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.”

Read the featured article here.

Coblentz Partners Philip Feldman, James Mitchell, and Jaime Mannon are listed as Leading Lawyers in the Private Wealth Law category of the 2017 Chambers HNW (High Net Worth) guide for Northern California, published by Chambers & Partners.

Phil Feldman is again ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Band 2, where clients and industry colleagues note that “He’s a very outgoing personality, he’s immediately likable and in technical terms, he’s sophisticated and yet very approachable.” A fellow estate planning lawyer notes “Not only was he up there with the complexities of the matter but negotiating with him was a pleasure. He’s just a good guy that it’s a pleasure to work with.” Another describes Feldman as a “thoughtful, collegiate and careful attorney.”

Jim Mitchell is also ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Band 2. A wealth advisor notes that “We tend to refer a lot of matters to Jim that require not only very sophisticated legal expertise but also a delicate touch from a personal point of view. We’ve found Jim is particularly good at navigating client situations.” And another explains that “He doesn’t get rattled, stays steady to the task, is very knowledgeable and very pro-client in his thought process. He’s just generally a very good attorney to work within this field.”

Jaime Mannon is listed as an Up and Coming lawyer by Chambers. One source says that Mannon “is someone who is building her practice, and we often will refer young entrepreneurs to her who would like to work with someone roughly the same age.” Another describes her as “very knowledgeable, responsive and intellectual.”

The Coblentz Family Wealth practice is also listed by Chambers HNW in Band 2 for Private Wealth Law, Northern California. Chambers writes that “The firm is well regarded among California wealth professionals,” and colleagues in the field mention that the Coblentz team has  “a very sophisticated practice. I feel confident they will handle any technical issue a client may need help on. The firm has a wonderful, supportive culture, and people there are able to take their time – they’re thoughtful and responsive. They value the relationship they build with clients. We like working with them.” Another interviewee says the firm is “first on my list for a reference,” and that our attorneys are “intelligent, flexible and work well with advisers. Their flexibility and reactiveness are probably one of their highest values to me. Also, they have a creativeness but not too aggressive an attitude, meaning they will suggest leading-edge techniques but won’t overly push the implementation if it’s not appropriate. So they can give a very well thought-through platform of suggestions, being flexible in terms of which ones fit the client’s situation.”

London-based Chambers and Partners conducts intensive, continuous research to identify the world’s leading lawyers and law firms – individual lawyers are ranked (in their practice-areas) on the basis of their legal knowledge and experience, their ability, their effectiveness, and their client-service.

San Francisco (August 28, 2017) – San Francisco-based law firm Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP  welcomes Stan G. Roman to the firm’s partnership. Stan joins Coblentz from litigation boutique Keller, Sloan & Roman LLP, where he was a founding partner. Prior to that, Stan was a partner at Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon.

A go-to trial lawyer with more than thirty years of experience, Stan Roman has extensive trial and appellate experience in complex business litigation matters. He has repeatedly been chosen to defend the major accounting firms, the country’s largest law firms, directors and officers of public companies, employers, and others who have been sued or investigated. He has prosecuted and defended scores of cases involving large business transactions.

“We welcome Stan to Coblentz,” said Jeffrey Knowles, co-managing partner of Coblentz. “We have known Stan for years, and he’s a tremendous lawyer. Stan’s trial experience will add even more punch to our litigation practice.”

Stan has had great success in many significant jury trials, and also has deep experience with court trials, administrative trials, domestic and international arbitrations, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. He has represented both foreign and domestic clients in a wide variety of industries and professions.

“I have regarded Coblentz as a very special firm for many years,” said Stan. “I am thrilled to join such a smart and talented group of lawyers.”

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. 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.

Seventeen Coblentz partners have been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® in its 2018 listing of the nation’s top legal talent. Partners Jon Bass, Jeff Bernstein, Pam Duffy, and William Hutton have been recognized annually by Best Lawyers for over 30 years, and three new partners have been added to the 2018 listing as well: Tim Crudo, Gregg Ficks, and Julie Treppa

Business partner Karen Frank has also received the Best Lawyers® 2018 Copyright Law “Lawyer of the Year” award in San Francisco.

Congratulations to these Coblentz attorneys for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018 guide in the following categories in San Francisco:

• Jon Bass: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate
• Jeff Bernstein: Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
• Tim Crudo: Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• Pam Duffy: Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Real Estate Law
• Phil Feldman: Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates Law
• Gregg Ficks: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Karen Frank: Copyright Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Alan Gennis: Real Estate Law
• William Hutton: Tax Law
• Jeff Knowles: Commercial Litigation
• Danna Kozerski: Real Estate Law
• Barbara Milanovich: Real Estate Law
• Jim Mitchell: Trusts and Estates Law
• Harry O’Brien: Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
• Richard Patch: Litigation – Antitrust
• Julie Treppa: Non-Profit / Charities Law
• Tay Via: Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning

The Best Lawyers annual guide is based on peer review and feedback from tens of thousands of leading attorneys leading lawyers who confidentially evaluate their professional peers. In 2018, Best Lawyers analyzed more than 7.4 million votes in 198 metro areas and across 145 practice areas to select more than 58,000 attorneys across the United States.

Coblentz partner Brandi Brown was featured in an interview by Super Lawyers, after being named among the Super Lawyers 2017 Northern California Rising Stars. You can read the full interview here, where Brandi discusses her wine practice and outside general counsel work for advertising, creative services, and food and beverage industry clients. Of her business, Brandi notes, “I play shortstop. I never know, when I come to work, what will be the issue of the day for these companies, and I love that. You have to be able to give a legal solution that’s not a business killer, because as mid-size companies, they need to take risks to grow.” She also discusses her diverse background growing up and time working in Japan, where she “fell in love with Tokyo.”

Brandi was named a Northern California Rising Star by Super Lawyers, along with 16 other Coblentz attorneys named to the Super Lawyers list.

Real estate partner Tay Via was named among the Top Women Lawyers in 2017 by the Daily Journal – a list that recognizes the leading women attorneys across California.

In its coverage of Tay, the Daily Journal noted her “25-year track record of guiding clients through the notoriously complicated Bay Area regulatory environment,” and her representation of marquee projects such as the California Academy of Sciences, the Exploratorium, AT&T Park, California Pacific Medical Center, and real estate plans for Uber Technologies. Tay mentions the Giants’ AT&T Park remains her favorite project, noting her personal investment in the stadium and remarking, “Sitting with my own sons behind home plate is a proud time for me.”

Tay advises clients on commercial real estate, land use and development, specializing in large public-private partnerships and expertise that includes the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Tay is also the editor of the firm’s Unfamiliar Terrain blog, which provides insights into the complex Bay Area land use landscape.

Read more here.

Coblentz litigation partner Timothy Crudo is ranked as a Leading Lawyer in the California, Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations category in Band 4 by Chambers USA.

Clients described Tim to Chambers as offering “very valuable breadth of expertise,” while another client noted “I have complete confidence in his ability to represent me in a negotiation or trial.” Chambers describes Tim as having “particular proficiency in financial fraud cases and interactions with the SEC.”

Tim is a trial lawyer focusing on white collar defense and government enforcement, particularly investigations and cases brought by criminal prosecutors, government regulators, and shareholders in white collar, securities, and corporate governance matters.

London-based Chambers and Partners conducts intensive, continuous research to identify the world’s leading lawyers and law firms – individual lawyers are ranked (in their practice-areas) on the basis of their legal knowledge and experience, their ability, their effectiveness, and their client-service.

The Coblentz real estate practice is also listed by Chambers USA in the top tier, Band 1, for California, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use, and real estate partners Pamela Duffy and Harry O’Brien are listed as Leading Lawyers in the same category.