Edwin Schwartz is a partner in the Orange County office of Messner Reeves, where his practice focuses on representing landlords in habitability and landlord-tenant disputes, particularly in the multifamily residential housing sector. He defends property owners, managers, and private landlords, including those operating without insurance or self-insured, against claims involving mold, pests, plumbing failures, structural issues, overcrowding, and other allegations of uninhabitable living conditions.
With a growing emphasis on advising large-scale property owners involved with real estate investment trusts (REITs), Edwin works to develop tailored legal strategies that reduce exposure and support long-term asset management.
In addition to his landlord habitability defense practice, Edwin also represents employers in various employment disputes, including wrongful termination, discrimination, wage and hour violations, and workplace misclassification claims. His labor and employment concentration in law school and prior experience operating a plaintiff-side practice enable him to view litigation risks from both sides in any case.
Before joining Messner Reeves, Edwin ran his own law firm and worked for another prominent defense firm. Prior to his legal career, he worked for BMW, Lexus, and the Penske Automotive Group, as well as several successful tech start-ups, two of which were acquired by Symantec and Google.
Edwin received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California. Edwin earned his J.D. from California Western School of Law, where he was awarded American Jurisprudence Awards in Business Planning, Workers’ Compensation, Negotiation, and Advanced Mediation. He graduated with honors in Labor and Employment Law and received the Andrea L. Johnson Business Law Award. He also externed for U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter C. Lewis and is a graduate of the renowned Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College.
