Firm

Community

Since our inception over 60 years ago, Farella Braun + Martel has participated actively in our local communities. The founding partners led by example and remain well known for their extensive contributions to the bar and non-profit organizations. This commitment continues unabated today.

Community success requires involvement with and sponsorship of organizations that do good for others. As a firm, we sponsor, through direct financial contributions, organizations ranging from legal service providers to entities involved with education, the environment and the arts. 

Annual firmwide community service activities include:

  • Rebuilding Together San Francisco – In the fall, Farella attorneys, staff, family and friends come together to perform some much needed renovations to low income family homes, schools and nonprofit centers.
  • Head Start Holiday Gift Program – Each year the firm “adopts” a classroom and individuals purchase, wrap and deliver gifts to kids in need who may not otherwise enjoy a gift for the holidays.
  • Bar Association of San Francisco’s Food from the Bar Campaign – Every year our Food from the Bar committee of attorneys and staff creates fun activities within the firm that provide financial and other support for the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.
  • One Warm Coat –This organization provides coats for individuals and families that could not otherwise afford a coat for the winter; the firm’s work with this group is led each year by one of the firm’s dedicated and passionate legal secretaries.
  • TutorMate Online Literacy Program – For several years, Farella lawyers and staff have participated in Innovations for Learning's “30 minutes per week” TutorMate™ online reading program for first graders in Oakland Public Schools.

We dedicated our 50th Anniversary in 2012 to giving back to the community. The year-long program included $500,000 in direct gifts and a volunteer challenge to our attorneys and staff. By year end, more than 5,000 hours were volunteered at more than 75 non-profit organizations.

Group of people with Rebuilding Together
Sponsoring Rebuilding Together San Francisco projects for over 20 years.
People packing food at a foodbank
San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
Woman Tutoring Children
TutorMate Online Literacy Program meet the kids day.
Gifts for Head Start Program
Head Start Holiday Gift Program

Firm Highlights

Publication

An Introduction to DAFs and Overview of the Newly Proposed DAF Regulations

Welcome to EO Radio Show - Your Nonprofit Legal Resource. I’m Cynthia Rowland, and episode 62 describes new proposed regulations important to the administration of donor advised funds. The Internal Revenue Service and the...

Read More
News

Farella Braun + Martel Earns 2024 Best Law Firms® Rankings

Read More
Publication

Wind Energy Project Approvals and Tax Credits Look To Outpace Macroeconomic and Supply Chain Headwinds in 2024

A snapshot of the renewable wind industry on October 31, 2023, captures many of the current challenges and opportunities for the industry and regulatory agencies heading into 2024.  That day, the world’s largest offshore...

Read More
Event

In-House Counsel Conference 2024

Sushila Chanana is speaking on artificial intelligence law at the Bar Association of San Francisco's In-House Counsel Conference 2024. To register for the event, please click  here .

Read More
News

Proposal for Bar Exam Alternative Goes to California Supreme Court

Sarah Good, a member of the State Bar of California Board of Trustees, was quoted in The Recorder article, "Proposal for Bar Exam Alternative Goes to California Supreme Court." Read the article here (subscription...

Read More
Publication

BIPA Liability: Existing CGL Coverage May Provide a Lifeline for Policyholders

Developments in the law have increased the potential liability that companies could face under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), but fortunately for policyholders, Illinois case law has also solidified coverage for BIPA...

Read More
News

State Bar of California Board of Trustees Approves Plan to Pilot Portfolio Bar Exam

Sarah Good, a member of the State Bar of California Board of Trustees, spoke to KQED Newscast about the Board of Trustees's proposal to pilot a Portfolio Bar Exam.

Read More
Event

19th Annual Renewable Energy Law Institute

Dirk Mueller is speaking at the University of Texas School of Law 19 th Annual Renewable Energy Law Institute on "Mineral Issues Impact on Real Estate Documents, Siting and Planning: Texas vs. California." Session Overview :   Understanding...

Read More
Event

2024 Environmental & Energy, Mass Torts, and Products Liability Litigation Committees' Joint Regional CLE Program

Sarah Bell will moderate the panel "PFAS: Everything Everywhere All at Once"  at the American Bar Association's 2024 Environmental & Energy, Mass Torts, and Products Liability Litigation Committees' Joint Regional CLE Program. Session Overview: PFAS...

Read More
Publication

It Wasn’t Me, It Was the AI: Intellectual Property and Data Privacy Concerns With Nonprofits’ Use of Artificial Intelligence Systems

In today's rapidly changing technological landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is making headlines and being discussed constantly. To be sure, AI provides a powerful tool to nonprofits in creating content and exploiting for countless cost-effective...

Read More