Van Etten Suzumoto & Sipprelle LLP provides the highest quality corporate and litigation services for companies and organizations of all sizes, as well as individuals, throughout Southern California, the United States, and abroad. Our attorneys assist clients with business and corporate counseling,complex commercial litigation, employment law, product liability matters, trade regulation and regulatory compliance, and an array of other corporate and litigation matters. To learn more about our areas of expertise, visit the practice areas overview. 


Van Etten Suzumoto & Sipprelle LLP was founded by David B. Van Etten, Mark K. Suzumoto, andKeith A. Sipprelle, three seasoned attorneys who left their careers at a major multinational law firm to come together and build a firm that would emphasize value. In the current economic climate, we believe it is inappropriate for law firms to continue charging exorbitant fees even as their clients struggle to stay afloat. Instead, we have dedicated ourselves to providing sophisticated legal representation at cost-effective rates. In recognition of our work, Martindale-Hubbell has awarded the firm its prestigious AV-Preeminent peer rating, signifying the highest ethical standards and legal ability. At Van Etten Suzumoto & Sipprelle LLP, our attorneys and professional staff are dedicated to identifying and executing legal strategies that will help our clients anticipate and avoid problems, resolve disputes, and achieve business goals. We take pride in the talent of our professionals, the depth of our combined expertise, and the teamwork we employ in responding to our clients' needs. To learn more about how we can assist you or your organization, contact us today.


Van Etten Suzumoto & Sipprelle LLP is an enterprising, AV-rated law firm, formed by three seasoned attorneys from major international law firms.  We provide cost-effective, results-oriented legal services, designed to meet the needs of our clients.  In the legal community, our attorneys have developed a reputation for integrity, hard work, and passionate representation of our clients.

In today's challenging economic environment, we are sensitive to our clients' need to control and minimize legal expense.  At Van Etten Suzumoto & Sipprelle LLP, we offer a competitive hourly rate structure and flexible and alternative billing arrangements.  We also partner with our clients to achieve cost-effective solutions to their legal problems.

To discuss your legal matter with one of our attorneys, contact us.  For additional information on our attorneys and our firm philosophy, we encourage you to explore the following topics:

Areas of ExpertiseAt Van Etten Suzumoto & Sipprelle, our highly skilled attorneys practice in a variety of areas, including general business and corporate counseling, trade regulation and regulatory compliance, consumer product distribution advice and counseling, intellectual property, products liability counseling and litigation, complex commercial litigation, construction litigation, personal injury litigation, and labor and employment counseling, litigation, and arbitration.  To learn more about our areas of expertise, visit the practice areas overview.

Our ClientsVan Etten Suzumoto & Sipprelle has offices located in Los Angeles and Westlake Village, California.  Our clients range from individuals and small businesses to multi-national corporations, located primarily in Southern California but also throughout the United States and abroad.  We represent start ups, middle-market and Fortune 500 companies, family partnerships, individual entrepreneurs, investors, and senior executives of major corporations. We work within a broad range of industries, including health care, telecommunications, insurance, computer hardware and software, manufacturing, retail sales, food and beverage, real estate development, financial services, consumer goods, and entertainment.

Our MissionAt Van Etten Suzumoto & Sipprelle, our guiding principle is to provide tangible value to our clients; truly exceptional legal work at lower overall costs.  We will earnestly endeavor to earn the privilege of becoming your first call and "go-to" counselors for all legal issues.

Our experienced big-firm attorneys are committed to delivering unparalleled, value-added legal services.  It is a privilege and honor to represent any business or individual as their lawyers. We will continually strive to be your business partner and trusted advisor in all legal matters.

Focus on ResultsWe are a practical, bottom-line, results-oriented firm.  While clients are interested in the quality and value of legal services, we also know that our clients' primary concern is the end results that we achieve.  While we constantly strive to provide an exceptional work product at reasonable rates, at the same time, we remain focused on the client's ultimate objective.

Cost-Conscious RepresentationOur community and neighbors are now confronting the most challenging economic environment since the Great Depression.  Van Etten Suzumoto & Sipprelle strives to be part of your solution, not another line-item expense.  Cost control is a major focus of everything we do for our clients. In today's highly-regulated and litigious business environment, it is virtually impossible for most businesses to avoid significant, ongoing legal expense.  Of course, legal expenses are often an investment, and we understand that our clients need to maximize their return on the investment.

Our goal is to efficiently manage legal expenses and produce tangible value for each client. Successful cost control requires effective client communication and the use of excellent judgment about the relative risks and rewards of engaging additional actions and processes.  We utilize state-of-the-art technology and a depth of professional experience to deliver efficient and cost-effective service.  We are able to control legal expenses through the use of a few specific tactics, including: 

  • Our standard billing rates are substantially lower than the rates charged by both comparable and "name-brand" law firms that handle complex matters.
  • We are flexible in fashioning non-traditional billing arrangements, including flat fee, set retainer, equity participation, contingency fee, and mixed contingency/reduced hourly rate arrangements.  This flexibility permits clients to establish reliable budgets and pursue opportunities that might otherwise be deemed to be too expensive or risky.  We entertain alternative billing arrangements which incorporate monetary incentives and rewards for achieving favorable results and cost savings on behalf of the client.
  • In litigation matters, our extensive experience permits us to develop detailed budgets and risk analyses, quantifying anticipated costs and the likelihood of success.  We thoroughly analyze each litigation matter at the earliest practicable stage. This enables clients to conduct an early cost-benefit analysis of the pending or contemplated litigation, generally resulting in appreciable savings.
Personalized and Responsive Client ServiceAt Van Etten Suzumoto & Sipprelle LLP, we take pride in our ability to promptly respond to the immediate needs of our clients.  Our firm is designed to ensure that our attorneys are fully accessible to our clients.  We prioritize client service, providing personalized attention in every matter, from start to finish.  Outside of the office, our attorneys are available at their homes or elsewhere in any emergency or time-sensitive situation.

The attorneys at Van Etten Suzumoto & Sipprelle seek to become an integral part of each client's team.  We take the time to learn about our clients' businesses and industries so that we may better understand goals, anticipate needs, and deliver timely and appropriate legal services.  We are proud that our firm is exclusively comprised of experienced, knowledgeable, and skilled attorneys.  Our clients will never pay to educate or train an attorney.