THOMAS P. DAVIS
Founder and Principal
Tom Davis is the founder and principal of Davis Toft. Tom has been a practicing attorney in Orange County, California since 1976, primarily as a civil litigator. His experience includes seven years as a partner in the Newport Beach office of a major international law firm. Tom has been the lead trial attorney in over 100 trials throughout Southern California, including disputes in federal and state courts in the counties of Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Bernardino, and Riverside.
Most recently, Tom has practiced in the fields of business, real estate, construction, and environmental litigation. He's also handled cases involving commercial disputes, partnership and corporate disputes, probate litigation, and advocacy before hearing boards of the City of Laguna Beach and Dana Point. Tom has also represented clients in professional licensing hearings before an administrative law panel.
AREAS OF CONCENTRATION
Real Estate and Construction Disputes
Business and Commercial Disputes
Partnership and Corporate Disputes
Probate Litigation
PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADES
AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
1975 State of Oregon
1976 State of California
1976 U.S. District Court, Central District of California
1988 U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
1989 U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, 1972, summa cum laude
Phi Beta Kappa
University of Southern California
Juris Doctor, 1975
Duke University
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Lewis and Clark Northwestern
College of Law, 1975 – 1976
LECTURER
Demystifying MERS (2013)
Standards for Professionalism and Civility among Attorneys and Legal Professionals (2009)
The One-Action Rule (2011)
Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Governance (The Basics) 2014, 2016
PHILANTHROPY
Founding Director, Chhahari (Nepalese Orphanage)
Chair, Laguna Beach Community Foundation
Former Director, President, and Vice President of Laguna Shanti
Former Director of the Friendship Shelter
Former Director of the SchoolPower Endowment Fund
Vestry, St. Mary Episcopal Church, Laguna Beach
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Orange County and American Bar Associations
State Bar of California
State Bar of Oregon (inactive member)
NICOLE C. TOFT
Partner
NT@DavisToftLaw.com
NicoleToft has been at Davis Toft since 2008. Nicole handles all forms of civil litigation, specializing in the areas of real estate and real property litigation, chain of title, landlord-tenant, environmental litigation, and a broad range of corporate disputes. Nicole has successfully handled cases at all phases of litigation, from initial pleadings to summary judgment, trial, and post-trial motions. Nicole also assists Davis Toft’s corporate clients with drafting and negotiating agreements in the real estate and technology industries.
AREAS OF CONCENTRATION
Real Estate Litigation and Transactions
Business Litigation and Transactions
Corporate Disputes
Technology Licensing and Nondisclosure Agreements
Estate Planning and Trust Administration
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, 2004
University of California, Irvine
Masters of Business Administration, 2008
Chapman University Argyros School of Business and Economics
Juris Doctor, 2008, cum laude
Chapman University School of Law
Chapman Law Review
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
2008 State of California
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Super Lawyers Magazine - Rising Star (2017)
Orange County Bar Association
Laguna Beach Community Foundation, Co-Chair, Professional Council
Laguna Playhouse, Development Committee
Chapman University School of Law Alumni Association Board Member (2011)
JESSIE BOYNE
Executive Assistant
JB@DavisToftLaw.com
Jessie Boyne is responsible for facilitating communication between the firm’s attorneys and clients and maintaining client files. Jessie also assists with billing inquiries and is a liaison between clients and attorneys and staff at Davis Toft. Jessie is also a graduate of Chapman University with a degree in Communication Studies.
VANESSA AGUIRRE
Legal Secretary
Vanessa Aguirre joined Davis Toft in 2008. Vanessa assists the firm with all aspects of litigation and she handles a majority of the firm’s calendaring and court filings. Vanessa is actively involved in the status of Davis Toft's litigation and transactional matters and she is a key point of contact at the firm with respect to client inquiries of all kinds. Vanessa assists all of Davis Toft's attorneys; however, she is the primary Legal Secretary to the firm's principal, Tom Davis.
OUR TEAM