Additions Give Significant Boost to Thriving Core Practices

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 19, 2008 - Farella Braun + Martel announces the addition of a group of transactional attorneys from Thelen. Joining the firm as partners are estate planning and tax attorneys George T. Argyris and Barbara Anne Murphy, corporate attorney Philip W. Peters and real estate attorney Richard M. Shapiro. In addition, Jon D. Hill and Genevieve Larson join the Family Wealth Group as associates. 

"We are thrilled to bring in these outstanding attorneys. The additions give our clients even deeper resources and unmatched experience with the same highly personalized legal counsel they've come to expect from Farella Braun + Martel," said firm chairman Steve Lowenthal.  "In this challenging economic climate, we're pleased to be strengthening our core family wealth, private client, business transactions and real estate teams."

Argyris, a family trusts and estates attorney with thirty years of experience, counsels individual clients on all matters related to the building, preservation and disposition of family wealth.  His practice includes individual tax planning; wills, living trusts, life insurance trusts, education trusts, annuity trusts and durable powers of attorney; gift programs; family partnerships; succession planning; and pre- and post-nuptial agreements.  Additionally, he counsels charitable foundations and board members.  Argyris sits on the board of the California Symphony, is an advisory board member for the University of California, Berkeley Certificate Program in Personal Financial Planning, and is a member of the San Francisco Estate Planning Council.  He earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia, School of Law (1972).

Murphy is also an experienced trusts and estates attorney with a strong emphasis on taxation issues.  She counsels individuals on wealth preservation and transfer and represents tax-exempt organizations, public charities and private foundations.  She is a former manager in the Personal Finance Services Group at PriceWaterhouseCoopers.  Murphy is active in many professional and charitable organizations, including the San Francisco Estate Planning Council, San Francisco Junior League and the California Pacific Medical Center Foundation Planned Giving Committee.  She earned her LL.M. in taxation from Golden Gate University School of Law (1998), her J.D. from the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law (1992).

Peters' practice includes advising clients on a wide range of domestic and international business transactions, including the purchase, sale, financing and reorganization of companies, as well as joint venture agreements.  He has served as outside general counsel to companies in the construction, energy, insurance, software, technology, newspaper, hospitality and gaming industries.  Peters received his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (1986).

Shapiro brings nearly thirty years of experience in transactional real estate, land use, and construction matters. His transactional real estate experience involves a wide range of property types.  He has been involved in the development and operation of a number of San Francisco projects including various Financial District buildings, projects in the Presidio and Mission Bay, the Contemporary Jewish Museum and numerous suburban mixed use projects including University Circle, East Palo Alto, Marina Village, Alameda, Vintage Park, Foster City and McCarthy Ranch in Milpitas. He earned his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law (1979) and has a Master of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley.

Hill and Larson are both estate planning and tax attorneys who assist in drafting and executing clients' wills, trusts and charitable giving plans, entity formation and business  and tax planning.  In addition, both work with tax-exempt organizations.  Hill received his LL.M. in taxation from New York University, School of Law (2002) and his J.D. from J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University (2001).  Larson earned her LL.M. in taxation from Boston University School of Law (2004) and her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law (2003).

Farella Braun + Martel represents clients throughout the United States and abroad in sophisticated business transactions and high-stakes commercial, civil and criminal litigation.  Founded in 1962, the firm is headquartered in San Francisco and maintains an office in the Napa Valley focused on the wine industry. Farella Braun + Martel lawyers are known for their imaginative legal solutions, 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. Farella Braun + Martel is a Green Business.

Press Contacts:

Melinda Hepp / Traci Stuart
Blattel Communications
415.397.4811
[email protected] / [email protected]

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