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Farella Braun + Martel Attorneys Honored With Prestigious CLAY Award

March 17, 2016 Accolades

SAN FRANCISCO, March,17, 2016: Farella Braun + Martel LLP litigation partners Rod Thompson and Tony Schoenberg have been honored by the Daily Journal and callawyer.com with a prestigious 2016 California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year (CLAY) Award for their court victory representing the City of Sunnyvale in its successful opposition to a Second Amendment challenge to the City’s new gun safety ordinance banning possession of large capacity firearm magazines, Leonard Fyock, et al. v. City of Sunnyvale, et al.

The CLAY Awards honors lawyers whose achievements have made a profound impact on the law – by changing the law, substantially influencing public policy or the profession, or achieving a remarkable result. 

In the Fyock case, the Farella team defended the City of Sunnyvale’s ban on possession of large capacity magazines against a Second Amendment attack by the National Rifle Association. After full briefing and argument, Senior U.S. District Judge Ronald M. Whyte of San Jose denied the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction. The plaintiffs appealed the ruling and filed emergency motions, first with the Ninth Circuit and later the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to stop the ordinance from taking effect pending the resolution of the appeal. The Farella team opposed both emergency motions on behalf of Sunnyvale, and both motions were denied. The Ninth Circuit Court heard oral argument from Farella and an appellate specialist hired by the NRA. On March 4, 2015 it affirmed the district court’s denial of the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction.

Farella’s successful defense of Sunnyvale provides other municipalities with a road map and legal precedents for implementing similar gun violence prevention ordinances. Last summer the Los Angeles City Council passed a large capacity magazine ban that mirrors the Sunnyvale law. 

In addition to Thompson and Schoenberg, the Farella team included associate James Baker and former Farella associates Evan Engstrom and Rochelle Woods.

Thompson and Schoenberg received the award in the municipal category at an awards ceremony on March 15, 2016 in San Francisco.

Farella Braun + Martel represents clients throughout the United States and abroad in sophisticated business transactions and complex commercial, civil and criminal litigation. Farella lawyers are known for their imaginative legal solutions to today’s business challenges, dynamism and intellectual creativity. With an unwavering service ethic and interdisciplinary team approach, the firm is committed to advancing clients' objectives in the most effective, coordinated and efficient manner. Founded in 1962, the firm is headquartered in San Francisco and maintains an office in the Napa Valley focused on the wine industry. www.fbm.com

Contact:
Cheryl Loof
Farella Braun + Martel LLP
415.954.4433 / [email protected]