Biography

Frank Farella and two partners founded the firm, now known as Farella Braun + Martel LLP, in 1962. Throughout his distinguished legal career, Frank maintained a diverse practice in corporate, financial, and international transactions.

Frank supervised many of the firm's mergers and acquisition transactions and played a leading role in the firm's U.S. and international hotel practice, which included Kimpton Hotels and Auberge Resorts. He led the firm's worldwide work in structuring and financing all of Regent International's hotels and Rafael Hotels. He also was responsible for the representation of the Swig Investment Company in connection with the sale of its 50% ownership in the Fairmont Hotels.

Frank has a long history in the wine and beverage alcohol industries and has been a key player in the growth of the Napa Valley as a world-renowned wine market. He led the ongoing representation of several premium Napa Valley wineries and vineyards, as well as numerous mergers and acquisitions transactions. Frank served on the board of directors of the Robert Mondavi Corporation and represented Robert Mondavi with respect to his philanthropic activities, including the establishment of the Robert Mondavi Institute and the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis. Frank's family owns and operates a vineyard and winery in the Napa Valley, Farella Vineyard.

Frank served as president of the Bar Association of San Francisco in 1978. He chaired a California State Bar Committee and authored the California legislation requiring attorneys to arbitrate fee disputes. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Corporate Law for almost three decades.

Firm Highlights

Publication

Trends Guest Editorial: Wildfires and Wineries

Link to the article in Gradient's Trends  Spring 2023 newsletter. Recurring wildfires in the Napa and Sonoma Counties of California have created a set of niche problems for the surrounding wineries, on top of...

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Event

Bisnow: San Francisco State of the Market

At Bisnow's San Francisco State of the Market event, Ashley Breakfield will moderate the panel "Revitalizing San Francisco: Reconfiguring the city for a hybrid world, reimagining downtown, and uplifting the economy." Click  here  for more information and to...

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News

Legal experts say Google, Twitter and other tech companies dodged a bullet at the Supreme Court

Erik Olson spoke to Silicon Valley Business Journal for the article "Legal experts say Google, Twitter and other tech companies dodged a bullet at the Supreme Court." The Supreme Court avoided taking a stand...

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News

Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes Farella Braun + Martel Lawyers, Practices

Farella Braun + Martel is pleased to announce that Chambers USA has recognized 16 lawyers and six practice areas in the legal directory’s 2023 edition. Individual California and Western U.S. Rankings: Sarah Bell &ndash...

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Publication

Uncorking Accessibility: How Winery Websites Can Meet ADA Compliance Standards

Vanessa Ing and Kelsey Mollura discuss "Uncorking Accessibility: How Winery Websites Can Meet ADA Compliance Standards." The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities...

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Publication

Office-to-Housing Conversion: State and Local Efforts to Revitalize the Downtown

Originally published in The Registry . As office vacancies soar in traditional downtown areas like San Francisco’s Financial District, state and local officials are moving quickly to adopt incentives they hope will bring people...

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News

Farella Braun + Martel Earns Mansfield Certification Plus Status

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Publication

Nonprofit Basics: Federal Tax Filing Deadlines and Penalties

Welcome to  EO Radio Show – Your Nonprofit Legal Resource . This episode focuses on the importance of meeting the federal tax filing deadlines that apply to charitable organizations. Most charitable organizations that are...

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News

Big Tech Breathes Sigh of Relief After Justices' Terror Rulings

Erik Olson spoke to Law360 for the article "Big Tech Breathes Sigh of Relief After Justices' Terror Rulings," covering the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to review whether Section 230 insulates online platforms from...

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Publication

Nonprofit Basics: Meeting Minutes Best Practices

Welcome to  EO Radio Show – Your Nonprofit Legal Resource . This episode focuses on documenting decisions made at meetings of a nonprofit organization's board of directors or trustees. While everyone who attends a...

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