“Getting through law school takes a tremendous effort. The practice is rewarding, but not an easy road to get into. To be successful, you need to put in long hours and have discipline.”—Dan Galvin
Previously earning the “Best Law Firm” award in 2014, and a Gold Medal recognition in 2015, Santa Rosa law firm Shapiro, Galvin, Shapiro & Moran has been voted “Best Law Firm” for NorthBay biz magazine’s 2017 Best Of the North Bay issue.
"We are incredibly honored to receive this award again," says Dan Galvin, managing partner at SGS&M. "We make giving back to our community a priority, and that has led to our having very good name recognition."
The law firm, headquartered in downtown Santa Rosa, started with Everett Shapiro, who made partners out of his son, Tad, and Dan Galvin in 1982. Adrienne Moran joined the firm in 1988. Today, Tad, Dan and Adrienne handle 200 to 300 active files in civil litigation, business law, personal injury, estate planning, real estate and construction law.
“I believe one of the biggest reasons we’re successful here is that the three of us are Santa Rosa-born and raised,” says Galvin. “We were instilled by our parents to give back to the community, and we always put our clients and their needs first.
“Our work can be very intimate. My partner, Tad [Shapiro] specializes in personal injury. His clients are dealing with traumatic, often life-altering issues. Working with them when they’re still recovering from these events takes a specialized approach. Tad makes sure his clients are comfortable working with him, so he can make the best possible case for them.”
But not every case goes straight to the courts. “One of the most impactful services a lawyer can provide is preventative counseling,” says Galvin. “Having a lawyer by your side who can successfully negotiate with the other side and come to an agreement—without involving a judge—is as valuable a skill as being an effective litigator. It’s a very rewarding practice, and our firm is especially good at being proactive as well as reactive.”
What does Galvin and his partners do to balance their personal and professional lives? “Whenever we can, we give right back to the community. My partners and I have been involved with Active 20-30, Rotary, the Sonoma County Bar Association, the City of Santa Rosa’s Board of Public Utilities, the Redwood Empire Food Bank, Sonoma County Legal Aid and the North Coast Builders Exchange, among others. We volunteer our time and participate with each of them to help strengthen our community.”
On a personal level, Galvin just finished his 38th consecutive year of refereeing high school basketball, with his last games of the season at the NCS and NorCal levels.
“The law is a disciplined profession,” says Galvin. “Getting through law school takes a tremendous effort. The practice is rewarding, but not an easy profession to get into. To be successful, you need to put in long hours and have discipline.
“With three lawyers in our practice, we’re lean and mean. We will continue to give high quality legal services and be dedicated to our clients. We take a proactive approach to problems before they escalate. We will be involved in the community in various organizations going forward. We’re honored to be selected again. It’s a real testament to the work we do and to our dedicated staff.”
