Advocates for California Renters

Meet the Team Behind California's Premier Housing Rights Law Firm

About Us

For almost 15 years, Elder & Spencer has stood on the front lines of California tenant rights law. We are a firm built on a simple conviction: every renter in California deserves access to experienced, tenacious legal representation, regardless of the size or power of the landlord they face.

From habitability, harassment, and retaliation to housing discrimination, our attorneys have the knowledge, the courtroom experience, and the commitment to fight for the rights California and federal law guarantees you.

The Elder & Spencer Team

Margaret Elder

Partner

Margaret Elder

Partner

Chandra Spencer

Partner

Chandra Spencer

Partner

David Elder

Of Counsel

David Elder

Of Counsel

Lanetta Rinehart

Of Counsel

Lanetta Rinehart

Of Counsel

Our Mission

At Elder & Spencer, our mission is to level the playing field for California tenants. Housing is not a luxury; it is a fundamental need. When landlords violate that right through illegal practices, unsafe conditions, or retaliatory conduct, we step in to hold them accountable.

We have built our practice specifically around California tenant protection law, including the California Tenant Protection Act, local rent control ordinances, the California Civil Code, and the Uniform Housing Code. This focused expertise means our clients receive counsel from attorneys who know the nuances of tenant law deeply, not as a side practice, but as their core calling.

Why Tenants Choose Us

We are not a general practice firm, and we never represent landlords. Every case we take is a tenant rights case. That singular focus has resulted in a track record that speaks for itself:

• Decades of combined experience in California tenant rights law
• Deep knowledge of local ordinances across Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Fresno, Bakersfield, Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and cities throughout California
• A client-first approach: we take the time to understand your situation, explain your rights clearly, and pursue every available legal remedy
• Active involvement in California housing advocacy and tenant protection initiatives

Rooted in Community

Elder & Spencer was built in California, for California. Our attorneys are not only practitioners of tenant law; they are advocates. We participate in community efforts and partner with consumer advocacy organizations to stengthen the landscape of support for California tenants. This commitment has made us one of California's most trusted housing rights law firms.

We understand that the communities we serve are diverse, that housing insecurity touches families across every background, and that effective legal advocacy must be accessible. That is why our cases are handled on a contingency basis, so cost is never a barrier to standing up for your rights.

Clients First, Always

We know that facing a landlord dispute can be one of the most stressful experiences of a person's life. At Elder & Spencer, we take that burden seriously. We believe in transparent communication throughout every stage of your case. You will always know where things stand.

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Copyright © Elder & Spencer, LLP. 2026. All Rights Reserved.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different. We offer free case evaluations, and no attorney’s fees are owed unless we recover compensation; clients may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses. Recognitions by third-party legal directories are based on their own criteria and do not imply specialization or certification. Descriptions of practice areas do not constitute certification or specialization unless expressly stated. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by any government agency.

David Elder

Of Counsel
David Elder earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky and his master’s degree from the University of Louisville before receiving his Juris Doctorate from Western State University College of Law.

He began his career in criminal defense, where he developed strong advocacy and trial skills before transitioning to civil litigation. Mr. Elder now brings that experience to housing law, fighting to protect the rights of tenants across California.

Lanetta Rinehart

Of Counsel
Lanetta Rinehart earned her law degree from Loyola Law School in 2000, graduating near the top of her class. Even before becoming licensed, she served as a certified law clerk, representing hundreds of tenants in habitability cases, an experience that sparked a lifelong commitment to housing rights.

Over the past two decades, Ms. Rinehart has handled habitability matters involving thousands of tenants in every county in California. She has tried cases involving habitability and environmental exposure in San Francisco, Bakersfield, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Bernardino, and San Diego.

Ms. Rinehart has studied under top national experts in exposure claims involving mold, pests, pesticides, asbestos, bromine, and other environmental agents. She has lectured on landlord-tenant law, negotiating habitability cases, and environmental exposures, and her work has been published in magazines.

Chandra Spencer

Partner
In 2007, Chandra Spencer founded her own law practice to provide quality legal representation to tenants and protect their housing rights. In 2013, she partnered with Margaret Elder to form Elder & Spencer LLP, expanding their impact across California.

Ms. Spencer earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1996, along with a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from California Lutheran University in 1994.

Chandra is a Board Member of the Consumer Attorneys of California and is the Community Service Chairwoman for the Women’s Caucus. Chandra is also an Executive Board Member for the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities, and will be their President in 2028.

Outside of work, Ms. Spencer enjoys SCUBA diving, traveling, and spending time with her family and three dogs.

Margaret Elder

Partner
With over 30 years of experience in housing law, Margaret Elder brings extensive knowledge, insight, and compassion to the tenants she represents. She advocates for clients facing slum housing conditions, discrimination, retaliation, and violations of rent control ordinances, and has successfully tried cases to verdict in both state and federal courts.

Ms. Elder began her legal career as a staff attorney at the Fair Housing Council of Orange County, where she worked to ensure government compliance with fair housing laws. She later joined an insurance defense firm representing landlords accused of housing violations. This experience gave her unique insight into the defense side of litigation. Ms. Elder then founded her own practice exclusively representing tenants, which expanded into Elder & Spencer LLP when she partnered with Chandra Spencer in 2013.

Ms. Elder graduated cum laude from Western State University College of Law. She earned three American Jurisprudence Awards, served on Law Review, and competed in Traynor Moot Court and Ferguson Honor’s Moot Court.

Outside of her legal work, Ms. Elder trains and competes as a master women’s rower.