The law firm of Passalacqua, Mazzoni, Gladden, Lopez & Maraviglia has served Healdsburg and greater Sonoma County for more than 70 years. The firm was founded in 1936 by Francis M. Passalacqua, who was soon joined by James R. Mazzoni, Jr. Each of the founders has been honored with Careers of Distinction awards from the Sonoma County Bar Association. It’s no surprise that such a carefully crafted law firm continues its time-honored tradition of impeccable service to the community. The firm provides expertise in estate planning, real estate, business law, trusts and probate, litigation and family law, as well as a full range of services for the vineyard and wine industries.
“We were flattered to win this year’s award, especially with the number of good firms that exist in Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties,” says partner Mark Gladden. “I like to think it reflects our clients’ appreciation for the work we do for them.”
Customer satisfaction plays a key role in services provided. The majority of clients are from Sonoma County, with many from the Healdsburg area where the office is located. There are some out-of-state clients, but most have a primary residence in the Bay Area. The firm is filled with long-term clients, some the grandchildren of people served by the founders. “Our clients become our friends; we develop a relationship with them,” says Gladden.
The practice now includes four attorneys with varied backgrounds. Tom Passalacqua is a Healdsburg native and son of the founding Passalacqua. Gladden hails from Northern California and was born in San Rafael. Havana-born Lourdes Lopez is also licensed to practice law in Florida and is fluent in Spanish, and Dan Maraviglia speaks Italian and was born in San Francisco where he also went to high school. (Mazzoni retired in 2000, and Passalacqua passed away in 2005.) All four attorneys received their juris doctorate from leading California law schools. One thing the partners have in common is a commitment to their clients and to community service. The firm has a long list of nonprofit organizations it’s worked for on a pro bono basis, and all partners sit on various community boards and participate in service clubs such as Rotary and Kiwanis; they’re also involved with local chambers of commerce.
“Healdsburg and Sonoma County have been wonderful to us,” says Gladden, adding that he and his partners believe that giving back to the community is the right thing to do. “Public service has just become a part of our make-up. If you do something you like, it shows.” Gladden also feels that being connected to the community makes it easier for them to relate to their clients and ultimately better serve their needs. Apparently their clients think so, too!
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