Mullen & Henzell L.L.P. is a prestigious full-service law firm based in Santa Barbara, California, with a distinguished history of serving clients since 1953. The firm stands out for its deep expertise across multiple practice areas, including business and real estate, civil litigation, labor and employment, and estate planning, supported by a large team of experienced attorneys dedicated to fostering client success.
The firm adopts a client-centered approach, emphasizing personalized service and strategic counsel tailored to the unique needs of each client, whether individuals, families, businesses, or public entities. With a commitment to balancing rigorous legal representation with a supportive work culture, Mullen & Henzell focuses on long-term partnerships rather than short-term gains, offering lower billable hour expectations for associates to ensure both professional excellence and quality of life.
Services Offered
- Business and Real Estate: Business planning, structuring, and entity formation; real estate acquisitions, finance, leases, easements, development, syndications, and tax-deferred exchanges; land use development, permitting, zoning, condemnation, and environmental matters; mergers and acquisitions; corporate real estate services
- Civil Litigation: Business and complex commercial litigation; breach of contract, fraud, and unlawful business practices; construction litigation; environmental and land use litigation; real estate litigation; insurance coverage and litigation
- Labor and Employment: Representation of management in employment contract disputes, wage and hour issues, wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, mediation/arbitration, union campaigns and negotiations, executive compensation, ERISA compliance, Affordable Care Act counseling, and reduction in force planning
- Estate Planning: Estate planning and administration; conservatorships; probate; integrated wealth transfer planning; tax and business planning; valuation planning; succession planning; tax controversy resolution
- Specialized Industry Services: Legal counsel for developers and construction, public entities and improvement districts, agriculture and vineyards, charitable organizations and nonprofits, hospitals and healthcare providers, technology and emerging growth companies, hospitality and restaurant industry, professional service providers, and retailers
The firm serves clients throughout Santa Barbara and Southern California, with particular strength in representing agricultural businesses, public agencies, and family-owned enterprises. Recognized as “Best Law Firm” in the Santa Barbara Independent’s Readers’ Poll for five consecutive years, Mullen & Henzell combines local dedication with sophisticated legal capability.
