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.

Coblentz real estate partner Danna Kozerski has been elected as a member of the Golden Gate Chapter of Lambda Alpha International, an honorary land economics society. Membership in the society is a “Who’s Who in Land Economics,” as members have distinguished themselves in the many disciplines and activities related to the use and re-use of land.

Danna 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.

San Francisco (November 30, 2021) – Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP welcomes Michael Maher to the partnership. Michael joins Coblentz from Pacific Union Co., where he served as General Counsel.

“We are delighted to welcome Michael to Coblentz. Michael has great experience in numerous winery and vineyard acquisitions as well as experience acting as general counsel to owner-operated businesses. He will be a tremendous asset to our clients and his practice is a perfect complement to our real estate, corporate, and wine industry practices,” said Sara Finigan, co-managing partner at Coblentz.

Michael has a broad practice focusing on business and real estate matters, with significant experience in the agriculture, wine, hospitality, and commercial real estate industries. Michael worked for more than a decade as in-house general counsel in the wine industry. He served for four years as General Counsel for the Harlan family’s Pacific Union Co., representing their various wine, hospitality, and commercial real estate interests. Michael also served for over six years as General Counsel for Jackson Family Wines.

“I’m thrilled to join Coblentz. I was attracted to the firm by its people, its collaborative work ethic, its strong values, and the depth and breadth of its practice. Joining the firm will allow me to continue to work with clients in the industries I have long served, while my clients will benefit greatly from having access to the innovative and talented team at Coblentz,” Maher said.

U.S. News – Best Lawyers® ranked Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP among its list of 2022 “Best Law Firms,” including a National Tier 1 recognition for Land Use & Zoning Law and National tier rankings in nine additional practice areas. The firm was also named a Tier 1 “Best Law Firm” in 13 practice areas in the San Francisco Metropolitan market, with 20 San Francisco Metropolitan rankings overall.

Thirty Coblentz attorneys are also recognized in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America_®. Employment partner Fred Alvarez is recognized as the Best Lawyers® 2022 Labor Law – Management “Lawyer of the Year” in San Francisco.

U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” recognizes firms for their professional excellence and consistently 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, responsiveness, understanding of a business and its needs, cost-effectiveness, civility, and whether they would refer another client to the firm.

 

Coblentz is proud to partner with Diversity Lab to pursue certification under the Midsize Mansfield Rule, with the goal of increasing the representation of diverse lawyers in leadership positions.

The Midsize Mansfield Rule certification process, modeled after the version for larger firms, has been fine-tuned to boost diversity in leadership for firms with smaller lawyer populations, single office locations, and leaner firm leadership structures. Coblentz has joined the second iteration of this process, which runs from September 2021 to March 2023.

The Midsize Mansfield Rule aims to increase the representation of diverse lawyers in leadership by broadening the pool of women, LGBTQ+ lawyers, lawyers with disabilities, and/or racial/ethnic minority lawyers who are considered for entry-level and lateral attorney job openings, leadership opportunities, equity partner promotions, and opportunities to connect with clients. In order to be Mansfield Certified, law firms are asked to consider at least 30% historically underrepresented lawyers for 60% or more of certain leadership roles and activities identified on the Diversity Lab website.

Thirty Coblentz lawyers were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022.

Fred Alvarez was named 2022 Labor Law – Management “Lawyer of the Year” in San Francisco.

Coblentz Employment partner Fred Alvarez was awarded a “Lawyer of the Year” recognition by Best Lawyers in America® for the third consecutive time. In its annual listing of the nation’s top legal talent, Best Lawyers® named Fred the 2022 Labor Law – Management “Lawyer of the Year” in San Francisco. As one of the preeminent employment lawyers in the United States, Fred has previously been named San Francisco “Lawyer of the Year” in Litigation – Labor and Employment in 2021 and in Labor Law – Management in 2020. Fred’s practice combines a distinct blend of employment law experience, public service, and legal profession leadership with strategic and compliance advice to employers.

Congratulations to Fred and to all 30 Coblentz attorneys listed in the 2022 Best Lawyers in America® guide, including 10 attorneys recognized as Ones to Watch. Categories of recognition are listed below.

2022 Best Lawyers® Recognitions

• Fred Alvarez: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• 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, Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Karen Frank: Copyright Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Alan Gennis: Real Estate Law
• Jeff Knowles: Commercial Litigation
• Danna Kozerski: Real Estate Law
• Stephen Lanctot: Employment Law – Management
• Jaime Mannon: Trusts and Estates 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: Appellate Practice, Litigation – Antitrust
• Doug Sands: Real Estate Law
• Lawrence Siskind: Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Tay Via: Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Real Estate Law

2022 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch Recognitions

• Kiana Araghi: Real Estate Law
• Kadeidra Honey: Trusts and Estates Law
• Dana Kennedy: Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
• Tamara Lam-Plattes: Real Estate Law
• Seth Pardee: Tax Law
• Ben Pulliam: Commercial Litigation
• Kyle Recker: Real Estate Law
• Joy Spezeski: Real Estate Law
• Matthew Stone: Real Estate Law
• Christopher Wiener: Litigation – Intellectual Property

Best Lawyers® lists are based entirely on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. The 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® is based on more than 10 million evaluations and recognizes just over 66,000 attorneys, the top six percent of private practicing attorneys in the US.