Wayne V. R. Smith

Wayne V.R. Smith has been an active lawyer in Contra Costa County since 1972. His key practice areas are construction and real estate law, business law and litigation, contracts, and Wills, trusts and probate matters, including litigation and contests.

In construction, Mr. Smith deals with the contract and performance side. He has represented general subcontractors, subcontractors and owners for over 30 years in matters involving claims, delay damages, performance requirements, extra work claims, licensing activities, breach of contract claims, termination, and related issues.

In real estate law, Mr. Smith has experience in dealing with all types of real estate issues, such as land use planning, environmental issues, trespass and damage to land, neighbor disputes, boundary disputes, adverse possession, title issues, owner associations and CCRs, liens, foreclosures, purchase and sale and leasing, etc.

In business law, Mr. Smith helps clients with incorporation, or setting up limited liability companies; and he helps set up partnership agreements, buy outs, purchase and sale of businesses, and all contract and litigation activities related to business activities.

In the area of Wills, trusts and probate, Mr. Smith assists clients with setting up and designing appropriate estate plans, including living trusts, powers of attorney, conservatorships, guardianships, health care powers of attorney, probate of wills, administration of trusts, and related contests and legal proceedings concerning Wills, trusts and probate.

Mr. Smith has over the past few years completed over 100 hours of training in the field of mediation, and serves as a mediator in matters involving his practice areas. He has served as a mediator or represented clients in mediation procedures for the past 10 years in over 200 matters involving these issues. He finds that his mediation activities help people get to closure, and that his mediation skills have helped him in the practice of law to get fair results for his clients.