our clients, these years of combined expertise translate into strong relationships throughout state and local businesses, courts, and institutions. “The people who come have wanted to contribute, and have contributed very, very successfully to not only making us a better firm but to having a better practice of their own,” Orr says.

Ferguson Case Orr Paterson is greater than the sum of its parts. Our commitment to our clients and values is shared by all our staff; attorneys, paralegals, secretaries and office personnel. With a strong sense of stewardship for our legacy and even more enthusiasm about the future, we continue to dig our roots deeper and pursue our passion for excellence, cultivating talent and serving our clients and community.