John Messina & Ted Hankin maintain their reputation as two of Southern California’s top rated lawyers and John is also a current California Licensed Embalmer. John and Ted have been lauded by their peers, earning Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating and its prestigious “Preeminent” distinction. John heads the Firm’s Temecula Valley Office and is a litigation attorney with top executive-level, hands-on experience as a broker, real estate developer, and mortgage banker. Along with being a published author, John has a lengthy record of experience litigating convoluted and difficult cases and is particularly adept at constructing complex business and real estate transactions. John’s recent victory in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals helps demonstrate the level at which he practices law. Ted, an attorney and CPA, heads the firm’s Newport Beach office. Ted has effectively combined his success as an experienced lawyer while maintaining his CPA license continuously during his 37 years in practice. Ted uses his vast knowledge about business-related matters to counsel his clients in transactions and litigate for them in matters involving business formation, operation, and dissolution. Ted excels as a trusts and estates attorney; handling everything from the preparation of estate-planning, conservatorships, and guardianships documents to the litigation of complex cases involving wills probates and trusts.
In addition to their Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® rating which is the highest possible rating for an attorney for both ethical standards and legal ability, both John and Ted are AVVO rated as “Superb” with 10.0 ratings.
Along with our other senior members of our Firm, John and Ted’s distinctive legal-business acumen is what separates their services from their peers; very few attorneys know more about and have greater experience in every element of creating, maintaining and protecting businesses as do the lawyers of Messina & Hankin LLP.