The Best Lawyers in America© recognized 14 Coblentz attorneys in its 2017 listing of the nation’s top legal talent. The annual referral guide is based on peer review and feedback from leading attorneys in the same geographical region. Several of our ranked attorneys have been recognized annually by Best Lawyers® for over 15 years.

Clients commented that “Coblentz is extremely capable, thorough and skilled,” and the litigation team “did a fantastic job, they are the best!”

Real estate partner Tay Via has also been selected as the Best Lawyers ® 2017 Litigation – Land Use and Zoning “Lawyer of the Year” in San Francisco.

Congratulations to these Coblentz attorneys for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© guide:

• Jon Bass: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate
• Jeff Bernstein: Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
• Pamela Duffy: Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Real Estate Law
• Philip Feldman: Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates 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
• Tay Via: Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning

Coblentz partner Philip Feldman is ranked as a leading lawyer in the Private Wealth Law – Northern California category, Band 2, in the inaugural Chambers High Net Worth guide published by Chambers & Partners.

Chambers describes Phil as having “expertise advising clients on estate gift and income tax planning, adopting wealth transfer and preservation strategies, philanthropy and trust and probate administration. He represents institutional and individual fiduciaries in trust and estate disputes and administration.” Peers praise Phil as being “very highly thought of and respected” and “a nice person and an excellent attorney,” and note he is “absolutely great and he really knows his stuff.”

London-based Chambers and Partners conducts intensive, continuous research to identify the world’s leading lawyers and law firms – individual lawyers are ranked on the basis of their legal knowledge and experience, their ability, their effectiveness, and their client-service. Chambers HNW independent research is conducted by a team of private wealth researchers, interviewing hundreds of lawyers, family offices, accountancy professionals, tax advisers, bankers, investment managers and high-end real estate agents.

The Legal 500 United States has named Coblentz a “Recommended Firm” in the Real Estate and Construction – Land Use/Zoning category, with a National Band 2 ranking in 2016.

Described as “a go-to firm for land use and zoning matters in the Bay area,” Coblentz is one of only a few Northern California firms recognized by The Legal 500 for outstanding performance in this area.

Partners Pamela Duffy, Harry O’Brien and Danna Kozerski also received individual recognition.  Pam Duffy is recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” on The Legal 500 United States 2016’s guide to outstanding lawyers nationwide. Harry O’Brien and Danna Kozerski are recommended by the editorial as well.

The Legal 500 Series provides worldwide coverage on legal services providers in more than 100 countries, and highlights the practice area teams who are providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel. Rankings are based on a series of criteria, including research based on feedback from more than 250,000 clients worldwide.

Partner Tim Crudo was the interview subject of “Ask the RevRec Experts” podcast, Episode 22: Legally Speaking, from financial software and services company Leeyo. As a well-regarded speaker on the topic of the stepped-up enforcement efforts of the DOJ and SEC on white collar crime, Tim weighs in on what this could/should mean for those in charge of corporate revenue, how to stay on the right side of this enforcement and potential worst-case scenarios, if not.

Leeyo Software helps companies transform complex revenue accounting and forecasting processes so they can be confident their financials are accurate and compliant. The “Ask the RevRec Experts” podcast reviews questions asked through the website, email, out in the field, webinars or at industry events to find answers for each, directly from guest experts.

Coblentz 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.

Chambers describes Tim as offering “expertise in a broad range of white-collar criminal matters, including securities, antitrust and healthcare fraud.” Clients credit him as a “diligent, knowledgeable, understanding and insightful” attorney who “goes above and beyond” in his representation of clients.

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.

Coblentz partners Pam Duffy, Harry O’Brien and Tay Via are listed in the California, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use category of the 2016 Chambers USA guide, published by Chambers & Partners.

Pam Duffy is again ranked as a Leading Lawyer in the top tier, Band 1. Clients described Pam to Chambers as “tenacious and smart” and noted she “handles mega projects,” particularly in the healthcare, sports and retail industries. Chambers notes her particular experience in large public and private entity transactions and in-depth understanding of the long-term implications of development requirements and how they affect construction, financing, operation, leasing, and sale of a development project.

Harry O’Brien is also again ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Band 2. Chambers describes Harry as “well versed in the full spectrum of real estate transactions, including obtaining zoning, land use and CEQA approvals.” Clients report that he “is outstanding in providing good business counsel.” Harry’s transactional real estate, commercial development and land use practice emphasizes representing real estate developers in entitlement, finance and construction of large commercial, residential and institutional development projects and public-private partnerships.

Tay Via is listed as one of only two Noted Practitioners in the California category. Tay specializes in large public/private projects and represents real estate companies, nonprofit entities, and other businesses, identifying strategies for navigating the increasingly complex real estate development process.

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.

Chambers & Partners, publishers of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, has again awarded Coblentz a Band 1 ranking in the Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use – California category.

According the Chambers, the Coblentz team is known for “a comprehensive real estate offering that maintains a particular strength in obtaining land use, zoning and environmental approvals for development projects,” and has an “especially strong presence in the Bay Area.”

Chambers quotes clients describing Coblentz as “a very, very strong land use and entitlement firm,” and noting “the firm provides superior services.”

Partners Pam Duffy and Harry O’Brien are again ranked as leading lawyers in Band 1 and Band 2, respectively, and partner Tay Via is listed as a Noted Practitioner.

London-based Chambers and Partners conducts intensive, continuous research to identify the world’s leading lawyers and law firms – those who perform best according to the criteria most valued by clients. The process, which extends over several months, includes written submissions, personal interviews, client feedback, and peer assessment.

Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP is once again recognized by the National Law Journal’s Midsize Hotlist. This is the third consecutive year the firm has been awarded this recognition, and fourth year overall. The National Law Journal’s elite award recognizes only 20 firms nationally with between 51 and 150 attorneys that not only excel at legal and client service, but “have used their creativity and skill to stay competitive in courtrooms and at deal tables across the U.S.”

In its profile of Coblentz, the National Law Journal notes the firm’s hand is reflected in major commercial buildings, arts and cultural centers and campus expansions across the Bay Area, “transforming the landscape for more than a century,” and recognizes the firm’s work on recent major projects like Uber Technologies’ purchase of a new Oakland headquarters and the San Francisco Giants and Seawall Lot 337 Associates’ Mission Rock project.

Also noted is the firm’s expansion into Napa Valley to better serve the wine industry with the opening of two new offices, as well as the development of a new multi-disciplinary social enterprise group to meet the growing needs of social entrepreneurs, and the firm’s pro bono leadership, exemplified by the firm named as “captain” of the upcoming Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights’ election protection program.

Coblentz has been named to the National Law Journal’s Midsize Hotlist in 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2011.

Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP is ranked nationally by Law360 among the Top 50 Firms for Minority Equity Partners.

The annual list from Law360 places Coblentz 49th among the nation’s top firms with the highest percentage of minority equity partners. The top 50 firms represent a mix of small, midsize and large firms alike, indicating that diversity is a reachable goal regardless of firm size.

Coblentz partner Richard Patch was profiled by Law360 in the Trial Pros Q&A series, which showcases the achievements and professional insights of highly successful trial lawyers. In the Q&A, Richard discusses his experiences as a trial attorney, highlights from his career, how he prepares for trial and advice for new litigators.

Read the Q&A profile here.