Farella Braun + Martel LLP
235 Montgomery Street
17th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
17th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone number: (415) 954-4400
Visit Website: www.fbm.com
Summer Program: Learn More
Overview
Introduction
Founded in 1962 with three attorneys in the Bay Area, Farella is now a midsize firm, home to over 120 attorneys, with a strong reputation in the areas of corporate transactions and complex commercial litigation, particularly strong credentials in the renewable energy industry, and—uniquely—a wine industry team serving vintners and distributors out of their Napa Valley office. The firm is nationally recognized by publications such as Best Lawyers, Chambers, Law360, and Benchmark Litigation.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2021)
100 - 150
No. of Partners Named (2022)
5
Featured Rankings
Top 150 Under 150
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2021)
6
No. of Summer Associates (2021)
5 total (all 2Ls)
Base Salary
1st year: $200,000
Vault Verdict
Farella is almost universally acclaimed by its associates for emphasizing a collegial, family friendly, and supportive culture for all of its employees, from attorneys to staff. The managing partner famously knows every associate at the firm, and associates report high levels of satisfaction with their relationships with partners and with the firm’s transparency, often provided through frequent all-associate meetings. A workflow coordinator ensures that each associate always has a reasonable amount of work, and while compensation is lower than it would be at BigLaw firms, associates report that the other benefits of working at Farella—especially the work-life balance and mostly work-free weekends—outweigh the loss in dollars. Associates are very satisfied with the quality of their...
About the Firm
Headquartered in Northern California, Farella Braun + Martel specializes in sophisticated transactions and complex commercial, civil, and criminal litigation. The firm and its attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Benchmark Litigation, Chambers USA, U.S. News – Best Lawyers® and Law360.
From Trolleys to Vines
Founded in 1962 as a three-lawyer firm in San Francisco, Farella Braun + Martel now has a legal team of more than 120 attorneys and a Napa Valley presence in St. Helena. A regional firm with a national reach, Farella represents multinational corporations, privately owned entities, exempt organizations, and private clients in business transactions and complex litigation. The firm has particular strengths in the technology, renewable energy, real estate, fi...
Associate Reviews
- “Very fun, collaborative, family friendly, supportive and social.”
- “This is tough to describe since I joined the firm on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the firm is very present in the Bay Area's various bar associations and premiere events. There is a sense of family in the firm, and even with the pandemic amidst my first year at the firm, everyone was extremely warm and tried to make me feel at home (remotely of course).”
- “The firm really emphasizes collegiality, and prioritizes it in hiring, promotion, and other areas. People tend to treat each other well, and there is not a substantial barrier between partners and associates, or between junior and senior associates. The firm does sponsor some happy hours and events during normal times, as well as catering a weekly lunch for all attorneys. Since pretty much everyone is based in the same office, these are well-attended, and people also tend to interact informally a lot. The firm also sponsors an annual firm-wide holiday party, which is widely attended, and attorneys are encouraged to (and often do) have lunch together (there are reimbursements for going to lunch with a colleague).”
- “Everyone is exceptionally kind to each other. The firm likes to put families first, so while there are social get-togethers, it's not the kind of place where people are partying late together. It's ‘drink at happy hour and then go back home to live your life with your loved ones.’”
Diversity at Farella Braun + Martel LLP
"Farella is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion for all attorneys and staff. Everyone at the firm is respected and included irrespective of race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or disability. Our diversity and inclusiveness makes us stronger as a firm and enables us to deliver superlative legal advice to our clients. Farella recognizes that the number of women and diverse partners in law firms needs to improve and is committed to being part of the solution. We have been a leader..."
Getting Hired Here
- "We have a lot of lateral associates. I was quickly integrated into the fabric of the firm."
Perks & Benefits
