FOUNDER

Alexandre Ian Cornelius is the CEO and Senior Attorney at Cornelius & Associates, APC and practices in the areas of commercial and business litigation and transactions including, but not limited to, purchase and sale of real estate, construction related disputes (including construction defects, mechanics liens and general contractor / subcontractor disputes), finance, leasing, development, entitlements, company and entity formation and structure, bankruptcy, reorganization and creditor/debtor rights and remedies.

While in law school, Alex served as an extern to the Honorable Lisa Hill Fenning, United States Bankruptcy Judge, Central District of California. Prior to law school, Alex worked for two years as a paralegal with Bues, Gilbert & Morrill of Phoenix, Arizona, where he managed and participated in complex real estate litigation, accountant liability, commercial litigation and bankruptcy cases.

Alex received his J.D. with distinction from Pepperdine University School of Law, California in 1995, where he received the American Jurisprudence Award and the Gunner Nichols Scholarship for academic excellence. He also participated in moot court competitions and was the champion of the Appellate Advocacy Tournament in 1993. He received his B.S. in Political Science with an emphasis in Philosophy and a Latin American Studies Certificate from Arizona State University in 1990.

Alex is a licensed member of the California Bar Association and is admitted to practice law in all state and various federal courts in California. He is also a member of the Los Angeles County and Beverly Hills Bar Associations.

​Originally from Arizona, Alex has lived in the greater Los Angeles area since 1992 and currently resides in Calabasas, California, with his wife, Elana, and their sons, Ryan and Justin.

Contact: cornelius@thecalaw.com

SENIOR ATTORNEY

Josh Mendelsohn is a Senior Attorney at Cornelius & Associates, APC, whose practice includes transactional and litigation representation in real estate, business operations and disputes, complex commercial matters, intellectual property, and employment law.

Josh has advised clients across a broad range of industries, including real estate development, hospitality, consumer products, technology, food and beverage, and entertainment. He is experienced in handling complex real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and business litigation at both the state and federal levels.

Josh often acts as outside general counsel to his clients, while his experience as an in-house attorney at a large consumer products company gives him a unique perspective on the legal and operational challenges businesses face. This background allows him to offer practical, business-oriented legal guidance that aligns with his clients’ strategic goals.

Josh earned his Juris Doctorate from University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law in 2003, with Distinction, and received the Karen Dorey Award for academic excellence. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Finance with Honors from California State University, Northridge.

Josh is a licensed member of the California Bar Association and the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

A California native, Josh enjoys hiking with his wife and three dogs, spending time at the beach, and anything on four wheels.

Contact: Jmendelsohn@thecalaw.com

ASSOCIATE

Timothy (Tim) Crawford is an Associate Attorney at Cornelius & Associates, APC, and practices in the areas of general commercial and business litigation, real estate and partnership disputes including breaches of fiduciary duty and fraud, construction related disputes including construction defects, mechanics liens and general contractor/subcontractor disputes as well as business transactional matters related to licensing and distribution agreements and other business agreements.

Prior to joining Cornelius & Associates, APC, Tim worked at Demler, Armstrong & Rowland, LLP, as an associate attorney handling litigation matters. While in law school, Tim served as an intern with Ingrooves Music Group handling various music publishing and rights agreement and disputes related to royalties and control and use of music catalogue and other intellectual property. Tim also served as an intern with the Los Angeles City Attorney Office-Central Crimes Division.

Tim received his J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law, California in 2020, where he served as the literary citation editor on the Journal of Business, Entrepreneurship, and the Law. He received his B.A. in English-Summa Cum Laude-from Arizona State University in 2017.

Tim is a licensed member of the California Bar Association. He is also a member of the Los Angeles County and Beverly Hills Bar Associations.

Originally from Arizona, Tim has lived in the greater Los Angeles area since 2017 and currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

While working as an associate at Demler, Armstrong & Rowland, LLP, Tim helped set aside a default for $2,000,000 that a client was facing when Tim’s firm took the case.

Contact: crawford@thecalaw.com

ASSOCIATE

Max Latman is a dedicated advocate and skilled litigator focusing on business and real estate disputes. He brings a strategic, results-oriented approach to complex litigation matters, helping clients navigate high-stakes conflicts with confidence and clarity.

Before joining Cornelius & Associates, Max represented clients in the healthcare, transportation, retail, restaurant, and entertainment sectors in a broad range of litigation matters, including general liability, premises liability, and professional liability claims. Through this experience, he developed a unique perspective on risk management, litigation strategy, and negotiation, which he leverages to benefit his business and real estate clients today.

Max represents clients in commercial contract disputes, partnership and shareholder litigation, real estate transactions gone awry, landlord-tenant disputes, and other business-related controversies. He is known for his attention to detail, creative problem-solving, and commitment to achieving favorable outcomes, whether through negotiation, mediation, or trial.

Max earned his Juris Doctorate at Southwestern Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California, Los Angeles. During law school, he served as a judicial extern for Honorable Craig Richman of the Los Angeles Superior Court.  Max was also the Lead Article Editor for the Southwestern Journal of International Law.

Contact: mlatman@thecalaw.com