Tim Howett maintains a broad-based real property and construction litigation practice headquartered in Pasadena, California. Mr. Howett specializes in representing property owners, homeowners associations, lenders, developers, architects, engineers, real estate brokers, contractors, material suppliers, and business owners in all aspects of complex real property, construction, homeowners association, and business litigation, including class actions, through trial and appeals.

 

Mr. Howett is “AV” Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the preeminent national peer review lawyer rating service. He is an accomplished trial lawyer, and is a chartered member of the “Million Dollar Advocates” Forum.

 

Mr. Howett was born in Ely, England, and raised in Southern California. He earned his B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California, in 1983. While at CMC, Mr. Howett was a founder and Editor of the Claremont Journal of Philosophy. While at CMC Mr. Howett also studied comparative government and political philosophy at the London School of Economics and interned in the House of Commons in London, England.

 

Mr. Howett earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California, in 1988. He is admitted to practice by the State Bar of California, and is also admitted to practice before all United States District Courts in California, as well as the Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

 

Mr. Howett’s practice focuses on the following substantive areas of law:

• Community Association law, including general counsel, reconstruction and repair, and governing document (CC&R) enforcement, particularly architectural disputes.
• Real property litigation including real estate acquisition and development, nondisclosure, broker liability, eminent domain, inverse condemnation, land use, Coastal Act issues, and view protection.
• Construction litigation (both private and public works), including breach of contract, mechanic’s liens, stop notices, bonds, and delay and disruption claims.
• Construction defect and construction products liability litigation.
• Property and casualty insurance claims, including bad faith, arising out of fire, water damage/mold, earthquake, and land subsidence.
• Business torts such as contract disputes, fraud, unfair competition, breach of fiduciary duty, and employment litigation (including wrongful termination, discrimination claimis, and wage and hour class action defense).

 

Mr. Howett is a member of the American Bar Association, including its Forum on the Construction Industry (Division 3 - Design and Division 12 - Owners), the California State Bar and the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Litigation and Real Property Sections (Construction & Development and Community Association Law Subsections), and the Pasadena Bar Association. Through the firm he is also an Affiliate of the American Institute of Architects, Los Angeles Chapter, and a member of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.

 

Mr. Howett is a noted speaker and author on corporate, construction and community association law topics. He has served as a guest lecturer in Design and Construction Law at Woodbury University’s School of Architecture in Burbank, California. He is also active in the Los Angeles (GLAC), Greater Inland Empire (GRIE), and Orange County (OCRC) Chapters of the Community Association Institute ("CAI"). He chaired the GRIE Programs Committee from 2002-2003, and was Editor of the CAI-GRIE News from 2004-2005. He has participated as an expert in the OCRC’s Annual Free Legal Advice Seminar in 2007, 2008, and 2009. He currently serves as a member of CAI National's Amicus Committee, reviewing legal briefs on issues of importance to community associations for submission as amicus curiae ("friend of the court") to appellate courts natioinwide.His publications over the past two decades are numerous. Examples may be found in the "Press and Publications" section of this website.

 

Mr. Howett is married with two children. He enjoys his work and his family, as well as jazz, ocean sports, and travel.