Wanger Jones Helsley PC

Wanger Jones Helsley PC's mission is to provide high-quality representation and advice to the firm's clients in a timely and cost-effective manner. Our attorneys specialize in a broad range of practice areas, including the representation of national clientele in complex tort and personal injury claims; construction disputes; the representation of management in employment and labor matters; commercial, business, and real estate litigation; agriculture and agribusiness; insolvency and bankruptcy; water law; insurance defense; environmental law and land use; toxic torts; insurance coverage and bad faith litigation; probate and estate litigation; family law litigation and services; and white collar criminal defense. On any given day, you may find the attorneys at Wanger Jones Helsley PC preparing for trial; advising employers on sensitive labor and employment issues; presenting oral arguments to State or Federal courts of appeal; defending complex tort cases; analyzing new employment or environmental regulations that affect local businesses; advocating before administrative tribunals; steering both debtors and creditors through insolvency and bankruptcy; or providing much-needed guidance to individuals in the areas of family law, estate planning, and probate.

The attorneys at Wanger Jones Helsley PC thrive on new challenges, and take great pride in vigorously representing their clients' interests. As a result, it is no surprise that the firm enjoys an A/V rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating possible from this well-respected national lawyers' directory. In addition, over half the firm's lawyers were recognized as 2019 Northern California Super Lawyers or Rising Stars, including three on the Top 100 list (Oliver W. Wanger, Riley C. Walter, and Kurt F. Vote).
CONSTRUCTION LAW

The firm's construction litigation attorneys assist clients with disputes in State and Federal courts involving all manner of private and public works projects. Clients of our construction practice include developers, designers and engineers, builders, general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers. We have extensive experience in litigated matters, as well as those proceeding through arbitration or mediation before the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service (JAMS), among others. In addition to representing clients in breach of contract, construction defect, and SB 800 matters, our attorneys handle mechanic's lien, stop notice, and Miller Act claims; delay and disruption claims, including changed conditions and requests for equitable adjustment (REA); defense of design professionals, including architects and engineers; Contractor's State License Board (CSLB) proceedings, including citations, accusations, and license suspension, revocation, or denial matters; and insurance coverage, bad faith, and declaratory relief actions involving residential, industrial, and commercial construction defect cases. We also represent both buyers and sellers of real property in connection with proposed development and regularly draft purchase and sale agreements, option contracts, and related documents
PERSONAL INJURY

The firm's attorneys have extensive experience in defending local and national clients in personal injury matters. The firm has tried numerous cases to defense verdict, and also was the lead firm in securing a victory for a national client in the published case of Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. v. Department of Transportation (2013) 220 Cal.App.4th 87. The firm handles single plaintiff personal injury cases to complex personal injury cases involving multiple Plaintiffs, with possible exposure ranging from five to eight figures in damages.
AGRICULTURE AND AGRIBUSINESS

Being in the center of the most productive farming region in the world, the firm's attorneys are well-acquainted with the legal and business-related issues encountered by farmers, ranchers, dairymen, and agribusinesses. The firm provides a wide array of services to these communities, including business law, litigation, insolvency, and estate planning.
INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY

The firm's attorneys have significant expertise in almost all areas involving troubled businesses, farms, dairies and hospital districts. The firm provides service to creditors and debtors in Chapters 7, 9, 11 and 12 bankruptcies, receiverships, workouts, and assignments for benefit of creditors. Members of the firm have been involved in almost all major insolvencies in the San Joaquin Valley for nearly 40 years.
ENVIRONMENTAL, WATER, REAL ESTATE AND LAND USE LAW

The firm's environmental, water, real estate, and land use attorneys work with developers and local governments throughout the San Joaquin Valley and assist the firm's clients with a wide variety of water law issues; land use approvals; compliance with environmental regulations such as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Endangered Species Act; the negotiation of development agreements; and the review and negotiation of fees and exactions. Our attorneys also handle a wide range of environmental, real estate, and land use litigation in both State and Federal Courts and administrative tribunals, including environmental actions arising under State and Federal statutes such as Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and Proposition 65; the defense of mandamus petitions challenging development approvals; boundary, title and easement disputes; and disputes involving commercial and agricultural lease/purchase agreements.
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

The firm's commercial litigation practice focuses on insurance defense and complex tort defense; personal injury defense; business, agricultural, and real estate disputes; creditors' remedies; products liability; construction disputes and construction defect litigation; unfair business practices; corporate and partnership disputes; and insurance coverage bad faith claims. The firm's commercial litigation partners have extensive trial and appellate experience in State and Federal courts.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW

The firm's labor and employment attorneys have extensive State and Federal court experience in connection with employment discrimination, wage and hour, injunction, and wrongful discharge matters. The firm's labor and employment law practice group also provides ongoing advice and training to management in employment matters, and representation to employers in labor arbitrations and administrative proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB), Cal-OSHA, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
BUSINESS AND REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

The firm's transactional practice focuses on advising a wide range of clients from institutions and banks to smaller private firms and individuals on forming corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships; preparing required agreements for the acquisition, disposition or leasing of real property; conducting due diligence on transactions; acting in the capacity of corporate counsel and advising on corporate governance and other matters; hiring employees and independent contractors; purchasing and selling businesses; merging with other businesses; selling equity to outside investors; entering joint ventures and working with strategic partners; resolving internal and external conflicts; and engaging in other activities relevant to their businesses.
PROBATE AND ESTATE LITIGATION

The firm's probate litigation attorneys represent trustees, executors, beneficiaries, and other interested parties in a variety of litigated probate matters including trust contests, will contests, conservatorships, creditor's claims, and trust modifications.
TRUSTS AND ESTATES

For individuals needing assistance with asset preservation and distribution planning, the firm's estate planning attorneys are skilled in helping our clients achieve the benefits of preparing a will, a trust, and other important documents. Each individual's and each family's estate planning needs are unique. For this reason, our attorneys place a high value on understanding your desires and discussing the options available to achieve those goals. Whether you are looking to preserve and protect assets, to provide for a special needs child, or to ensure a well-designed distribution for future generations, you will find the firm's estate planning attorneys ready and able help you to create a plan that meets your personal goals and gives you peace of mind about tomorrow.
PROBATE

Whether confronted with the death of a loved one or the challenges that come from having a disabled or incapacitated family member, you will find the firm's probate attorneys understand life's difficulties and are prepared to guide you through the "next steps." Rather than experience a time of confusion and uncertainty, our probate attorneys are able to provide clear answers to each of your questions. Whether you are administering a decedent's estate, resolving trust issues, or creating a conservatorship, you will benefit from having experienced attorneys that are prepared to guide you from beginning to end.
FAMILY LAW LITIGATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES

The firm has several attorneys dedicated to handling all forms of family law disputes and pre-suit negotiations concerning dissolution, child custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, domestic violence, temporary restraining orders, and emergency protective orders. Additionally, the attorneys also handle the negotiation and drafting of pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. These attorneys have extensive experience in litigating complex matters involving businesses, ownership interests in various ongoing businesses and property, and buy-sell agreements in addition to providing advice regarding the intersection of family law issues with estate planning. Wanger Jones Helsley PC believes in integrating expert forensic accountants early in cases to develop important information concerning tracing of assets in order to offer our clients the most beneficial result relating to assets owned by multiple parties.
WHITE COLLAR CRIME

The firm's criminal defense practice provides representation to individuals and businesses facing a wide range of charges.

Locations	No. of Attorneys
Fresno, CA	23

Practice Areas	No. of Attorneys
Bankruptcy	2
Corporate - General	1
Environmental and Land Use	7
Family Law	4
Insurance Coverage	3
Labor & Employment	1
Litigation	9
Litigation - Construction	1
Litigation - General (consumer)	10
Litigation - Insurance	1
Litigation - Labor & Employment	5
Litigation - Real Estate	5
Other	3
Trusts and Estates	4