Coblentz Employment partner Fred Alvarez has been named a leading corporate employment lawyer in the 2023 edition of the Lawdragon 500 guide. The guide honors the nation’s top advisors to businesses, universities, nonprofits, and other organizations.

Fred is one of the preeminent employment lawyers in the United States and combines a distinct blend of employment law experience, public service, and legal profession leadership. He focuses substantial attention on providing strategic and compliance advice, conducting sensitive internal investigations and serving in jointly- or court-appointed monitorships, as either Monitor, Independent Consultant, or Special Master of national employment class action decrees.

San Francisco (August 1, 2022) – San Francisco-based law firm Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP is pleased to welcome Sabrina Larson and Allison Moser to the firm’s partnership. Sabrina Larson joins Coblentz’s Intellectual Property practice and Allison Moser joins Coblentz’s Labor and Employment practice.

Sabrina Larson joins Coblentz from Morrison & Foerster LLP. She focuses on trademark and copyright clearance, prosecution, and enforcement, as well as complex litigation, with an emphasis on intellectual property and commercial litigation. Sabrina represents clients in domestic and international trademark clearance, prosecution, and enforcement, including in proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and federal court. She litigates trademark infringement claims, state unfair competition, deceptive trade practices, and false advertising claims in both business-to-business and consumer cases, consumer and privacy class actions, and other complex commercial actions. She represents clients in a diverse range of industries, including fashion, food, and consumer goods, technology, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies, retailers, wineries, and museums.

“Sabrina is a perfect fit for our firm. She has deep experience in intellectual property litigation, trademark prosecution and enforcement, and intellectual property counseling. She strengthens our growing intellectual property practice and offers great value to our clients,” said Thomas Harvey, intellectual property partner. “We are delighted to welcome her to Coblentz.”

Allison Moser brings broad employment law expertise encompassing counseling, litigation, and working with employers to navigate complex legal issues. She partners with clients on challenging workplace issues, including internal harassment and discrimination complaints, termination and discipline decisions, wage and hour disputes, reasonable accommodation issues, managing leaves of absence, and protection of proprietary information. Allison also negotiates and prepares employment-related agreements, drafts and updates employment policies and manuals, and conducts trainings on employment law compliance.

Her insights and advice are drawn from deep experience representing employers and executives in federal and state courts, arbitration forums, and before administrative agencies in the full range of employment areas, including single plaintiff, multi-plaintiff, and class action matters. Allison joins Coblentz from Curley, Hurtgen & Johnsrud LLP.

Allison’s arrival continues the firm’s strategic investment in Coblentz’s growing labor and employment practice and demonstrates the firm’s commitment to bringing state of the art employment law advice and litigation expertise in complex employment matters to its clients.

“Allison’s unique depth and breadth of employment counseling and litigation experience strengthens our employment practice and takes it to yet another level,” said Troy Valdez, leader of Coblentz’s labor and employment practice. “Her broad experience at firms with national quality labor and employment reputations gives our clients additional access to the highest level of advice and representation as they are faced with ever more complex and fast-moving challenges in this space. Allison has seen it all and we are thrilled to welcome her to the firm.”

Coblentz’s Family Wealth practice and three partners have been recognized in the 2022 edition of the Chambers High Net Worth Guide. Family Wealth practice chair Jaime Mannon and partners Jim Mitchell and Phil Feldman are again ranked as Leading Lawyers in the Private Wealth Law category for Northern California. Chambers HNW, published by Chambers & Partners, ranks the top legal advisers to high net worth individuals and organizations.

Jaime Mannon is again ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Band 2. Jaime offers affluent individuals and families assistance with estate and gift tax planning and cross-border tax planning. A source notes she is “brilliant,” and Chambers noted she “develop[s] creative solutions to resolve her clients’ estate planning and administration issues.”

Jim Mitchell is again ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Band 2. Jim advises high net worth clients on tax planning and trust and estate administration. One source noted his “legal skills and his ability to put a client at ease are unquestionable and create an environment where the client is able to express their objectives,” while another added he is “patient, caring and thoughtful.”

Phil Feldman is again ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Band 2. Phil assists wealthy individuals and families with income, philanthropic, and gift and estate tax planning. One source commented that he is “creative, hard-working, smart and a personable lawyer.”

The Coblentz Family Wealth practice is also listed by Chambers HNW in Band 2 for Private Wealth Law, Northern California. Market commentators note Coblentz’s “collaborative and sizeable private wealth team” as a main strength. Independent and objective, Chambers USA and Chambers HNW are carefully researched and widely considered to be one of the most reputable law firm directories in the world. Ranking criteria include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, business understanding, diligence, commitment, and other qualities most valued by legal clients.

Additional Chambers USA Rankings

Seven additional Coblentz partners and three practices are recognized in the Chambers USA 2022 Guide, also published by Chambers & Partners. Real Estate and Land Use partners Pamela Duffy, Harry O’Brien, Alan Gennis, and Tay Via; Litigation partners Timothy Crudo and Rees Morgan; and Employment partner Fred Alvarez are ranked as Leading Lawyers in their respective categories. Coblentz’s Land Use, Real Estate, and White Collar Defense and Investigations practices are also listed. To view the complete list of Coblentz rankings in the 2022 edition of Chambers USA, please visit the publication’s website.

Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass is proud to join the Legal Alliance for Reproductive Rights, a coalition of more than 20 Bay Area law firms that will provide civil and criminal assistance to those in California and across the country who will be affected if Roe v. Wade is struck down by the United States Supreme Court.

The Legal Alliance for Reproductive Rights will connect pregnant people and providers facing civil suits and criminal charges related to seeking or providing abortions in California and other states with member law firms who will represent them on a pro bono basis. Member law firms will also assist in pro bono civil and criminal defense in other states where the right to choose no longer exists.

“This is the most precarious time for reproductive rights in our lifetimes,” said San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu.“I’m grateful our Bay Area legal community is stepping into the fight to defend access to reproductive healthcare and protect those in need of legal assistance. During this moment when fundamental rights are at stake, we welcome legal communities around California and our country to join us.”

The Alliance expects to be operational and available to assist with cases later this year. For more details, please see the press release announcing the Legal Alliance for Reproductive Rights.

The Legal 500 United States has named Coblentz a “Top Tier” firm in the Real Estate – Land Use/Zoning category, with a National Tier 1 ranking. Described as “a California heavyweight in land use law for all manner of developments,” Coblentz is one of only a few Northern California firms recognized by The Legal 500 for outstanding performance in this area.

Real estate and land use partners Pamela Duffy, Frank Petrilli, and Tay Via received individual recognition in the 2022 guide. Pamela Duffy has been named to the “Hall of Fame” list, which honors lawyers who have received constant praise from their clients for continued excellence and who are at the pinnacle of the profession. Frank Petrilli and Tay Via have been recognized as “Leading Lawyers” in the nationwide Land Use/Zoning category.

The Legal 500 Series provides worldwide coverage on legal services providers in more than 150 jurisdictions 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 300,000 clients worldwide.

Seven Coblentz partners and three practices have been recognized by Chambers & Partners in the 2022 edition of Chambers USA, including newly recognized real estate and land use partner Tay Via. Real estate and land use partners Pamela Duffy, Harry O’Brien, and Tay Via are listed as leading lawyers in the Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use – California category, real estate partner Alan Gennis is listed as a leading lawyer in the Real Estate – Northern California category, litigation partners Timothy Crudo and Rees Morgan are listed in the Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations – California category, and Employment partner Fred Alvarez is listed in the Labor & Employment – California category.

Independent and objective, Chambers USA is carefully researched and widely considered to be the most reputable law firm directory in the world. Ranking criteria include technical legal ability, client service, commercial vision and business understanding, diligence, depth of the team, value for money, and other qualities most valued by legal clients.

Real Estate & Land Use

Coblentz’s real estate and land use practice is again ranked by the Chambers USA 2022 Guide in the top tier, Band 1, in the Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use category for California. Our land use practice has been continuously ranked by Chambers for many years and our real estate practice is ranked by the Chambers USA 2022 Guide in Band 3 in the Real Estate category for Northern California. Of our real estate and land use practices, one client noted, “They have very good bench depth, and a great history in land use law,” and another remarked, “The firm provides high service levels and it is very responsive to client needs.” Four real estate and land use partners received individual rankings.

Pamela Duffy is again ranked as a Leading Lawyer in the top tier, Band 1, in the Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use – California category. A client quoted by Chambers noted that Pam’s “name and work is known throughout San Francisco.” Pam has been recognized by Chambers since 2003.

Harry O’Brien is also again ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Band 3 in the Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use – California category. Harry has been recognized by Chambers since 2003.

Tay Via is newly ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Band 4 in the Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use – California. A client raved, “Tay Via is a phenomenal lawyer all round.”

Alan Gennis improved in the rankings as a Leading Lawyer in Band 2 in the Real Estate – Northern California category. A client remarked that Alan has “[v]ery sophisticated market and legal knowledge” and is “[a]n extremely good counselor.”

Alan has been recognized by Chambers since 2018.

Litigation

Coblentz’s white collar defense and investigations practice is ranked by the Chambers USA 2022 Guide in Band 4 in the Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations category for California. Chambers notes Coblentz has “developed an incredibly strong white-collar practice that really packs a punch.” A client remarked, “Coblentz is very responsive and provides a high level of service. Because their attorneys have deep subject matter experience, they are able to quickly pick up new matters without ramp-up time.” Two litigation partners also received individual rankings in the category.

Timothy Crudo is ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Band 3 in the Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations category for California. A client noted, “He has a vast command of the facts and is really smart in compressing complex matters into essential elements. He is a really talented lawyer, if you’ve got a big, difficult case you would speed-dial him.” Tim has been recognized by Chambers since 2016.

Rees Morgan is ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Band 5 in the Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations category for California. Of Rees, one client noted, “He was amazing and made me feel safe and prepared at every turn. There’s no one else that I would have wanted to walk into that courtroom with.” Rees has been recognized by Chambers since 2021.

Employment

Employment partner Fred Alvarez is recognized as a Senior Statesperson in California in the Labor & Employment category. “One thing that is very impressive about him is his versatility, he can do it all,” raved one client. Another noted, “He is very perceptive and is a very strong negotiator.” Fred has been recognized by Chambers for the past 20 years.

To view the complete list of Coblentz rankings in the 2022 edition of Chambers USA, please visit the publication’s website.

 

Coblentz’s international legal alliance, TAGLaw®, has again been recognized by Chambers & Partners as “Elite” for 2022—the highest ranking awarded to legal networks and alliances. This is the ninth time TAGLaw has received the distinguished “Elite” designation since Chambers & Partners began ranking legal networks and alliances in 2013.

In selecting networks and alliances for their “Elite” status, Chambers & Partners pays particular attention to the quality of the member firms, their global reach, and the value that the alliance provides to its member firms. Member firms have exceptional reputations for quality of service and client satisfaction, and strive to cooperate to provide resources and expertise as if they were right down the hall from one another.

As the Northern California law firm representative to TAGLaw, Coblentz is able to access a network of exemplary regional, national and international legal resources to help us better serve our clients. TAGLaw, with a global footprint in over 90 countries, has leading firms in over 160 jurisdictions providing legal services to companies ranging from the Fortune 5000 and leading SMEs to high net worth individuals. With expertise in dozens of practice areas and countless industry sectors, TAGLaw offers a substantial capability to its members’ clients. This capability is expanded by TAGLaw’s unique relationship with its sister alliance of accounting firms, TIAG, providing members and clients with the multidisciplinary expertise needed in today’s business world.

Coblentz partner Paul Tauber is a member of the Advisory Board of TAGLaw, assisting in reviewing prospective new members, offering feedback for the planning of international conferences and providing valuable guidance on future plans and initiatives.

Coblentz employment partner Stephen Lanctot has been named “Volunteer of the Month” by the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) of the Bar Association of San Francisco.

Steve has volunteered with JDC’s Community Organization Representation Project (CORP) since 2002. CORP provides free business law services to Northern California nonprofits that serve low-income and underrepresented individuals. Steve says that one of the most rewarding parts of volunteering is “meeting and working with the committed leaders of organizations striving to improve the lot of underserved members of our community.”

San Francisco, CA  December 28, 2021 – Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP is pleased to announce the election of David “Duff” Beach, Hannah L. Jones, Laura Srebro, and Christopher J. Wiener to the firm’s partnership. These promotions are effective January 1, 2022.

“We are delighted to welcome four outstanding individuals to the Coblentz partnership,” said Sara Finigan, co-managing partner. “Our new partners mirror the depth and breadth of our practice areas and represent the best talent in our industry. Duff, Hannah, Laura, and Chris have shown a deep commitment to clients and our firm, and we look forward to their future contributions as our partners.”

The 2022 new partners are:

David “Duff” Beach, Litigation.
Duff Beach’s complex commercial litigation practice focuses on construction, financial services, land use, and privacy. He has extensive experience in breach of contract, fraud, unfair business claims, antitrust, and class actions for a wide range of clients, including in the real estate development, engineering and design, energy, technology, and consulting fields. He has appeared in all manner of proceedings, from state and federal trial and appellate courts to mediation, arbitration, and in front of regulatory bodies. Duff earned his J.D. from the University of California College of Law, San Francisco in 2003 and served as the Symposium Editor for the Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly. He earned his B.A. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1996. After college, Duff served four years on active duty as an officer in the United States Army, and served four more years in the Army Reserve.

Hannah L. Jones, Employment and Litigation.
Hannah Jones has a multi-faceted litigation, investigations and counseling practice focused on the legal issues affecting today’s employers. She represents clients in individual and class action litigations and administrative proceedings involving employee mobility and intellectual property issues (including non-compete agreements, trade secrets, employee raiding, invention assignment rights, and non-solicitation obligations), discrimination, wage and hour practices, and wrongful termination. Hannah also works directly with clients to solve thorny pre-litigation counseling matters including managing internal investigations, risk management and compliance, negotiating and preparing employment-related agreements, conducting workplace trainings, and formulating corporate policies and manuals. In 2021, Hannah became an Association of Workplace Investigators certified attorney-investigator. She earned her J.D. from the University of California, Davis, School of Law in 2014, where she received six Witkin Awards for Academic Excellence. While in law school, she served as a member of the UC Davis Law Review and was elected Order of the Coif. She earned her B.A., with honors, from Lewis and Clark College in 2010.

Laura Srebro, Family Wealth.
Laura Srebro advises high-net-worth individuals and families with respect to estate planning, trust administration and business succession planning. She works closely with clients to achieve their planning objectives and navigate difficult decisions. As part of her practice, Laura prepares essential estate planning documents, including revocable living trusts, wills and powers of attorney, and counsels clients on advanced estate planning techniques including intentionally defective grantor trusts, generation-skipping trusts and grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs). She also prepares gift and estate tax returns and advises clients throughout the trust administration process. Laura is certified as a specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Laura received her J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 2013, where she served as the Executive Managing Editor of the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics, and Public Policy and was a member of the Dean’s List. She earned her B.A., cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame History Honors Program in 2009.

Christopher J. Wiener, Litigation.
Christopher Wiener focuses on complex commercial and intellectual property disputes. With extensive experience in copyright, trademark, and trade dress litigation, Christopher represents clients in federal and state courts with matters at the intersection of technology and commercial products. He has advised high-profile companies operating in a range of industries, including smartphones, music licensing, computer virtualization, headphones, semiconductors, and computer-aided drafting. He has also litigated and tried complex commercial matters for clients in areas such as software licensing, partnership disputes, consumer product development, and real estate. Christopher earned his J.D. from the University of California College of Law, San Francisco in 2011, where he graduated summa cum laude. While at Hastings, he was a senior articles editor for the Hastings Law Journal and was elected to the Order of the Coif. He earned his B.A., magna cum laude, from Boston University in 2008.

 

Coblentz employment partner Fred Alvarez is profiled in the Fall 2021 issue of Stanford Lawyer magazine, noted for his long record of public service and leadership in the legal profession. At Stanford, Fred has served as a member of the Board of Trustees and on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the law school, and he founded the Stanford Law School Latino Alumni Association. Please click here to read the full article.

Fred is one of the preeminent employment lawyers in the United States and combines a distinct blend of employment law experience, public service, and legal profession leadership. He currently focuses substantial attention on providing strategic and compliance advice, conducting sensitive internal investigations and serving in jointly- or court-appointed monitorships, as either Monitor, Independent Consultant, or Special Master of national employment class action decrees.