San Diego, CA – September 9, 2025 – Epsten, APC, a leading Community Association law firm in Southern California announces the retirement of Jon H. Epsten, CCAL, effective October 31, 2025. Jon Epsten will remain with Epsten, APC in an Of Counsel capacity commencing November 1, 2025.
Jon Epsten is the founding Shareholder of Epsten, APC, with an exemplary legal career spanning over 42 years, rightfully establishing him as one of the most prominent community association lawyers in California and the country handling both transactional and litigation matters. Jon, along with his partner Doug Grinnell and other team members, handled some of the largest construction defect cases in San Diego, from inception to the completion of repairs. A native San Diegan, Jon grew up in Point Loma, graduated from the University of San Diego and obtained his law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, graduating with scholastic merit. Prior to attending law school, Jon was a community association manager which provided him with a deep first-hand knowledge and understanding of the challenges encountered by Epsten clients and their community association managers.
Mr. Epsten received many accolades in his rewarding career which notably include being a founding member of the California Association of Community Managers (CACM), member of the CACM Professional Standards Committee, receiving the CACM Lifetime Achievement Award and being appointed to the CACM faculty. Jon is also a fellow of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL). A former President of the San Diego and Greater Inland Empire Chapters of CAI, Jon has also been honored with the Distinguished Service Award by both CAI Chapters and has received the CAI Hall of Fame Award. He is a former co-chair of the Committee on Common Interests Subdivisions for the California State Bar, a former San Diego Superior Court Judge Pro Tem, a former Adjunct Professor at the California Western School of Law and has acted as a probation monitor for the State Bar. Additional honors include being named Super Lawyer by his peers, and Lawyer of the Year in San Diego Magazine.
“Jon’s contributions to the firm, the community association law industry, as well as the generations of community association attorneys he has mentored throughout his legal career are too many to mention. We are honored to have the opportunity to continue his legacy in the community association legal community,” said Kieran J. Purcell, Managing Shareholder.
“Having attended thousands of HOA Board Meetings throughout my career and working with countless professionals, it is now time for me to focus on spending time with my amazing wife, Mary, my children, and my five beautiful grandchildren,” said Jon. “Looking at what the firm has become today, it is hard to believe that the firm was founded in the 1980’s with a starting capital contribution of $200.00.”
We thank Jon H. Epsten for his contributions to the firm, the California legal community and the community association industry.
About Epsten, APC:
Epsten, APC is proud to be one of the most experienced and qualified law firms providing legal expertise to community associations. With offices in San Diego, Palm Desert, and Temecula we serve associations throughout Southern California.
We provide association corporate counsel, CC&Rs interpretation and enforcement, rule enforcement, contract negotiation, insurance reviews, resolution of architectural disputes, as well as litigation of CC&R disputes and enforcement, breach of fiduciary duties, contract litigation, personal injury and property damage claims, construction defect, construction law, and fair housing.
Our community association attorneys play several roles in the success of our clients, serving as advisors, problem solvers, advocates, and educators. Our legal team is dedicated to the practice and study of the laws and regulations related to community associations in California. Several of our attorneys have been inducted into the prestigious College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL®).
Contact:
Carolyn D. Decker
Chief Operating Officer
[email protected]
858.527.0111
