Construction professionals reviewing project plans

Our Firm

Defining California construction law — one published decision at a time.

Carno Law Group represents developers, general contractors, subcontractors, engineers, architects, material suppliers and haulers throughout California, with deep roots in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego Counties.

We're a multi-faceted litigation firm providing economical and efficient legal services to a diverse clientele — with a reputation as a tenacious advocate and client-focused firm. Excellence and integrity are not slogans here; they are why clients stay with us for decades and refer the people they work alongside.

Our mission is simple: bring real litigation experience and construction-industry expertise to every unique challenge a builder can face, and deliver a unique solution for it.

Client-first economics — we don't pad the file
Industry-fluent attorneys — mechanic's lien, stop notice, Miller Act, FAR, surety, DBE
Bilingual capability — English & Spanish

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Years building California case law

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Published appellate precedents

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Making New Law

Two California appellate decisions — authored by our cases.

Most firms practice the law as written. We've helped write it. Two of the firm's matters have become published California Court of Appeal decisions, now cited as precedent by other attorneys and courts.

Force Framing Inc. v. Chinatrust Bank, 187 Cal. App. 4th 1368 (2010). The court held that a laborer or materialman who reasonably relied on the owner's or general contractor's identification of the project lender does not need to independently verify county records — protecting payment rights for those who built the project.
Mepco v. Saddleback Valley Unified School District, 189 Cal.App.4th 1027 (2010). Now cited when analyzing how an unpaid contractor on a public works project can recover its attorneys' fees.

Our Team

The attorneys and staff behind your matter.

A small, dedicated team of exceptional professionals. No silo'd intake, no handoffs — the lawyer who answers your first call is the one who'll see the matter through. Teamwork is how a firm this size takes on opponents several times its size.

President · Attorney at Law

Anna M. Carno

For over 25 years, Anna's practice has focused on representing those in the construction industry, in both litigation and transactional matters.

Anna M. Carno is President of Carno Law Group, a Professional Law Corporation. Ms. Carno is an experienced and accomplished litigator and a leading transactional attorney. For over 25 years her practice has focused on representing those in the construction industry, in both litigation and transactional matters. She has represented the legal interests of general contractors, developers, specialty subcontractors, engineering firms, design professionals, defense contractors, equipment rental companies, trucking companies, and various materialmen and suppliers.

Ms. Carno practices “preventative law.” That is, she uses the knowledge and experience she has gained from being a leading trial attorney to advise clients so that they can take measures to “prevent” being involved in litigation. For example, when asked to draft or revise contracts, Ms. Carno borrows from her trial experience to decide what terms and conditions to include, or omit, from any given agreement to minimize the possibility of litigation.

Ms. Carno has been the lead attorney in numerous arbitrations, mediations, administrative hearings, and federal and superior court trials. Many of the matters she has handled involved payment disputes (mechanic’s lien, stop notice and payment bond claims), defect claims, delay and acceleration claims, bid disputes, challenges to insurance or indemnity demands, administrative appeals, surety litigation, and commercial business transactions.

Under her leadership, Carno Law Group has also developed a niche practice in government contracts and SBE/WBE/MBE/VBE and SBA 8(a) certification issues, helping construction companies participate in contracts awarded by federal, state and local public agencies, from obtaining certification to defending it when it is in jeopardy.

Ms. Carno graduated cum laude from Loyola Marymount University in 1984 and received her Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in 1989. She is admitted to practice in all the courts of the State of California, the Southern and Central Districts of the United States District Courts of California, and the United States Court of Federal Claims. She is conversant in Italian and Spanish. She has spoken at numerous seminars on construction-related topics, has authored numerous publications regarding construction and litigation, and is the Chair and/or a member of the Legal Committee for multiple organizations.

Education: B.A., cum laude, Loyola Marymount University (1984)
J.D., Loyola Law School (1989)
Admitted: All California state courts
U.S. District Courts, Southern & Central Districts of California
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Languages: English, Italian, Spanish

Of Counsel

Samuel Romero

An experienced litigator with many years of service in the construction industry.

Samuel Romero serves as Of Counsel at Carno Law Group, A Professional Law Corporation, bringing seasoned legal insight to the firm's robust construction litigation practice. He is an experienced litigator with many years of service in our industry.

In his Of Counsel role, Samuel supports the firm's representation of contractors, subcontractors, engineers, and material suppliers on both private and public works construction projects throughout California. His experience complements the firm's expertise in mechanic's lien law, surety matters, bond claims, and general business litigation.

Samuel is committed to helping clients navigate complex legal challenges with clarity and confidence, and his collaborative approach makes him a trusted resource for the firm's clients.

Focus: Construction litigation, mechanic's liens, surety and bond claims, business litigation

Associate Attorney

Joseph Cumming

Joseph's experience falls within two categories: construction law and business litigation.

Joseph Cumming is an Associate Attorney at Carno Law Group, A Professional Law Corporation. Joseph's experience falls within two categories: construction law and business litigation. He looks forward to providing the best possible representation of Carno Law Group's clients.

Joseph works closely with general contractors, specialty subcontractors, material suppliers, and equipment providers, assisting them with a wide range of legal matters from mechanic's lien claims and stop notices to corporate formation and indemnity issues.

He is committed to providing aggressive, results-oriented representation while helping clients minimize disruptions to their business operations throughout California.

Focus: Construction law and business litigation

Paralegal

Kayla Trujillo Perez

Kayla keeps every matter moving, from case preparation and research to document management.

Kayla Trujillo Perez is a Paralegal at Carno Law Group, providing essential legal support to the firm's attorneys and clients across a broad range of construction litigation and business law matters.

Kayla assists with case preparation, document management, research, and coordination, ensuring that every matter progresses efficiently and accurately. Her organizational skills and attention to detail are vital to the firm's ability to deliver timely, cost-effective legal services.

She graduated with a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Soka University of America and earned her paralegal certificate from the University of San Diego.

Education: B.A. Liberal Arts, Soka University of America
Paralegal Certificate, University of San Diego

Legal Assistant

Mary Jane Ollaca

Mary Jane welcomes every visitor and client who comes to our office.

Mary Jane Ollaca is a Legal Assistant at Carno Law Group. In addition to welcoming every visitor and client that comes to our office, she coordinates office activities, schedules, and assists in trial preparation.

Mary Jane plays a key role in ensuring smooth day-to-day operations, assisting with client communications, document preparation, filing, and case coordination. Her professionalism and commitment to client service help create a welcoming and efficient experience for every client the firm serves.

Role: Office coordination, scheduling, client communications and trial preparation

Legal Assistant

Kiana Rauda

Kiana serves as the liaison between our legal team and court personnel.

Kiana Rauda is a Legal Assistant at Carno Law Group. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a B.A. in Business Economics in 2018. She is experienced in office management and marketing communications.

She is instrumental in collecting necessary information for litigated matters and serves as the liaison between our legal team and court personnel. Kiana also supports the team with administrative tasks, document management, client correspondence, and case logistics, helping ensure that every client receives attentive and responsive service.