Attorneys

Business-dispute attorneys committed to giving you the most sensible and effective counsel. Call or email for a free consultation:

(714) 641-1232

info@tvalaw.com

THOMAS A. VOGELE

TAV
Thomas A. Vogele

Mr. Vogele is the founder and President of Thomas Vogele & Associates, APC. He attended law school at the age of 51 after a successful 30 year business career, including stints in the banking, manufacturing and consulting industries. He attended Northwestern University and the Kellogg Graduate School of Management before moving to California in 1980.

He began his legal career as a litigation and appellate associate with the Enterprise Counsel Group, ALC. At ECG, he successfully represented clients in a variety of litigation and appellate matters, including all aspects of pre-trial practice (written and electronic discovery, depositions and law and motion practice) as well as serving as first- and second-chair on civil trials and alternative dispute resolution. Because of his extensive business background and expertise, Mr. Vogele was selected to work on several important business cases for the firm.

In 2010, Mr. Vogele left ECG and formed a partnership focusing on complex civil litigation and appellate work for a limited number of sophisticated individual and business clients in Southern California. The firm grew rapidly and expanded its reach to include client matters in state and federal courts throughout California, Texas, Washington State and Alaska. The firm became TVA in 2012 and continues to focus on complex civil and bankruptcy litigation, appellate and transactional matters for individual and business clients.

Mr. Vogele has successfully tried cases in state and federal courts as well as state and federal appellate courts. His successful client outcomes include a seven-figure non-dischargeable judgment against a Ponzi scheme operator; an eight-figure settlement of a four-year partnership dispute; a defense judgment and affirmance on appeal in a complex civil case against 34 defendants; a defense judgment in a Nevada quiet title action; and a seven figure judgment in an elder abuse and conversion case in Monterey County.

Mr. Vogele graduated from Chapman University School of Law with numerous honors and awards. Mr. Vogele was a member of both the Moot Court Honors and Executive Boards, and the Mock Trial Board while at Chapman. He served as judicial extern to the Hon. Vincent P. Zurzolo, former Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, from 2005 to 2006. While working in chambers, Mr. Vogele helped draft the 2006 revisions to the Court’s official form disclosure statement and plan of reorganization.

Bar Admissions & Professional Affiliations:

  • California Supreme Court; U.S. District Court and Bankruptcy Court for the Northern, Eastern, Central and Southern Districts of California
  • Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (BAP) for the Ninth Circuit; and Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • Admitted Pro Hac Vice for U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Delaware District, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas and the Nevada District Courts
  • Orange County Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the Orange County Federal Bar Association, the Monterey County Bar Association and the International Trademark Association

TIMOTHY M. KOWAL

TMK
Timothy M. Kowal

Timothy Kowal is a shareholder in Thomas Vogele & Associates, APC. His practice focuses on civil litigation, including business and complex civil litigation. Mr. Kowal has worked with a variety of clients, including health care providers, manufacturers and distributors, real estate developers, and public interest advocates. He has also represented clients on a number of appellate matters in state and federal courts.

Mr. Kowal has participated in a number of public interest cases, including workplace harassment and retaliation claims with the EEOC under Title VII and GERA. Mr. Kowal was also instrumental in obtaining a judgment invalidating an illegal city contract worth more than $20 million awarded in violation of fair bidding laws, and in obtaining a published decision requiring a quasi-public agency to disclose documents to city officials sitting as board members.

Prior to practicing law, Mr. Kowal helped start a successful IT sales and consulting firm in Orange County that continues to serve small businesses and individual customers in the region. Before joining Thomas Vogele & Associates, Mr. Kowal was a litigation associate at Enterprise Counsel Group in Irvine. He is active in community and legal advocacy groups, and writes and speaks on policy and legal issues.

Selected Decisions:

  • Choi v. Orange County Great Park Corp. (2009) 175 Cal.App.4th 524.
  • Kelter v. Associated Financial Group, Inc. (9th Cir. 2010) 382 Fed.Appx. 632, 634.
  • Nguyen v. Superior Court of Riverside County (Hemet Community Medical Group), California Court of Appeal (2011)

Bar Admissions & Professional Affiliations:

  • California Supreme Court and U.S. District Court and Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California
  • Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; and Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (BAP) for the Ninth Circuit
  • Adjunct Professor, Civil Procedure Clinic, Chapman University Fowler School of Law, 2015 to the present
  • Board Member, Orange County Federalist Society, 2007 to present
  • Board Member, Huntington Beach Tomorrow, January 2013 to present
  • Commissioner, Orange County Human Relations Commission, May 2012 to April 2016

Publications & Public Appearances:


BRENDAN M. LOPER

BML
Brendan M. Loper

Brendan Loper joined TVA after graduating from the prestigious University of Virginia School of Law and worked as a law clerk before taking and passing the California Bar Exam in July 2011. Mr. Loper’s practice focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on bankruptcy litigation, including trustee and creditor representation.

Mr. Loper has served as second chair trial counsel in state court and been given significant responsibility for managing a large bankruptcy adversary matter in which TVA serves as Special Counsel to the Chapter 7 Trustee. He has also represented individual debtors in bankruptcy court.

Prior to attending the University Of Virginia School Of Law, Mr. Loper graduated cum laude from Claremont McKenna College with a dual BA in Literature and Philosophy, both with honors.

Education:

  • University of Virginia School of Law, JD 2011
  • Claremont McKenna College, BA, 2008

Bar Admissions & Professional Affiliations:

  • California Supreme Court; U.S. District Court and Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California
  • Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (BAP) for the Ninth Circuit
  • Orange County Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Orange County Federal Bar Association

Orange County's best business-dispute attorneys because we understand your business. Call for a free consultation: (714) 641-1232