Northern California legal powerhouse Farella Braun + Martel is pleased to announce the election of two lawyers to partnership effective Jan. 1: Benjamin R. Buchwalter and Carolina de Armas.

“We congratulate Ben and Carolina on their hard work and are excited to welcome them to the partnership. They are outstanding team players who have worked hard to thrive in their practices and deliver exemplary client service,” said Farella Co-Managing Partners Karen Kimmey and Holly Sutton. “We are confident that they will continue to make us proud and build on the firm’s success.” 

Ben Buchwalter works with companies to manage and mitigate employment law risks to achieve their business goals. He has deep experience defending companies in single-plaintiff and class and representative action lawsuits related to discrimination, retaliation, harassment, leaves of absence, wage and hour compliance, and requests for accommodations in federal and state courts, arbitrations, and before administrative agencies. Ben is also passionate about advising employers on pragmatic and proactive employment programs to help “see around corners,” including by establishing measures tailored to their goals and culture to minimize unacceptable risks and investigating employment risks that arise. 

Ben served as a law clerk to the Honorable Larry R. Hicks of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. He earned his J.D. from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (2014) and his B.A. from Haverford College (2008).

Carolina de Armas partners with clients on a broad range of transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, day-to-day business management, corporate governance, commercial contracts, and long-term planning. She guides large and small clients through key business decisions, maximizing opportunity while managing risk. Carolina has deep experience in the renewable energy industry, where she advises clients on buying and selling projects at all stages of development and guides them through the project development process, from initial site control through commercial operation. Carolina also strategizes with construction industry clients on complex transactions and business-critical matters. Additionally, she advises wine businesses on mergers and acquisitions and other day-to-day business management.

Carolina is recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Energy Law (2025-26) and Corporate Law (2026). She earned her J.D. from Stanford Law School (2016) and her B.A. from Duke University (2012).

About Farella

Farella Braun + Martel is a leading Northern California law firm representing corporate and private clients in sophisticated business and real estate transactions and complex commercial, civil, and criminal litigation. Clients seek our imaginative legal solutions and the dynamism and intellectual creativity of our lawyers. We are headquartered in San Francisco and maintain an office in the Napa Valley focused on the wine industry.

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