About Nicholas J.
Nicholas J. Bontrager studied Law and Society at the University of California, Santa Barbara and graduated with a B.A. in 2004. He added a minor in Global Peace and Security before moving on to earn his J.D. from the University of La Verne College of Law in 2007. The combination of social science and legal training shaped his interest in the practical effects of law on individuals and communities.
He is admitted to practice in California, Illinois, Wisconsin, Florida and Colorado. Over the years he has combined private practice with advisory roles. He currently serves of counsel at Bereliani Law Office and also practices through Martin & Bontrager, APC. Those affiliations reflect a career built largely outside large firm structures, leaning instead toward smaller, client-facing practices.
Membership in the National Association of Consumer Advocates signals a steady involvement in consumer protection work. That association brings together attorneys who represent consumers against businesses and financial institutions. His participation in NACA keeps him connected to developments in consumer statutes, class action practice and litigation strategies that affect individual claimants.
Colleagues describe Bontrager as pragmatic in case handling. He has handled matters that require both litigation and negotiation. He prepares cases for court while also seeking practical resolutions where they serve client interests. That balance — readiness to try a case and willingness to settle sensibly — has defined how he approaches disputes.
His educational background informs how he frames problems. Courses in law and society and a supplemental focus on global peace and security early in his career contributed to a broader view of legal problems and the policy contexts in which they arise. At the same time, the technical training of law school provides the tools he uses in filings, motions and courtroom settings.
Today, Bontrager’s practice is split between his of-counsel role at Bereliani Law Office and his work at Martin & Bontrager, APC. He maintains active bar memberships in multiple states and remains engaged in consumer advocacy circles. His current practice centers on consumer protection and related matters.
