About Winfield Smith Payne
Winfield Smith Payne III is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in the State of California. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1979. His license is currently in active status. Mr. Payne is the owner of The Law Office of Winfield S. Payne III, a law firm located in Riverside, California. He has been practicing law for over 46 years, serving clients throughout Riverside County and the surrounding Inland Empire region.
Mr. Payne earned his Juris Doctor degree from Western State University College of Law. Prior to law school, he completed his undergraduate education at Chapman University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree. He furthered his legal education by earning a Master of Science in Taxation from Golden Gate University. These academic credentials have equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of both the legal and financial aspects of his practice areas.
Mr. Payne concentrates his practice in the areas of bankruptcy law, business law, and consumer law. He represents individuals and businesses in matters involving Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings, as well as debt relief strategies. His business law practice encompasses business formation, contracts, mergers and acquisitions, and partnership disputes. In consumer law, he handles cases related to class actions and lemon law. His practice involves all stages of litigation, including initial case evaluation, discovery, mediation, settlement negotiations, and trial proceedings in both state and federal courts.
Throughout his career, Mr. Payne has handled cases in the Superior Court of California for the County of Riverside, the United States District Court for the Central District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He has also appeared before the California Court of Appeal on multiple occasions. Prior to founding his own firm, he worked as an associate at a mid-size litigation firm in Riverside for several years.
Mr. Payne is an active member of the Inland Empire Bankruptcy Forum and the California State Bar Association. He is also a member of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation. Mr. Payne is fluent in English and Spanish, allowing him to serve the diverse communities of Riverside County effectively.
