I’m Seth Noorzad, attorney and founder of Noorzad Law.
Dedicated legal counsel for Southern California — where every case gets personal attention.
My name is Seth Noorzad. I run a small solo law practice based in Santa Barbara, California, and I serve clients all throughout the state, with a focus on Southern California. As a solo practitioner, I work closely with my clients on matters that need careful attention at a smaller scale. But my background and training give me the analytical ability you’d expect from a big-firm lawyer. My goal is simple: to listen carefully, give you honest guidance, and represent you with both rigor and respect.
I work best with people who want clarity and practical help, not pomp and circumstance. Maybe you’re dealing with an inheritance and need someone to cut through the noise. Maybe you own a small business and are negotiating a lease or a purchase, and you want an attorney who actually understands your scale instead of trying to squeeze you into a box. Maybe you bought something big and got burned, and you want to know if there’s a realistic way forward that won’t cost more than it’s worth. Or maybe you’re pushing for a cause — something before the city council or in the public interest — and you need effective advocacy, either in the room or behind the scenes. My goal is that you leave every conversation with a clearer picture of where you stand, even if I don’t end up representing you.
I keep my practice intentionally small so I can give each matter the focus it deserves. I don’t waste time, and I don’t waste words. What I do bring is the kind of brainpower you’d expect at a white-shoe firm — grounded in years of experience clerking in the largest trial court in the country (Los Angeles County) and drafting rulings on hundreds of motions. I’ve litigated in federal courts, from property disputes to environmental public interest cases, and I’ve handled smaller contract disputes for everyday clients. My approach is simple: look closely at the case, the person, and the human dimension, and combine that with sharp legal expertise. That combination is rare. If I take your case, it means I believe I can deliver. You will know where you stand, what it will cost, and whether it’s worth pursuing.
❊ Times I have made a difference for real people
Below are a few examples of times I showed up and made a difference in someone’s life… maybe you could be next?
Overturning a $1.3m Default Judgment
A middle-aged renter of a temporary vacation rental in Los Angeles was hit with a $1.3 million default judgment after a landlord-tenant dispute. Collection efforts had already begun — her assets were being seized, and her financial future looked ruined. When I reviewed the case, my background clerking in the largest trial court in the country gave me a sharp eye for default judgment procedures. I saw what others had missed: this was an unlawful detainer action, which by law cannot be converted into a damages case without proper pleading. The complaint never named a damages amount. I wrote a targeted Motion to Vacate, and the court agreed — the entire judgment was void. One motion erased $1.3 million of debt and gave her a second chance at property ownership and financial stability. This is the kind of work I do: seeing critical defects others overlook, and finding solutions where others think none exist.
Fitzgerald v. Edwards, et al. (LA County Case No. 19STCV31864). Click for the court’s ruling.
Forcing Accountability in a $2.3m Trust
A woman was left in uncertainty regarding her inheritance after her father’s passing. Her sister, the named trustee, refused to call, kept communication vague through a questionable lawyer, and seemed intent on dragging things out. With real property in California at stake and the risk of assets being siphoned away, delay was dangerous. I moved quickly: when the trustee stonewalled, I filed a petition within months. The legal grounds were thin, but the urgency was real — and my aggressive, detailed approach put pressure on every weakness in the trustee’s conduct. I uncovered leverage showing signs of bad faith and made clear I was ready to take the case to trial. Facing that, the trustee agreed to step aside in favor of a professional trustee. The result: my client received her rightful share of the estate in about a year and a half — money that could have taken years to reach her, or could have been lost altogether. My client received years of peace of mind and money in her account, instead of years of worry and anxiety.
Defending Tenants Against Abusive Litigation
Eight tenants in Los Angeles — many of them Hispanic, two of them elderly — were being pushed out of their rent-controlled apartments by a wealthy developer. The tenants had organized lawfully, but when a rogue protestor (not even a defendant) acted abusively at a demonstration, the landlord poured money into a lawsuit to hold all eight tenants liable under a sweeping “conspiracy” theory. I stepped in and wrote a precise motion for summary adjudication, relying on First Amendment precedent and carefully distinguishing the defendants’ lawful organizing from the actions of one outsider. The court granted the motion in full. Seven of the eight tenants were cleared completely, and the eighth faced only a minor trespass claim instead of crushing liability. In the middle of COVID, when families were already struggling, this ruling protected vulnerable tenants from a developer’s overreach and gave them breathing room to keep their homes.
Marzwell v. Herrerra, et al. (LA County Case No. 21STCV08577)