Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty has been voted Best Law Firm in the 2011 NorthBay biz readers poll.
Founded more than 40 years ago in Napa, Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty (DPF) opened a sister office in Santa Rosa in 2007 and has since become a power player in the North Bay. In 2010, it won a gold medal in our readers poll; this year, it’s stepped into the top spot.
“We’re pleased to win this award, because it’s a reflection of the service we give to our clients,” says Scott Gerien, a partner in the intellectual property group. “If you don’t treat clients with the attention and respect they deserve, they’ll go elsewhere. Being voted the Best by NorthBay biz readers means we’re being recognized for our efforts—and we appreciate that. Thank you.”
DPF attorneys work in nine distinct practice areas, including business, intellectual property, labor and employment, land use, litigation, real property, trusts and estates, and alcohol beverage. “We’re very fortunate,” says Gerien. “Because of our expertise in the wine and hospitality fields, we’ve been able to expand beyond just the North Bay to include clients both statewide and internationally.”
But, according to Gerien, the North Bay is definitely home. “We live in the North Bay for a reason. Many of us have lived and practiced law elsewhere, but this really is where we want to be. We also want our attorneys and staff to have time for their families and outside interests. What’s the point of living here if you can’t get out and enjoy it?”
To that end, he says, “We have a lower billable hours requirement than many larger or corporate firms. That’s because we want to allow time for our communities.”
Staying close to the community is important, he continues. “Many of us serve on local boards, and we encourage community involvement [throughout the firm]. The firm also sets funds aside for charitable donations every year,” says Gerien, who sits on the board of DiRosa. “Some are ongoing, like Queen of the Valley hospital: We’ve had a member on their board for years. As one of our attorneys finishes his or her term, another takes their place. It helps with continuity for the organization. We’ve also had a long relationship with Legal Aid Napa and, when we opened our office in Santa Rosa, we started working with Legal Aid there as well.”
This willingness to pitch in speaks to the caliber of the people at the firm—and that, says Gerien, is what really makes it the Best. “We have great attorneys with some pretty impressive backgrounds, schooling and experience,” he says. “But one of the things we look for when hiring is a willingness to really connect with clients. We want those one-on-one interactions.”
The philosophy is paying off. Regularly recognized as one of the top wine law firms in the United States, DPF attorneys are also garnering accolades individually. In 2010, a number of DPF attorneys were named Northern California “Super Lawyers,” including Frank Collin, Dave Diamond and Scott Thomas for estate planning and probate; Richard Mendelson for land use; and Dave Meyers for real estate. Gerien was identified as one of the Top 50 Trademark Attorneys in the U.S. by industry publication Trademark Insider in 2006, 2007 and 2009 (2010 had not been announced at press time). And Greg Walsh in the Santa Rosa office was named on the North Bay Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list.
“We have high-quality attorneys and run a sophisticated practice,” Gerien says. “We deliver ‘big city execution,’ but we’ve been able to retain a small-town feel.”
