Business Details
47 Years
experience
Trusted Legal Representation for Business Disputes
Lanak & Hanna has provided specialized legal solutions for over 45 years, focusing on construction law, suretyship, and business litigation. Founded in 1979 by Frank Lanak and Joseph Hanna, the firm relocated to Orange County in 1987 and expanded its expertise to include employment law, commercial collections, and business transactions. Our team combines deep industry knowledge with a client-centric philosophy, offering responsive representation across construction disputes, surety claims, and corporate matters.With offices in Colorado and Nevada, we serve clients nationwide through strategic problem-solving and personalized legal strategies. Our attorneys, many with over a decade of experience, maintain a commitment to clear communication and practical solutions while upholding the firm's founding values of integrity and expertise.
Services
Construction Law
Employment Law
Suretyship
Business Transactions
Commercial Collections
Estate Planning
Labor Law
Subrogation
Indemnity Claims
Mechanics Liens
Details
- Year established: 1979
Highlights and features
- We offer 45+ years of specialized experience in construction and business law.
- Our team provides nationwide legal representation with local market understanding.
- We maintain a client-centric philosophy with prompt communication and case resolution.
- Our attorneys have extensive litigation experience in state and federal courts.
- We combine construction industry expertise with comprehensive business law capabilities.
What people say
Successfully recovered payments
Experienced construction law attorneys
Responsive representation
Nationwide capabilities
Proven litigation success
Services
Construction Law
Our construction law practice handles contract disputes, payment bond claims, and project risk mitigation. With over 45 years of experience, we represent contractors, suppliers, and sureties in dispute resolution across public and private projects. Our team leverages deep industry knowledge to secure favorable outcomes through arbitration, trials, and appeals while protecting clients' financial interests through mechanics liens and stop notices.
Suretyship
We provide comprehensive surety law services including bond obligations, indemnity recovery, and subrogation claims. Our attorneys manage complex project defaults and prosecute thousands of indemnity actions annually. With expertise in General Indemnity Agreements and enforcement mechanisms, we help sureties recover millions through strategic litigation and pre-judgment asset protection while minimizing exposure through risk mitigation strategies.
Commercial Collections
Our commercial collections practice enforces payment rights through mechanics liens, stop notices, and bond claims. We recover unpaid invoices and contractor payments using post-judgment enforcement tools like bank levies and wage garnishments. The team tailors collection strategies to each case's financial stakes while maintaining compliance with state and federal collection laws, ensuring maximum recovery through both negotiated settlements and courtroom litigation when necessary.
Employment Law
We handle employment law matters including wrongful termination claims, wage disputes, and PAGA actions. Our attorneys provide proactive compliance guidance to prevent litigation while representing clients in administrative hearings and trials. The practice focuses on minimizing business risk through policy development, contract drafting, and strategic defense of employment-related claims in both state and federal jurisdictions.
Business Transaction Law
Our business transaction practice supports companies through entity formation, contract negotiation, and corporate governance. We assist with mergers, acquisitions, and buy/sell agreements while protecting clients through intellectual property strategies and liability mitigation. The team provides ongoing counsel for business growth, handling everything from initial formation documents to complex commercial transactions requiring multi-jurisdictional compliance and forward-looking legal planning.
People
Frank Lanak
Founder
Frank Lanak co-founded the firm in 1979 with expertise in surety law. He represented construction industry clients in complex claims and contract disputes until his passing in 2023, leaving a legacy of integrity and client-focused legal representation.
Joseph Hanna
Co-Founder
Joseph Hanna co-founded the firm in 1979, building its reputation in construction law through meticulous attention to detail and client advocacy. He helped establish the firm's commitment to practical legal solutions before retiring from active practice.
Colin K. McCarthy
Principal Attorney
Colin McCarthy specializes in construction law and suretyship with decades of experience. He successfully represented clients in high-profile cases, including prevailing against the City of Long Beach in a multi-million dollar airport construction dispute.
Michael K. Murray
Principal Attorney
Michael Murray focuses on construction litigation and commercial collections. He recovered payments for solar system installations through strategic litigation and represented clients in complex construction disputes across multiple states.
Natasha K. Buchanan
Principal Attorney
Natasha Buchanan handles employment law and suretyship matters. She secured complete recoveries for clients in mechanics lien cases and achieved defense wins in labor commission proceedings while maintaining a focus on practical legal solutions.
Questions
What areas of law does Lanak & Hanna specialize in?
We specialize in construction law, suretyship, employment law, business transactions, and commercial collections while also handling estate planning and subrogation claims.
How long has Lanak & Hanna been in business?
The firm has provided legal services since 1979, with over 45 years of experience in construction and business law.
Do you handle cases outside California?
Yes, we serve clients nationwide with offices in Colorado and Nevada while maintaining regional presence with nationwide capabilities.
What makes your construction law practice unique?
Our construction law team combines decades of industry experience with litigation expertise, handling cases from contract negotiation through trial with a focus on mechanics liens and payment bond claims.
Can you help with commercial debt collection?
Yes, we enforce commercial debts through mechanics liens, stop notices, and payment bond claims while using post-judgment enforcement tools to recover unpaid invoices and contractor payments.
Do you offer business transaction legal services?
Yes, we provide corporate legal services including entity formation, contract negotiation, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance planning for businesses at all growth stages.
