Overview
Introduction
Founded in 1962 with three attorneys in the Bay Area, Farella is now a midsize firm, home to over 120 attorneys, with a strong reputation in the areas of corporate transactions and complex commercial litigation, particularly strong credentials in the renewable energy industry, and—uniquely—a wine industry team serving vintners and distributors out of their Napa Valley office. The firm is nationally recognized by publications such as Best Lawyers, Chambers, Law360, and
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2024)
No. of Partners Named (2023)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2024)
No. of Summer Associates (2023)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
With only two offices in California—one of which is in the center of Napa Valley that serves as a “wine business center”—and more than 120 attorneys, Farella Braun & Martel is a strong regional litigation law firm. Associates view the hiring process favorably, and lateral hires appreciate integration and welcoming efforts. The firm offers a friendly, supportive work environment where associates’ well-being, inside and outside the office, is highly valued. Associates note the longevity of many partners in the firm as proof of Farella being a great place to work. Partners provide meaningful feedback and show appreciation for the efforts of associates, and while formal training opportunities are limited, lean staffing means that associates learn hands-on directly from and rec...
About the Firm
Headquartered in Northern California, Farella Braun + Martel specializes in sophisticated transactions and complex commercial, civil, and criminal litigation. The firm and its attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Benchmark Litigation, Chambers USA, U.S. News – Best Lawyers® and Law360.
From Trolleys to Vines
Founded in 1962 as a three-lawyer firm in San Francisco, Farella Braun & Martel now has a legal team of more than 120 attorneys and a Napa Valley presence in St. Helena. A regional firm with a national reach, Farella represents multinational corporations, privately owned entities, exempt organizations, and private clients in business transactions and complex litigation. The firm has particular strengths in the technology, renewable energy, real es...
Associate Reviews
- “You won't find a more humane law firm than Farella. Staff and attorneys have a genuine interest in the well being of their colleagues.”
- “The firm generally has a family-like culture. Many staff members have been here for 20+ years, some 30+ years. Partners have generally been here for a while. So this is a firm where everyone knows each other and people generally seem to like being with each other. People would go out to lunch together, and there were plenty of firm sponsored gatherings that were well-attended. During COVID, the culture has been more difficult to sustain, especially now that everyone is tired of Zoom happy hours. As we gradually go back to a flexible, in-person workplace, I expect that the culture will return.”
- “Genuine people working on interesting deals and with interesting clients. People are wholesome and take pride in the fact that FBM is a great place to work for everyone, from staff to partners.”
Diversity at Farella Braun + Martel LLP
Getting Hired Here
- “I joined as a lateral associate during the pandemic, and I'm happy with the firm's efforts to integrate me and other recent lateral associates. Upon joining, I was paired with a mentoring group and associate mentor. A number of associates reached out to schedule informal chats. And some of the more-tenured associates host regular meetings to chat with and answer questions from the more recent hires.”
Perks & Benefits