Overview

Jon H. Epsten is the founding shareholder in the law firm of Epsten Grinnell & Howell, APC. Jon is a native San Diegan who graduated from the University of San Diego and obtained his law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, graduating with scholastic merit.

For years, Jon acted as a community association manager. Jon estimates he has attended well over 2,000 association meetings. Jon’s work on behalf of community associations encompasses providing advice on all types of corporate matters including directors’ and officers’ defense, mold and mildew litigation, interpretation and enforcement of governing documents, assessment collection, construction defect litigation, and construction and remediation issues. Jon has participated in and been lead counsel on many construction defect cases resulting in multi-million dollar settlements and currently assists in overseeing the firm’s construction defect practice. Jon also advises Associations on risk management and insurance, and contract issues.

Jon taught as an adjunct professor of law at California Western School of Law. He is past president of both the San Diego Chapter and the Greater Inland Empire Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CAI), and has testified as an expert witness in com­munity association-related issues. Additionally, Jon was a contributor to the Continuing Education of the Bar Publication, “Advising California Common Interest Communities.” He acts as a law faculty instructor for the Community Associations Institute and has received numerous awards for his contributions.

Jon is an active member of the California Association of Community Managers (CACM), was a member of its Professional Standards Committee, received the CACM Lifetime Achievement Award and has been appointed to the CACM faculty. Jon is a fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers (CAI), the San Diego County Bar Association and the Foothills Bar Association. Jon was honored with the Distinguished Service Award by both the San Diego Chapter and the Greater Inland Empire Chapter of the Community Associations Institute, and has received the CAI Hall of Fame Award. He has been the co-chair of the Committee on Common Interests Subdivisions for the State Bar, and has acted as a probation monitor for the State Bar.

Most recently, Jon was named a 2012-2018 Super Lawyer, was honored by the San Diego Business Journal as among the “Best of the Bar” from 2014-2016, and has been one of San Diego Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” from 2015 to 2018.