Miller, Morton, Caillat & Nevis, LLP
A San Jose partnership practising construction, real estate, business and estates law since 1929.
About
Founded in 1929, Miller, Morton, Caillat & Nevis, LLP is a San Jose law firm that calls itself the longest-tenured partnership in Santa Clara County. Its office is on Gateway Place, the cluster of office buildings between Highway 87 and Mineta San Jose International Airport, at the northern edge of downtown.
Practice areas
The firm concentrates on four fields. Construction law, from contract drafting and mechanics liens through defect and delay disputes, is its historic strength, and it says it represents many of California's larger property owners, developers and contractors. Real estate work covers purchases, leasing, land use and title disputes. The business practice handles formation, contracts, partnership disagreements and commercial litigation, and a trusts and estates group prepares wills, trusts and succession plans and administers estates.
Clients range from individuals to public agencies. The firm describes its approach as pairing competitive billing rates with hands-on representation, and it keeps a second office in Newport Beach for Southern California matters.
Engaging the firm
Call or email with a short summary of the matter and the parties involved so the firm can check for conflicts before a first conversation. Bring the contract, deed, correspondence or notice at the centre of the dispute, and note any deadlines, since construction claims and lien rights in California run on tight statutory clocks. Ask which attorney would lead the matter, how the firm bills, and what an early assessment would cost. For estate planning, a list of assets, beneficiaries and existing documents speeds the first meeting.
Clients across the county
From Gateway Place the firm is a short drive from Santa Clara, Campbell, Milpitas, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Sunnyvale and Morgan Hill, and its construction practice reaches across California. The airport location suits clients flying in from the south.
Reach the firm at 408-292-1765 or through millermorton.com.
Services
VerifiedContracts, mechanics liens, stop notices, payment and performance bond claims, and defect and delay litigation for owners, developers, general contractors and subcontractors on California projects.
Purchase and sale agreements, commercial leasing, easements, title and boundary disputes, and land-use matters for property owners and investors in Santa Clara County and beyond.
Entity formation, shareholder and partnership agreements, commercial contracts, disputes between owners and general business litigation for closely held companies and public agencies.
Wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, succession planning for family businesses and property, and trust and probate administration after a death.
Details
Location and service area
San Jose, CA 95110-1038
Common questions
Typical for this type of businessWhat should I bring to a first meeting with a construction lawyer?
The contract and any change orders, the payment history, correspondence about the dispute, photographs of the work, and any notices you have received or served. Deadlines for mechanics liens and stop notices are short, so mention dates first.
How do law firms in San Jose bill?
Most bill by the hour at rates that vary by attorney, sometimes with a retainer paid up front; some matters are handled on a flat fee. Ask for the engagement letter to spell out rates, who will work on the matter and how expenses are charged.
Do I need a lawyer to set up a trust?
California allows do-it-yourself documents, but a trust that holds real estate or a business usually benefits from an attorney who can title assets correctly and plan for taxes and succession. Ask what the plan includes and how updates are handled later.
Will the firm check for conflicts before talking to me?
Yes; firms must confirm they do not already represent the other side. Give the names of all parties when you first call so the conflict check can be run before you share details.
Before you hire
- Look up each attorney on the State Bar of California website for status and discipline history.
- Ask for a written engagement letter with rates, retainer terms and who will handle the matter.
- Give the names of all parties up front so a conflict check can be completed.
- Note filing and lien deadlines before the first meeting; they can be weeks, not months.
- Ask for an early assessment of the matter's likely cost and outcome.
Resumen en español
Con oficinas en Gateway Place, cerca del aeropuerto de San Jose, el bufete Miller, Morton, Caillat & Nevis fue fundado en 1929 y se describe como la sociedad de abogados más antigua del condado de Santa Clara. Se concentra en derecho de la construcción, bienes raíces, derecho empresarial y fideicomisos y sucesiones, y representa a particulares, empresas y organismos públicos; también tiene una oficina en Newport Beach. Antes de la primera reunión conviene reunir contratos y avisos con sus fechas. Teléfono: 408-292-1765; sitio web millermorton.com.
Details marked Verified were checked on September 29, 2026 against millermorton.com. Other details come from public business records or describe what is typical for this type of business, as marked. Not yet confirmed by the business.
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