Coblentz is pleased to announce that Sara Finigan has joined Danna Kozerski in serving as the firm’s Co-Managing Partners. Sara practices in the firm’s Corporate group and specializes in serving clients in the negotiation and funding of joint ventures for the development of real property. She also helps both corporate and individual clients develop and implement strategies to navigate complex business matters. She was previously chair of the firm’s Corporate practice group and was named a Top 100 Lawyer in California. In the community, Sara serves on the Board of Directors of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area.

For over a decade, Danna has been working alongside Alan Gennis and Jeff Knowles as the firm’s three Co-Managing Partners. The Partnership is extremely grateful to Alan and Jeff for their remarkable years of service at the firm’s helm. Both Alan and Jeff continue their respective real estate and litigation practices.

Danna Kozerski represents developers and companies in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions including financing, leasing, and acquisitions and dispositions of office buildings, museums, shopping centers, residential developments and mixed-use projects. She specializes in public/private partnerships and the formation of joint ventures. In addition to serving as a Co-Managing Partner for over a decade, Danna was previously chair of the firm’s Real Estate practice group. Danna is an elected member of the Policy Advisory Board for the University of California, Berkeley’s Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics, and an elected Fellow of The American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), the premier organization of U.S. real estate lawyers.

For the second consecutive year, Richard Patch was named among the best attorneys for client service by corporate counsel in BTI’s 2018 Client Service All-Star list.

The annual list from BTI Consulting Group Inc. is based on direct feedback from more than 300 corporate counsel of large businesses and Fortune 1000 companies with $1 billion or more in revenue identifying attorneys who stand out for delivering superior client service. This is

Richard’s second year named to the list, one of only 17 attorneys making repeat appearances on the BTI All-Star list from last year. Clients single out these MVPs for providing consistent service over time—proving themselves as the best at client service time and time again. The Client Service All-Stars excel in six common traits identified by corporate counsel and legal decision makers: having superior client focus; demonstrating an unmatched understanding of the client’s business; having exceptional legal skills; delivering efficient, value-added service; being innovative thought leaders; and a new driver—delivering superior client experience.

As a senior trial and appellate lawyer, Richard Patch is widely regarded as one of the leading satellite, cable and telecommunications lawyers in the country. Richard was also recognized as a BTI Client Service All-Star in 2014 and 2017, and Coblentz has been recognized in BTI’s Client Service A-Team for several consecutive years where corporate counsel continue to rank Coblentz in the top firms nationally for client service excellence.

Napa, CA March 19, 2018 – Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP is pleased to announce that Jeff Dodd has joined the firm as an associate in its Wine Country office. Jeff was previously with Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty.

Jeff is a land use and environmental law attorney. He assists entrepreneurs, small business owners, farmers, and non-profit entities seeking to own, develop, and add value to real property. He helps his clients understand the regulatory and political issues associated with their projects and implement strategies to achieve their goals in a timely and efficient manner.

“Jeff is an impressive, highly respected lawyer who brings significant local experience and relationships to the firm,” said Brandi Brown, head of Coblentz’s Wine Country office. Scott Greenwood-Meinert, who joined the firm in October, said, “Jeff will be a great addition as we continue to build our Napa team to serve our Wine Country clients, particularly in the land use and environmental areas. We are delighted to welcome Jeff to Coblentz.”

“I’m thrilled to join the high-level group of attorneys at Coblentz and I’m even more thrilled that Coblentz is harnessing their resources in the North Bay,” said Dodd. ” The firm does more than just provide first-class legal counsel to their clients, they invest and give back to the communities where they serve and I am excited to be a part of that.”

A Napa Valley native, Jeff serves on the Board of Directors of Connolly Ranch Education Center, a program connecting children to nature through farm-based education, and Community Health Initiative, which is dedicated to achieving 100% healthcare coverage for all Napa County residents regardless of income or age. He also represented the City of Napa on the Napa County Park and Open Space District Advisory Committee and served as an alternate to Napa County’s Agricultural Protection Advisory Committee. While in law school, Jeff served as an extern for Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye of the California Supreme Court.

Coblentz’s full-service Wine Country office serves the needs of clients across the spectrum including wineries, the food and beverage industry, real estate development and hospitality/resort companies, and family wealth clients. Coblentz’s Wine Country office is located on the Riverfront at 700 Main Street, Suite 210, Napa CA 94559. Tel. 707-603-2722.

About Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP
Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP, headquartered in San Francisco, is a premier provider of innovative, results-oriented legal services, specializing in real estate, litigation, business, intellectual property, employment, tax and family wealth. Law360 named Coblentz a California Powerhouse firm in 2017. The National Law Journal named Coblentz to its 2016 Midsize Hot List, the fourth year the firm has made this prestigious nation-wide list. U.S. News & World Report recognizes Coblentz as one of the nation’s top law firms in the Best Law Firm list, with national rankings in 13 practice areas and six prestigious “Tier 1” rankings in the highly competitive San Francisco law firm category. For more information: www.coblentzlaw.com.

Brandi Brown, head of Coblentz’s wine practice, was elected to the board of Women for WineSense, and will serve in the Secretary role. Women for WineSense is the premier wine education and networking organization for wine industry professionals and wine aficionados. The goal of the nonprofit, with 10 chapters across the United States, is to promote the appreciation and responsible enjoyment of wine and support the success and professional development of women and men in wine and associated industries.

Brandi advises a diverse group of public and private clients, including many well-respected wineries, vineyards, and hospitality businesses in Wine Country. She advises clients on the latest issues impacting advertising and branding, including promotions and interactive advertising campaigns, sponsorship agreements, social media and mobile advertising challenges, and privacy issues, as well mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private securities offerings, leveraged buy-outs, and general corporate counseling.

San Francisco, CA January 8, 2018 – Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP is pleased to announce the election of Fredrick Crombie, Paul Levin, and Peter Wang to the firm’s partnership. These promotions are effective January 1, 2018.

“The partnership couldn’t be more delighted to add three supremely talented lawyers to our ranks. In three different but all critically important practice areas, Fred, Paul, and Peter represent the best young talent in our industry, ” said Jeffrey G. Knowles,  co-managing partner. “We are proud that they have chosen to make their careers here – and to call them our partners.”

The 2018 new partners are:

Fredrick C. Crombie, Litigation.
Fred Crombie is an experienced litigator in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels. Fred’s practice focuses on complex civil litigation with an emphasis on financial disputes, tax controversy, complex commercial litigation, and trusts and estates litigation. Before he joined the firm, Fred was a Trial Attorney in the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, where he litigated a variety of tax controversies involving wealthy individuals, consolidated filing groups, insolvent financial institutions, telecommunications carriers and resellers, payroll processing companies, foreign service corporations, and nonresident aliens. Fred earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School in 2002. While there, he was an Associate Editor of the University of Michigan Journal For Law Reform.  Fred received his B.A. in political science from the George Washington University in 1999.

Paul C. Levin, Real Estate.
Paul Levin’s broad real estate transaction expertise includes purchase and sale, construction and design, leasing, and land use entitlements. Paul represents owners, developers, and users on a range of development projects, with a particular strength in handling all facets of a project from inception to completion. Prior to joining the firm, Paul worked for Edgemoor Real Estate Services, a division of the Clark Construction Group, focusing on real estate development and public-private partnerships, and at a large international law firm. Paul earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2009, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Virginia Environmental Law Journal. He graduated cum laude from Yale University in 2005, where he earned his B.A. in political science with an interdisciplinary focus on urban development.

Peter Wang, Business.
Peter Wang is a business attorney with a broad range of experience counseling clients through all lifecycles of a business and across different industries. For his company clients, Peter counsels them from formation, through growth stage financings, and eventually, sales and other exits. M&A comprises a significant part of Peter’s practice, on both the buy-side and sell-side, in strategic and financial transactions, and in distressed scenarios. Peter also serves as outside general counsel to his company clients, helping them structure, negotiate and execute various commercial contracts, as well as joint venture arrangements, partnerships and strategic alliances. Additionally, Peter is well-versed in guiding individual, family office and private equity clients through their investment opportunities. Many of Peter’s clients operate in the advertising, consulting, marketing and design industries, giving him unique insight into market trends and practices. Peter earned his J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 2010, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the UCLA Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs. He graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2004, where he earned B.A. degrees in Political Science and Classics.

About Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP
Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP is a premier provider of innovative, results-oriented legal services, specializing in real estate, litigation, business, intellectual property, employment, tax and family wealth. Law360 named Coblentz a California Powerhouse firm in 2017. The National Law Journal named Coblentz to its 2016 Midsize Hot List, the fourth year the firm has made this prestigious nation-wide list. U.S. News & World Report recognizes Coblentz as one of the nation’s top law firms in the Best Law Firm list, with national rankings in 13 practice areas and six prestigious “Tier 1” rankings in the highly competitive San Francisco law firm category. For more information: www.coblentzlaw.com.

Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass is recognized in BTI’s Client Service A-Team 2018, where corporate counsel ranked Coblentz in the top firms nationally for client service excellence. The annual report ranks the top law firms serving the world’s largest clients, recognized for delivering the absolute best levels of client service. The report is the results of more than 350 in-depth interviews with legal decision makers and corporate counsel at the world’s leading organizations. The leaders in client service earn recognition on an ongoing basis, fostering and maintaining strong client relationships day-in and day-out.

The independent survey from BTI Consulting Group solicits feedback from leading legal decision makers at large organizations with $1 billion or more in revenue to determine which law firms top the charts in client service. Firms are scored on 17 client service activities including client loyalty, legal skills, understanding a client’s business and advice on business issues. No submissions, nominations or client names are accepted for the survey.

U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® ranked Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP among its 2018 list of “Best Law Firms.” Coblentz is ranked in 14 different practice areas in both National rankings and Metropolitan San Francisco rankings. The firm was awarded six prestigious “Tier 1” rankings in the highly competitive Metropolitan San Francisco law firm category for Commercial Litigation, Land Use & Zoning Law, Litigation-Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate Law, Tax Law and Trusts & Estates Law. Coblentz was also awarded a National “Tier 1” ranking in Land Use & Zoning Law.

Seventeen Coblentz attorneys are also recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for 2018, and partner Karen Frank was named the Best Lawyers® 2018 Copyright Law “Lawyer of the Year” award in San Francisco.

Best Lawyers® names firms included in the 2018 “Best Law Firms” list as being recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. Rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes clients’ and peers’ evaluation of firms based on expertise, professionalism, and responsiveness.

San Francisco (October 23, 2017) – San Francisco-based law firm Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP is pleased to announce that Scott Greenwood-Meinert has joined the firm as a partner, resident in the Napa office. Scott joins Coblentz from Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty P.C.

Scott’s practice is in perfect alignment with the Firm’s growing wine country practice. He focuses on real estate, land use and business transactions with an emphasis on the wine industry. His work for wine industry clients encompasses winery conditional use permitting, water law, leasing, financing, title issues, succession planning, and environmental and conservation issues under CEQA and related laws. He also has extensive experience in a wide array of water issues beyond the wine industry, including water rights, transfers, supplies, and environmental and regulatory compliance.

Scott has been practicing in Napa Valley since 2006. He is a frequent speaker on issues of interest to the wine industry, including co-chairing the upcoming Business of Wine seminar scheduled to be held in Napa on November 16, 2017.

“Scott is highly regarded in the Valley. His depth of experience in complex real estate transactions, finance, development, leasing and joint ventures is truly impressive. It is the perfect complement to our existing real estate and wine industry practices” said Brandi Brown, head of Coblentz’s Wine Country Practice. “Scott will be a tremendous asset to our clients and we are very pleased to welcome him to the firm.”

“I am excited to join such a talented and well-respected group of lawyers, including fellow wine industry counsel Brandi Brown,” Greenwood-Meinert said.

Coblentz’s full-service Napa office serves the needs of clients across the spectrum including wineries, the food and beverage industry, real estate development and hospitality/resort companies, and family wealth clients. Coblentz’s Napa office is located on the Riverfront at 700 Main Street, Suite 210 in Napa CA 94559. Tel. 707-603-2722.

About Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP
Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP is a premier provider of innovative, results-oriented legal services, specializing in real estate, litigation, business, intellectual property, employment, tax and family wealth. Law360 named Coblentz a California Powerhouse firm in 2017. The National Law Journal named Coblentz to its 2016 Midsize Hot List, the fourth year the firm has made this prestigious nation-wide list. U.S. News & World Report recognizes Coblentz as one of the nation’s top law firms in the Best Law Firm list, with national rankings in 13 practice areas and six prestigious “Tier 1” rankings in the highly competitive San Francisco law firm category. For more information: www.coblentzlaw.com.

Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass was recognized by Benchmark Litigation on its 2018 list of “Recommended Firms” in California, as a result of Benchmark’s extensive interviews with the nation’s leading private practice litigators and in-house counsel.

In its analysis, Benchmark notes the firm’s continued growth and roughly 40% litigators, while a peer noted that “They are a small firm with big clients. They handle nationwide litigation for DISH Networks. [They are] Certainly a force to be reckoned with.”

Several Coblentz partners are listed as Local Litigation Stars by Benchmark: Richard Patch is listed for Antitrust, Class Action, and General Commercial litigation; Jon Bass is listed for Antitrust, Appellate, and General Commercial litigation; and Tim Crudo is listed for the White Collar Crime category. Of Tim Crudo, a peer notes that “Coblentz is now officially a player in the white-collar game.” Cliff Yin is also listed as a Future Star in the Business & Commercial, Labor & Employment, and Real Estate litigation categories.

Coblentz is one of only six firms named to the Law360 California Powerhouse list in 2017. Law360 notes that “The Golden State is a global hub for innovators, serving as headquarters for companies on the cutting edge of sectors like technology, life sciences, media and entertainment, and private equity and venture capitalism, but the firms that shined brightest in 2017 were both creative and resilient, handling legal challenges for so-called disruptors as well as for the more staid, established companies, landing them among Law360’s 2017 California Powerhouses.”

In an interview with managing partners Danna Kozerski, Jeff Knowles, and Alan Gennis, the publication notes that “When California sports teams with championship arena dreams need legal advice on how to knock it out of the park on their new park, they know to call Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP,” mentioning the firm’s real estate, litigation and corporate work for major sports franchises the San Francisco Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and Los Angeles Clippers.

Also noted is Coblentz’s rich history in the music industry, with comments on the firm’s work for Sony Music Entertainment and history representing legendary concert promoter Bill Graham, as well as the firm’s expansion into Wine Country with our 2016 opening of a new major office in Napa Valley with a focus on wine, food, beverage, real estate development and hospitality. Law360 writes that “Coblentz’s future looks Californian.”

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